Adapting During Turbulent Times

If the past year has taught us anything, it’s that adaptability is an organizational imperative and that established ways of working are failing to address the urgency of the moment. The result is inefficiency, lost time, and unnecessary administrative burden for the most vulnerable grantees that are in immediate need of support. If the near-term challenge for many funders is to quickly react to emergencies, the long-term opportunity is to share power with grantees, build trust, and institutionalize these changes once the current crisis has abated. Adapting quickly in turbulent times requires grants management systems that can adapt with you. In this session, the panelists will discuss the lessons they learned from adapting their grant-management systems and practices in three areas: application review, grant management and monitoring, and program strategy. Attendees will also learn the benefits of implementing purpose-built technologies that can adapt quickly; see specific examples of practices and systems that were adapted in response to urgent needs; and understand how adaptability can improve efficiency, reduce the administrative burden on grantees, and strengthen the relationship between funders and their nonprofit partners.

Speakers