Where does the money come from for providing benefits to funders and supporters? Is that part of the grant request?
No, the organization provides the funds needed for funder benefits. This is why it’s so important to be conservative and wise in choosing which benefits to offer your supporters. Generally speaking, award acknowledgment in published materials, such as quarterly or annual reports or on your organization’s Web site, is a cost-effective way to go. On the other hand, if your organization promises an awards dinner, then you would need to plan this dinner very carefully. You would want to arrange for local and regional businesses and individuals to donate the majority of the dinner’s expenses. In the case of corporate donors, it’s accepted as standard practice to use a small percentage of their gift to help publicize their community involvement and generosity. With government and foundation funding sources, however, it’s not appropriate to use a percentage of the award to acknowledge the funder. Remember, it’s always best to ask the funder how they would like to be acknowledged!
