Site visits are one of the best ways to make grant decisions because in essence, site visits are a living, breathing grant proposal. These visits give you the chance to connect directly with the organization’s board and staff, discover things that can’t be learned from a written proposal, and clarify information that is important to your foundation.

This primer gives you the tools you need to get the most out of your site visits. With a focus on the grant selection process, the primer is designed to help you:

• Develop a site visit strategy to determine which organizations you want to visit, and what is important to look for when you go.
• Prepare for and conduct the visit so that the experience is productive and positive for you and the grantseeker.
• Record and use the information you gained to make grant decisions.

When you see organizations up close, you will not only be able to help your board make better grant decisions, but also engage them in new ways, connecting them more deeply with the foundation’s grantmaking.

32 pages