What happens during the period of time after a proposal has been submitted but before the funder has made its decision? During this time, which from the nonprofit’s viewpoint may seem interminably long, there are some basic rules of etiquette that the agency should follow:
• Remember that honesty is always the best policy. Be forthright and candid in all communications with the grantmaker. It doesn’t do a nonprofit agency any good to hide or obfuscate the truth. It’s a small world, and the nonprofit universe is even smaller, so half-truths and exaggerations are likely to be found out eventually. If a foundation inquires about a sensitive issue (for example, high staff turnover or lower than expected program results), ...