Many organizations treat grant reporting as something that happens at the end of the grant period.
By then, it may be too late.
If the proposal promised specific outcomes, the organization needs a plan to track them from the beginning.
That means program staff, finance staff, and grant professionals should understand:
• What activities must be documented
• Which outcomes will be measured
• What data will be collected
• Who is responsible for collecting it
• How expenses will be tracked
• When updates are due
A proposal may say that the program will serve 200 people, increase participation by 25%, or achieve a particular outcome.
Those commitments need to become part of the organization’s regular workflow, not something reconstructed from memory months later.
Related: Reporting shouldn’t be an afterthought
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Create outcome evaluations, collect data, report on impact.
Before the grant begins, review the proposal and award agreement together.
Create a reporting calendar.
Confirm who owns each deliverable.
And make sure the organization can access the information needed to demonstrate progress.
Good reporting is not just compliance.
It is evidence that the organization understands its work, track its commitments, and can be trusted with future funding.
Until next time,
Write Epic Grants