Update
What to Expect in 2012
When Project Streamline was launched in 2007, we had three key goals:
- Identify the flaws in the current application, monitoring, and reporting practices of grantmakers
- Develop recommended principles, resources, and tools to help grantmakers address those flaws
- Support grantmakers’ efforts to change
The first two goals were accomplished with (i) a survey of the field in 2007, (ii) the release of the report Drowning in Paperwork, Distracted from Purpose in 2008, (iii) conversations with the field in 2009, and (iv) the launch of tools and resources like the Guide to Streamlining Series and the Assessment Tool in 2010 and 2011.
So, what’s next?
As Project Streamline enters its sixth year we will continue to raise awareness in the philanthropic community of the burden that application and reporting practices place on grantseekers and provide resources to grantmakers to support change.
The goals for 2012 are to:
- Continue the field-wide momentum to eliminate unnecessary and burdensome practices by sharing concrete, replicable ideas and examples of what works and how change positively impacts both grantmakers and grantseekers. We will accomplish this goal by hosting web discussions, making presentations, and capturing and disseminating streamlining stories through this newsletter and other vehicles. Have a great streamlining idea or story? Contact Catherine Downs at cdowns@gmnetwork.org to share it.
- Assess the impact of Project Streamline to date to (a) determine to what extent the field has streamlined and (b) identify opportunities for the field to streamline further. We expect this will result in some exciting new ideas for Project Streamline tools and resources.
Stay tuned! We’ll report back with more stories, ideas, and the results of our assessment as we move through 2012.