GuideStar Blog

Hi everyone. Last week, I unveiled the FLAIL Index, a tool that allows foundations to see whether or not their grantmaking process will unleash the demon-god Cthulhu upon this world. I’m now calling it the FLAIL Scale (#FLAILscale), since things that rhyme are always more worth our time. I will be updating the Scale this week, based on your feedback, to increase the aggravation points for certain items, such as requiring people to get anything notarized, as well as add some redemption points. Thank you to everyone who tested the FLAIL Scale, especially those who are actually using it to make their grant process better. You are amazing unicorns, and may Cthulhu spare you in the coming Apocalypse.

This week, for balance, we present the other side: Things that we nonprofits do that make funders want to punch us in the jaws—or worse, not fund our programs.

Welcome to a world of streamlined grant applications. Today, GuideStar for Grant Applications (G4G) is changing the way the philanthropic sector manages information so processes are more efficient and reliable.

In my long career as a funder, I loved the satisfaction of helping people who were doing wonderful things for other people. During those many years, I actually saw few proposals that advocated for bad ideas. But I did encounter an astonishing number of funding requests that were cast in the worst possible light.

 If you've written several grant proposals in your career, chances are you've heard at least one "no." Foundation representatives report that declining grant proposals from worthy nonprofit programs can be the toughest part of their job. While it may be hard, inevitably there is not enough funding to meet all of the deserving needs.