Grant Application Survey 2009

Summary of responses from grant applicants after each of the Board Meetings
in FYE 2009

Dear Grant Applicant:
As a recent applicant for a grant from the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation, your observations would be valuable to us as we try to improve the quality of the grant making process. We would very much appreciate if you would comment on the following questions. Your response will be forwarded directly to the Chairman of the Board of the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation, and will remain confidential. Only a summary of all responses will be shared with the Foundation’s Board and Staff.

1. From whom did you first learn that the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation was a possible source of funds for your organization?

   • Our Grant Writer

   • Philanthropy Center

   • From Existing Agency President and Foundation's Attendance and Participation and Fundraising Networks in the Community

   • Grant Writer

   • EBCF Has Provided Grants to A Gift For Teaching Since '99

   • Community

   • Fred Leonhardt

   • EBCF Has Been a Long Time Supporter of Our Organization, Thank You!

   • S. Lake Community Foundation

   • Board Member

   • Previous Relationship and Experience With the Foundation

   • Deborah Hessler

   • Our Development Director

   • Public Knowledge

2. How did your organization communicate with the Foundation's staff? (please check all that apply)

   • [12] Letter

   • [11] Telephone

   • [10] Visit to the Foundation's Office

   • [6] Staff Visit to Your Organization

   • [12] E-mail

   • [4] Other (please specify)

3. Please indicate the extent of information and assistance you received from the Foundation during the review process

   • [15] More than Adequate

   • [1] Adequate

   • [0] Little

   • [0] None

4. Were the Foundation's printed guidelines helpful?

   • [16] Yes

   • [0] No

5. Do you think the guidelines would be more helpful if they included other information?

   • [0] Yes

   • [16] No

6. How long did it take between the time you submitted your grant request to the Foundation and the time you received a determination?

   • [5] 1 Month or Less

   • [9] 1 – 2 Months

   • [2] More Than 2 Months

7. Did you receive a grant from the Foundation?

   • [15] Yes

   • [1] No

8. Were you given the opportunity to meet with Foundation staff to discuss the terms of the grant or the reasons your grant application was deferred or denied?

   • [13] Yes

   • [2] No

9. If your answer to #8 was YES, please rate how helpful the meeting was to you. If your answer was NO, please skip to step #14.

   • [12] Very helpful

   • [0] Somewhat helpful

   • [1] Not very helpful

   • [0] No help at all

   • [0] Not sure

10. What could be added to the meeting’s content to make it more beneficial to you?

    • Nothing that I can think of, I really appreciated the time we had with Deborah.

    • I can't think of anything. EBCF staff have always been professional, curious and very engaged in understanding about how to try to advance our mission.

    • Staff was very prepared and helpful. They provided very valuable input before and during grant process. The thoughtful, intelligent and respectful manner in which the process was handled should be a model for other funding sources/foundations. We were very impressed with the quality of the staff.

    • Nothing. Dave is very informative, clear in his communication, kind and considerate.

    • Everything covered.

    • For the Foundation to be more open and candid in their feedback.

11. What could be removed from the meeting’s content to make it more beneficial you?

    • Nothing.

    • N/A

12. What did you like best about the meeting?

    • The passion of the organization

    • I had some questions regarding how it could be implemented and she went over it all and made it very clear and I felt so much better after our meeting.

    • I left understanding exactly what was expected and when.

    • The Foundation staff always begin by asking - "What can we do to help YOU be more successful in meeting your mission?" That is SO refreshing. They often have great ideas about something we could do to stimulate more support OR they can connect like organizations towards a collaborative project. They are like Malcolm Gladwell "Connectors" except in the non-profit community.

    • It was clear the staff and board members were very prepared and understood not only the project for which funding was sought but also the overall work of the organization. The respect shown our staff and board members was much appreciated and contrasted well when compared to other funding sources.

    • The professionalism and passion of the staff.

    • Meeting David. No doubt. A real gentleman.

    • Honest feedback and ways to improve our organization; offer of alternative options in which the Foundation could help.

    • Very informative.

    • The relaxed yet professional atmosphere.

    • Willingness on Foundation's part to meet and that they listened.

13. What did you like least about the meeting?

    • Nothing

    • Not Candid

    • N/A

14. If you ran the Foundation, what would you do to improve the quality of its grant making process?

    • It actually seemed to me that the Bush Foundation really tries hard to assist the agency through the process.

    • I have dealt with several funders and find the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation to be extremely thorough and helpful.

    • I consider the Foundation as one of the most efficient in it's grant making process. Nothing!

    • Can't think of anything. You made a decision to prioritize your funding focus based on the needs that emerged during the economic downturn - it was a bold but important move on the Foundation's part.

    • The staff is very talented and has very valuable input and insight they can offer to those seeking funding. I believe more contact between the staff and the organizations they fund would strengthen not only the funded organizations but the community at large.

    • Not sure.

    • On personal meetings to be a bit less formal.