1 #GMGT11

Collaborate, Leverage, Build!

Managing the Grant Pipeline

Featured Presenter:

Gail Vertz, CEO

Grant Professionals Association

2 #GMGT11

What Will be Covered

• Why grant management is important

• Benefits of grants management

• Performance based measurements

• Benefits of a team approach

3 #GMGT11

Why is Grants Management

Important?

• To meet funder’s requirements

• To better utilize organization’s resources

• To assure proper accounting

4 #GMGT11

Benefits of Grants

Management

• Better usage of staff time

• Proper allocation of resources

• Accountability

• Ensure future funding

5 #GMGT11

What Should a Grants

Management System Include?

• Accounting practices

• Spreadsheet capabilities

• Units of service tracking

• Financial tracking

• Forecasting capabilities

6 #GMGT11

Results-Based Framework for

Grants Programs

• Develop a results-based accountability framework

– includes performance measures, expected results and outcomes

and evaluation criteria to be use in assessing effectiveness.

• Understand vital characteristics of successful grant

programs.

7 #GMGT11

Criteria to Include

• Measures should be specific and results oriented

• Measures should be meaningful and understandable

• Data should be adequate to support measure

• Measures should be valid, reliable and responsive

8 #GMGT11

Measure Criteria

• Measures should be specific and results oriented

• Measures should be meaningful and understandable

• Data should be adequate to support measure

• Measures should be valid, reliable and responsive

9 #GMGT11

How to Measure Results

• Establish what measures are desired

• Include performance-based questions

• Clearly establish criteria

• Use as indicators of project success

• Relates to budget

• Relates to evaluation

10 #GMGT11

Performance Based Outcomes

• What is Outcome Measurement?

“The regular, systematic tracking of the extent to which

program participants experience the benefits or

changes intended.”

– United Way of America

11 #GMGT11

Why Measure Outcomes?

• To increase effectiveness

• Communicate value

• To see if programs really make a difference in

people’s lives

• To help programs improve services

12

Uses of Program Outcome

Findings

Internal External

• Provide direction

for staff

• Identify training needs

• Improve programs

• Guide budgets

• Support long range

• Retain and increase

funding

• Identify partners for

collaboration

• Promote program

13 #GMGT11

Why Review and Monitor?

• Not just a formal evaluation

– Internal assessment of the project team

– Internal assessment of the measures and monitoring

tools

• Measurement to inform management and future project

development

• Share Lessons Learned with Others

14 #GMGT11

Planning to Measure

• Work closely with the evaluator and project team from

beginning to establish and design:

– Data Collection Process/System

– Measurement Tools

– Validity and Verification of Measurement Data

15 #GMGT11

Determine if Positive Changes

Demonstrated

• Starts with Good Planning

– Define success/positive change

– Clearly-articulate expectations of outcomes

– Establish indicators/measures of change

• Carefully evaluate outcomes against original goals

• Identify unanticipated outcomes

16 #GMGT11

Devise Clear Measures of

Performance

• It all starts with the planning

• Should include a quality improvement/feedback loop

• Not only at the end of a grant

17 #GMGT11

Close the Loop

• Share what was learned

• Use results to build future projects and programs

• Support on-going dialogue

• Expand and continue a quality improvement/

feedback loop.

18 #GMGT11

Benefits of a Team Approach

• Benefits-higher level of accountability

• Specialists-can set and evaluate performance measures

• Cohesiveness, collaboration

• Synergy

19 #GMGT11

Challenges of a Team Approach

• Dissention

• Conflict

• Lack of leadership

20 #GMGT11

To be Successful

• Identify stakeholders

• Develop a good team

• Carefully select right participants

• Include all specialties

• Orientate them to the project

21 #GMGT11

Stakeholders

• Clients to be served

• Community at large

• Organizations

• Funding sources

22

Selecting the Right Team

• Financial Expertise

• Program Content

• Evaluator

• Administration

• Stakeholders

• Target Population

• Legal Expertise

• Contractual Expert

• Public Affairs

• Legislative

• Communications

23 #GMGT11

Components of a Good Team

• Common vision and goals

• Clearly defined roles and responsibilities

• Delineated authority and accountability

• Agreed upon timeframes

• Effective leadership

• Process to resolve conflict

• Established decision-making process

24 #GMGT11

Aligning Responsibilities

• Responsibilities and activities should flow from the

ultimate goals and objectives of program.

• Don’t do busy work.

25 #GMGT11

Benefits of Aligning Priorities

• Helps to set and maintain priorities

• Reduce “busy work”

• Reduces friction in team members

• Increases job satisfaction

• Increases cohesion and unity

26 #GMGT11

How to Align Responsibilities

• Start with strategic vision of initiative

• Identify core components necessary to achieve this

– Financial

– Administration

– Program Content

– Evaluation

27 #GMGT11

Bonnie McLain

Sage Nonprofit Solutions

28 #GMGT11

Q&A

Contact Gail Vertz:

CEO, Grant Professionals Association (GPA)

913-788-3000

CEO@GrantProfessionals.org

Learn more about Sage Grant Management:

www.sagegrantmanagement.com

Contact Sage: 800-811-0961

Register for a live webcast:

http://ow.ly/7uwmH