Receiving a grant award is exciting.
But the award is not the end of the relationship.
It is the beginning of a new phase.
Funder stewardship can include:
- Sharing meaningful updates
- Communicating challenges early
- Reporting accomplishments clearly
- Inviting the funder to learn more about the work
- Providing timely responses
- Expressing appreciation
- Connecting progress to the original funding purpose
Stewardship does not mean sending constant updates or creating extra work for the funder.
It means keeping the relationship active and professional.
Related: Grant reporting is becoming just as important as writing
If the program falls behind schedule, don’t wait until the final report to mention it.
If the organization achieves an unexpected result, share it.
If circumstances change and the approved budget no longer reflects reality, ask about the appropriate process before reallocating funds.
Funders understand that implementation does not always go exactly as planned.
What creates concern is silence, surprises, and unexplained gaps between the proposal and the work.
A grant award gives you an opportunity to show not only that your organization can secure funding, but that it can manage the relationship responsibly.
Until next time,
Write Epic Grants