THE AAWGT GRANTS PROCESS

Application to Evaluation to Grantmaking to Follow-Up

A Short Summary

Grantmaking is the heart and soul of Anne Arundel Women Giving Together (AAWGT), and our initial reason for coming together as a group — to pool our money to make the most difference in the lives of women and families in our county.

This process mobilizes the dedication, capabilities and thoughtfulness of many, many women each year, and the committees that they join. These committees include the Grants Committee, the Post-Grants Evaluation Committee and the Grants Systems Committee.

The GRANTS COMMITTEE consists of a Chair and Co-chair, Team Leaders and Reviewers. Each Team Leader will have 4-6 Reviewers on her team and will be assigned to 4-5 Applicant Organizations, depending on the number of applications received that year. Its main task is to evaluate applications for voting by the full membership. Although the focus of the Grants Committee’s work is February through May/June, it is active all year evaluating the current process and polishing the application process for the coming year.

The POST-GRANTS EVALUATION COMMITTEE consists of a Chair and Co-Chair, and Liaisons. Two to three liaisons are assigned to each ongoing grant to provide leadership, oversight, encouragement and structure. The Grantees are required to provide two reports each year (Interim in November and Final in August), which the Post-Grants Evaluation Committee evaluates and then provides its own interpretation and appraisal. This committee sponsors a Grants Showcase in September, at which last year’s grantees highlight the impact of AAWGT’s grant funds. The committee liaisons keep in touch with their grantee counterparts throughout the year.

The GRANTS SYSTEMS COMMITTEE maintains the Foundant grants management system, and works with the Grants and Post-Grants Evaluation Committees to create the templates for the Application, the Follow-Ups, and other necessary reports. The Committee keeps an electronic repository of all grant-related documents and communications. This committee also provides ‘Help Desk’ services to applicants during the application process and to the Grants and Post-Grants Evaluation Committees as requested.

In a typical year, we will release the grant RFP in January and grant funding will begin July 1.