Grantmaking Process
The Doris Duke Foundation’s program staff conducts extensive research to identify gaps or needs that the foundation can address in the fields it supports. Typically, this research leads to the development of a grant initiative, which supports a set of related grants that advance a specific goal or objective.
Once an initiative is developed, grants are awarded in a variety of ways, including foundation-initiated invitations to apply, regranting competitions that are administered by service organizations and competitions that are run using request-for-proposal processes. Occasionally, the foundation also supports opportunistic grants that are more broadly related to the programs' missions. While there are some overarching similarities, each DDF program approaches grantmaking in a unique way.
Criteria
While the method for awarding a grant may differ among programs and initiatives, consideration always is given to the following criteria:
- Does the project address a significant funding gap or support a critical opportunity related to the foundation's mission?
- Is the project designed to achieve both the objectives of the applicant organization and the program goals of the foundation?
- What is the project's potential for long-term impact in terms of replication, reach, visibility or changes in the field?
- Does the applicant organization have the capacity to effectively execute the project?
- What opportunity exists to leverage additional resources as a result of DDF funding?
Evaluation
The foundation conducts evaluation of its grants and programs in an ongoing cycle of assessment and program refinement. DDF's evaluation objectives are two-fold:
Strategies
DDF employs three main evaluation strategies that build on and inform each other over time. The foundation's programs tailor each of the three strategies as appropriate to accommodate their diverse grantmaking approaches.
Monitoring and Assessment
Through site visits, grantee consultations and review of annual progress reports, staff determines compliance with grant agreements and assesses initial outputs, outcomes and indicators that are likely to correlate with the future impact of the grant. This is an ongoing process conducted by internal staff and, as needed, outside consultants.
Evaluation of Initiatives
A specific initiative or cluster of related grants is selected for a more intensive review. This type of evaluation usually involves outside consultants to determine whether funded initiatives appear to be achieving their desired goals and objectives. Results help staff determine whether refinement in the initiative design is needed, and/or whether continued funding is merited. This process is conducted every three to five years, by internal staff together with consultants and/or field experts.
External Program Review
The foundation's starting point in creating new initiatives is analyzing a field, or sectors within a field, to identify potential funding opportunities. It is also the point to which staff return every five years to conduct a systematic review of DDF-supported fields and the foundation's role within them. The staff then assesses how to incorporate the findings in the refinement or redesign of program strategies or initiatives (or their elimination) and continues/repeats the evaluation cycle. These reviews are conducted approximately every five years using outside consultants and/or field experts.
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