Thanks for the suggestion. A decent fraction of applicants already outline different budgets for their projects, and we generally feel comfortable adjusting their budgets based on our willingness to pay. At the same time, we want to be mindful of not underfunding projects or leaving grantees with deals they would rather turn down but feel uncomfortable doing so due to grantmaker-grantee power imbalances.
“IMHO, as much effort should be spent increasing the productivity of donated fund spending as is spent marketing for increased donations.”
I think this is a good point. I estimate that we spend something like 100x more time evaluating grants and prioritising between them (which I see as trying to increase the productivity of donated funds) than fundraising. I expect we should actually spend more time fundraising.
Thank you for your response. I find this piece of the response interesting:
“we want to be mindful of not underfunding projects or leaving grantees with deals they would rather turn down but feel uncomfortable doing so due to grantmaker-grantee power imbalances.”
As someone on the grantee side of the equation (though I don’t apply to this particular fund), I would much prefer an under-funded response of 30% of initial budget request rather than a rejection which is effectively an offer of 0% of the request. But I have pretty thick skin.
I think what I am asking for is for as much communication and negotiation between the grantmaker and grantee as possible in adjusting the project offer to better match the resources request (demand) from the grantee to the resources supply available to the grantor. A better match and greater information exchange increases systemic supply/demand efficiency.
This also allows the grantee to design a better project ask the next time so that grant-giving productivity increases over time. 100% rejection can lead to disengagement. I think it is better for the EA movement if innovating project organizers who are proposing fundable projects can stay engaged.
Though I understand that grant evaluation time is a constraint, so there may not be resources for the extra grantor/grantee communication.
I also understand your point that fundraising is underprioritized. But given that donors may already be giving to other high-impact areas, this might be somewhat OK.
Thanks for the suggestion. A decent fraction of applicants already outline different budgets for their projects, and we generally feel comfortable adjusting their budgets based on our willingness to pay. At the same time, we want to be mindful of not underfunding projects or leaving grantees with deals they would rather turn down but feel uncomfortable doing so due to grantmaker-grantee power imbalances.
“IMHO, as much effort should be spent increasing the productivity of donated fund spending as is spent marketing for increased donations.”
I think this is a good point. I estimate that we spend something like 100x more time evaluating grants and prioritising between them (which I see as trying to increase the productivity of donated funds) than fundraising. I expect we should actually spend more time fundraising.
Thank you for your response. I find this piece of the response interesting:
“we want to be mindful of not underfunding projects or leaving grantees with deals they would rather turn down but feel uncomfortable doing so due to grantmaker-grantee power imbalances.”
As someone on the grantee side of the equation (though I don’t apply to this particular fund), I would much prefer an under-funded response of 30% of initial budget request rather than a rejection which is effectively an offer of 0% of the request. But I have pretty thick skin.
I think what I am asking for is for as much communication and negotiation between the grantmaker and grantee as possible in adjusting the project offer to better match the resources request (demand) from the grantee to the resources supply available to the grantor. A better match and greater information exchange increases systemic supply/demand efficiency.
This also allows the grantee to design a better project ask the next time so that grant-giving productivity increases over time. 100% rejection can lead to disengagement. I think it is better for the EA movement if innovating project organizers who are proposing fundable projects can stay engaged.
Though I understand that grant evaluation time is a constraint, so there may not be resources for the extra grantor/grantee communication.
I also understand your point that fundraising is underprioritized. But given that donors may already be giving to other high-impact areas, this might be somewhat OK.