Alli Hansen

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All posts by Alli

  • Essential Grant Management Tools Every Funder Should Utilize

    For the majority of studies, causes, or purposes related to medicine, art, business, or the environment, there is likely grant funding available. However, despite the numerous opportunities for grantseekers to pursue, many grantmakers still rely on a single method for managing the lifecycles of all their grants: spreadsheets.  Starting a new funding cycle? Make a Read More

  • Grant Management Skills Every Successful Program Officer Should Have (and Teach)

    When some grantseekers apply for funding opportunities, they adopt a widespread approach and apply for every opportunity they find.  However, this can create situations where funders and award recipients suffer from misaligned missions or strategies. Importantly, this inefficient allocation of awards significantly minimizes the impact of both organizations. It’s not a situation that helps anyone, Read More

  • Government Grant Management for Funders: Navigating Regulations and Public Impact

    With over $500 billion awarded annually by federal grantmaking agencies, public funders track an overwhelming amount of activity across governments, nonprofits, and other recipients. And every dollar must be accounted for, who received it, how it was spent, and its contribution toward program impacts, to demonstrate fiscal responsibility and judicious allocations. It’s no easy feat. Read More

  • Nonprofit Data Management Tips to Improve Funder Confidence

    Imagine a funder reviewing two grant applications. One includes anecdotal success stories and a rough outline of activities. The other combines personal impact narratives with visualized outputs and outcomes, consistent metrics, and a well-documented reporting framework. Which application is more likely to catch the adjudicator’s attention and win funding? In an increasingly competitive funding landscape, Read More

  • Funders: What nonprofits wish you knew

    Funders like you and your efforts to support your nonprofit partners are an inspiration. Helping nonprofits advance their mission benefits your communities and increases your organization’s impact. But, as the philanthropic sector evolves, what are the most effective ways to support your partners?    At Foundant, we are fortunate to have deep connections to both funder Read More

  • Donor management 101: Tips, tools, and everything you need to know

    Donor management is crucial for community foundations, funders, and social good organizations. It helps them track contributions, communicate with key partners, and show their backers they appreciate their support. However, managing your donor relationships can become a time-consuming, tedious task. Regardless, keeping tabs on your supporters is essential to properly engage donors, retaining their ongoing Read More

  • A Roundup of the Top Grants Administration Software

    Grantmaking is a powerful tool for change. But if you’re in the weeds of grant administration, you know it can also feel like an endless checklist: managing submissions, wrangling reviewers, pulling reports, and fixing formatting.  Today’s grant administrators need more than another login. They need software that supports how they actually work. That means tools Read More

  • Research Grants Management: How funders can support compliance and innovation

    Research grants drive some of society’s most impactful innovations, from life-saving medical treatments to transformative public policy. But while the outcomes of research funding are inspiring, the behind-the-scenes process of managing those grants can be daunting.  For funders, the task involves balancing rigorous oversight with the flexibility researchers need to explore new ideas. Research grants Read More

  • Using a Grants Management Dashboard to Align Staff, Strategy, and Stakeholders

    Grants management is the engine behind impactful philanthropy. However, when data is scattered, teams get out of sync, and stakeholders lose visibility, even the most well-intentioned grantmaking processes can stall. More significantly, this can cause grantors and stakeholders to feel uncertain about continuing to support your foundation. That’s where a grants management dashboard becomes indispensable. Read More

  • 16 grant reporting best practices every foundation and nonprofit should master

    Grant reporting is a critical component of grant management. Following grant reporting best practices demonstrates the grantee’s accountability, compliance, and transparency. It also offers grantseekers a chance to showcase their success, capability, and capacity, increasing the likelihood of securing even larger funds. In fact, filing grant reports is generally mandatory—certainly for federal grants, as provided in Read More