Blood, Sweat & Fears Barry Smith

Outline Overview and challenges of current grantmaking environment Reflections on grantmaking in Australia over 30 years Design dimensions for contemporary grantmakers

What is grantmaking? “A grant is money that allows you (as grant applicant) to do very specific things that usually meet very specific guidelines that are spelled out in painstaking detail (by the grant maker) and to which you must respond very clearly in your grant proposal” (Karsh and Fox, 2003)

A changing nation needs a changed approach to grantmaking Labour force Family structures Decreased engagement in social institutions Technological changes Philanthropic changes Government Aspirations and expectations

Renewed interest in community Community capacity Community strength Community assets Community partnerships Community development

Phases of grantmaking in Australia Tears - blood, sweat & tears Fears - competition Jeers - dependency Seers - targeted, diverse, partnerships

Design dimensions for grantmakers community of location v community of interest universal v targeted input-output v outcomes focus purchaser-provider v participative-partnership product-service v process-capacity building established v emerging organisations big business-like v small-local integrated v differentiated

Design dimensions for grantmakers consolidation v innovation professional v volunteer for profit v not-for-profit recurrent v seeding consortiums v sole agent direct administration v third party administration IT v paper-based administration competitive tender v application/submission objective v subjective assessment criteria

Designing sophisticated grant programs for today Clear policy outcomes - based on analysis Vertical equity - targeted - do less better Different starting points - diverse responses Process and product - both desirable and measurable Complementing - not replacing or seconding existing and effective for-profit and not-for-profit responses