Drowning in Paperwork, Distracted from Purpose

Challenges and Opportunities in Grant Application and Reporting

Jessica Bearman

2008, 43 pages. Project Streamline, www.projectstreamline.org

http://www.projectstreamline.org/doc/PDF_Report_final.pdf

The philanthropic community faces an effectiveness paradox. Funders, striving to be strategic and diligent, adopt what they believe to be sensible application and reporting requirements. But these practices—multiplied by thousands of grantmakers—place a heavy burden on organizations seeking and receiving funding, hampering their ability to be efficient with their time and effective in their missions. The report is published by Project Streamline, a collaboration of eight prominent organizations representing grantmakers and grantseekers, that plans to continue to engage grantmakers and grantseekers in a conversation about improving grant information gathering for a stronger, more effective sector.