by Astrik Tenney, Principal, Business Development
The return on investment (ROI) of a right-fit grants management system (GMS) is clear: it empowers grantmakers to create the kind of social impact they want to see in true partnership with their grantee organizations.
That’s the obvious ROI. But there’s a hidden return that doesn’t receive as much attention. Namely, tremendous efficiency gains that a right-fit GMS brings to organizational processes which frees up much-needed bandwidth for foundation staff to contribute higher value work to the organization.
That was my experience in my previous role as program manager for grants and community relations at the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation (JKCF) where I led the implementation of GivingData’s platform. Within a few short months of launch, our team discovered that we weren’t just working more efficiently, we were gaining back valuable time.
That gain afforded us a welcome opportunity to step back, reexamine our departmental needs, and engage in some exciting work that aligned well with our organizational strategy. Whether you’ve recently implemented a new GMS, or you’re thinking of moving in that direction, here are five examples you may be able to apply in your organization.
What often holds organizations back from this high-value outcome is the fear of change and the cost of investment in new technologies and systems. When I hear this narrative, I am reminded of what Robin Sharma, the personal development guru, teaches: “Change is hard at first, messy in the middle, and glorious at the end.”
Investing in a right-fit grants management system has the power to transform the way an organization operates. It brings benefits that are above and beyond actual dollars invested, enabling grants and program staff to stretch their skills and knowledge in ways that add tremendous value to an organization. Having gone through this process as a grants manager, I have learned that change is easier than we imagine...if we keep our eyes on the road that leads to that glorious end.
For a deeper exploration of this topic, join our live webinar on Wednesday, April 7, at 1pm ET.
Helpful Resources
Philanthropy and grant management best practices: Center for Effective Philanthropy, PEAK Grantmaking, and Candid Learning.
Convening planning resource: Gather: The Art and Science of Effective Convening