At the heart of our work is a commitment to listening to and learning from the communities and organizations we serve. As part of this commitment, last year we partnered with the North Carolina Network of Grantmakers (NCNG) to conduct a survey of our grantees to better understand their experiences with us and our grantmaking process. The responses we received have been invaluable in shaping our planning for the year ahead.
We are grateful to all our grantees who took the time to share their insights. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us refine our approach and ensure we are meeting the needs of those who rely on our support. Transparent feedback allows us to celebrate our successes and recognize areas where we can improve as we move forward.
Key Findings from Our Grantee Perception Survey:
- Strong Relationships: Many of our partners highlighted their appreciation for our team’s responsiveness, the sense of community we foster, and the tangible value we bring to their work.
- Alignment with Priorities: A large majority of respondents affirmed that our funding priorities align well with the needs of the communities we aim to support.
- Appreciated Practices: Grantees expressed satisfaction with our in-person visits, which have replaced traditional grant reports, and the availability of our conference center for meetings.
- Grant Decision Process: Our grantees feel that the process by which we make funding decisions is clear and transparent.
- Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Respondents recognized and appreciated our ongoing dedication to DEI principles within our operations and funding strategies.
- Communication: Several partners suggested that we could enhance communication around our funding priorities and community initiatives to ensure greater clarity.
- Desire for Flexible Funding: A few responses indicated a preference for more flexible, unrestricted grant funding to better meet the diverse needs of their organizations.
- Rural Focus: Some partners recommended increasing our focus on supporting rural areas, ensuring that all communities have access to our resources.
- Grant Cycle Length: A few grantees expressed a desire for shorter grant cycles to allow for more dynamic and responsive project planning.
- Conference Center Hours: One or two respondents requested extended hours for our conference center to accommodate a wider range of meeting schedules.
What Our Partners Are Saying:
Here’s a glimpse of the thoughtful feedback shared by our grantees:
- “Impact Alamance is actively engaged with the organizations and community members. They are incredibly supportive and exceptional at listening to the needs of the work we are trying to do.”
- “They look to build leaders within organizations and serve as a bridge within the community, fearlessly collaborating with people of all races and backgrounds.”
- “They bring the community together to help make change a possibility—fostering relationship-building and strategic visioning in every initiative.”
- “Flexible, forward-thinking, inclusive, progressive, transparent, and non-partisan—these are the values that define their approach.”
We are proud of the positive impact we have had in partnership with our grantees and are committed to continuous improvement. Our grantee and partner feedback helps us stay aligned with the needs of the communities we serve, and we look forward to refining our processes and expanding our support as we move forward together.
We are thankful for the collaboration and trust of our community partners. We couldn’t do this work without you.
