1-Repayable grants and results based financing are also a good way to reduce this and to graduate companies across the risk / return / impact continuum. If only all these grant programs were also coordinated...hence my second point:
2-I actually thought about a coalition of Founders coming together to have standardised minimum info (company name, etc...) on a blockchain like ledger and convince/force grantors (sic?) to have the same format to fill in automatically for Grants (unique identifier etc.) so the Founders can focus on responding to the unique program needs and their unique differentiator so to they don't need to copy paste.
This is very illuminating of a problem I know nothing about, not being a grant seeker. I'd say congrats on your award, but I can see that you're not relieved from participating in a complex and expensive process in the future by your current award. Though it makes me wonder if being an entrepreneur on the open market these days poses any better odds than grant writing.
I love your piece. As a former funder, I can say that a lot of my time was spent reading, reviewing and critiquing grant applications.. and sometimes rewriting the grants that were probably written by professional grant writers. There were $1M+ project scopes that needed to be re-written into the language of the foundation using our specific strategy terms. My job in program was translation. If you calculate the time on the other side of the equation, you have so much wasted effort on both sides! I like how you reimagine a better system and the metaphors really resonate. I always advise friends who are starting social businesses, start your LLC and seek funding from private donors and investors. There are no strings attached with private donors but lots of strings with grants. Your piece really resonates and best of luck with your enterprise!!
I read your article, alarmed at how the people who run these things forget that their job is to appropriately evaluate applicants and then to GIVE THE MONEY AWAY, then to review the agreed impact . . . your points resonate!!
1-Repayable grants and results based financing are also a good way to reduce this and to graduate companies across the risk / return / impact continuum. If only all these grant programs were also coordinated...hence my second point:
2-I actually thought about a coalition of Founders coming together to have standardised minimum info (company name, etc...) on a blockchain like ledger and convince/force grantors (sic?) to have the same format to fill in automatically for Grants (unique identifier etc.) so the Founders can focus on responding to the unique program needs and their unique differentiator so to they don't need to copy paste.
This is very illuminating of a problem I know nothing about, not being a grant seeker. I'd say congrats on your award, but I can see that you're not relieved from participating in a complex and expensive process in the future by your current award. Though it makes me wonder if being an entrepreneur on the open market these days poses any better odds than grant writing.
I love your piece. As a former funder, I can say that a lot of my time was spent reading, reviewing and critiquing grant applications.. and sometimes rewriting the grants that were probably written by professional grant writers. There were $1M+ project scopes that needed to be re-written into the language of the foundation using our specific strategy terms. My job in program was translation. If you calculate the time on the other side of the equation, you have so much wasted effort on both sides! I like how you reimagine a better system and the metaphors really resonate. I always advise friends who are starting social businesses, start your LLC and seek funding from private donors and investors. There are no strings attached with private donors but lots of strings with grants. Your piece really resonates and best of luck with your enterprise!!
As someone who has filled hours writing these grant applications, I couldn't agree more! Thank you for sharing this.
HI Melissa
Bravo for your MUCH DESERVED award!!
I read your article, alarmed at how the people who run these things forget that their job is to appropriately evaluate applicants and then to GIVE THE MONEY AWAY, then to review the agreed impact . . . your points resonate!!
Jonathan Yach
http://linkedin.com/in/jonathan-yach-mrics-m-inst-d-79024017