Are you a grant recipient who’s been asked to submit a report? Wondering what’s expected and how to go about it? This post will walk you through the basics of successful grant reporting. We include tips, best practices, and a grant reporting template to make the process less intimidating, so you can focus on delivering great results for your cause.
A grant report is a document that tells the funder how you used their money and what outcomes resulted from their investment. Grant reporting is also sometimes called “progress reporting.” As a grant recipient, you likely had to submit a detailed proposal outlining your project plan and budget in order to receive funding. The grant report is your chance to show what you’ve accomplished with the funder’s money and whether or not you met your milestones. This is also an opportunity to share lessons learned and make a case for continued funding. Some nonprofit CRMs include capabilities for grant managemen t , so you can track all of your grants, how much was given, requirements, and deadlines for submitting your grant reports, so you never miss a deadline.
Every funder has different grant reporting requirements, so be sure to read the guidelines carefully before you start writing. With that said, there are some elements that are typically included in a grant report:
Now that we’ve covered what a grant report is and why it’s important, let’s dive into the nitty-gritty of grant reporting best practices.
Before you start writing, it’s important to understand who will be reading your report. Will it be just the funder? Or will it be shared with other stakeholders, like board members or the media?
Your grant report should be tailored to your audience. If it’s just for the funder, you can focus on the data and results. But if it will be shared more broadly, you’ll want to make sure it tells a compelling story and showcases your organization in the best light.
Most funders have specific grant reporting requirements, so be sure to read their guidelines carefully before you start writing. Some funders may have a preferred format, while others will give you more freedom in how you structure your report.
Remember, your audience is busy! Keep your report short and to the point. focus on the information that’s most important and interesting to your reader.
A good grant report should tell a story about your project. Start with an introduction that sets the stage, then provide details about what you did and what happened as a result.
Use data and quotes to help bring your story to life. And be sure to end with a conclusion that sums up your results and highlights any lessons learned.
No one wants to read a long, dense grant report. Breaking up your text with images, graphs, and other visuals will make your report more engaging and easier to read.
When you make claims about your project’s impact, be sure to back them up with data. This could include things like statistics on programs and services generated from your nonprofit CRM , customer surveys, before-and-after photos, or testimonials from beneficiaries.
Once you’ve written your grant report, put it away for a day or two before you start editing. This will help you come back to it with fresh eyes. Then, read through your report carefully and make any necessary changes.
Be sure to check for spelling and grammar errors and make sure you’re following any specific grant reporting requirements outlined by the funder. If possible, ask someone else to read your report and give you feedback.