Oak 9b Effective Grant-Making Guidance

A clear and measurable goal that a grant aims to achieve.

The specific results or changes that are expected to happen as a result of the grant's objectives.

The process of regularly monitoring and assessing the progress of a grant project to ensure it's on track to achieve its objectives and outcomes.

A dedicated section within a grant application form where the organization outlines its plan for tracking the progress of the project.

A specific budget line allocated within a grant budget for covering the costs associated with tracking project progress.

Funding provided to an organization without restrictions on how it can be used.

Funding given for a specific project with clearly defined activities and a related budget.

A type of core support grant that covers the costs of a specific work program within an organization. This is typically used when a large organization has multiple programs, and Oak wants to fund only a specific one.

Project grants provided to help build an organization's capacity.

A combination of core and project funding. It provides core support with a specific objective and defined outcomes.

A cycle where underinvestment in administrative functions leads to a lack of resources, which further limits growth and perpetuates the cycle.

All the expenses related to a project, including both direct costs (materials, labor) and indirect costs (administration, overhead).

The practice of using core funding to address the issues caused by underinvestment in administrative functions. This can help break the starvation cycle.

The ability for an organization to make better use of available resources, such as grants.

An increase in the amount of funding an organization receives.

Programs become more effective and achieve their goals better.

An organization gains recognition, respect, and trust within the community.

An organization can influence the direction of its field, even leading others in its area.

The internal culture of an organization becomes more positive, collaborative, and efficient.

Staff members are more motivated, satisfied, and perform at a higher level.

An organization is better prepared to handle challenges and adapt to changing circumstances.

A grant that combines core support with specific organizational strengthening (OS) support, addressing the partner's internal needs alongside their core strategy.

Funding provided to support a specific project or initiative within a larger organization, when Oak's grant aligns with only a portion of their broader mission.

Grants awarded to support projects or initiatives that align with Oak's goals, even if there is no overall strategic alignment with the partner organization.

A specialized type of grant aimed at addressing specific internal needs or weaknesses within a partner organization, often awarded alongside a project grant.

Different methods used to determine how much of the grant funds can be used to cover the organization's operational costs.

Costs associated with running an organization, such as administration, fundraising, and management.

A practice where grantmakers encourage grantees to include a fair share of indirect costs in project budgets.

An outdated idea that low indirect costs ensure more money goes directly to program activities.

The ability of an organization to recover the full cost of its operations, including both direct and indirect costs.

Flexibility in how much is allocated for indirect costs, taking into account factors like organizational size and complexity.

Support provided to organizations to improve their cost recovery practices and ensure sufficient funding for both direct and indirect costs.

A funding strategy that aims to fully cover the costs of an organization's operations, promoting financial sustainability and long-term impact.

A method used to allocate indirect costs to projects. It is calculated as a percentage of indirect costs divided by the sum of direct costs and unrestricted fundraising costs.

The practice of ensuring that project budgets accurately reflect all expenses, including both direct and indirect costs. It helps ensure that projects are adequately funded and that organizations can track their progress and financial health.

Costs shared among multiple activities, like staff time split across different projects or facilities used for various purposes. These costs need to be allocated proportionally based on usage.

A method for allocating shared costs across multiple activities based on a reasonable estimate of resource usage for each activity. Allocation bases should be accurate, consistently applied, and appropriate for the cost being distributed.

Costs incurred in the process of managing and supporting projects, but not directly linked to the project activities themselves, such as staff recruitment for a project, financial record-keeping, and ensuring donor compliance.

Costs directly linked to fundraising efforts that are not restricted by a donor or grant, such as marketing or development staff salaries.