The Harvest Foundation released results from its 2023 Grantee Perception Report, conducted by The Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP).
The survey, conducted over May and June of 2023, was sent to all organizations that applied for funding from The Harvest Foundation throughout 2021 and 2022. A total of 36 surveys were sent with 29 responses received for a total survey response rate of 81 percent.
CEP did not report or share individual results or identifying characteristics with Harvest. The names of survey respondents were omitted and all comments were edited to remove potentially identifying details so the results remain anonymous.
“Receiving candid feedback from our grant applicants is a valuable tool that we use to continually assess our effectiveness and build processes that not only work for Harvest but work for our grantee partners,” said Kate Keller, president of The Harvest Foundation.
The survey included themes that evaluated the foundation’s:
Impact on the grantees’ fields, communities, and organizations;
Understanding of intended beneficiaries and challenges;
Interactions and communications with grantees;
Application, reporting, and evaluation processes;
Assistance beyond the grant;
Diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies.
Compared to CEP’s overall cohort of peer funders, Harvest grantees rated the foundation higher than typical funders in most areas of the report. A major strength of The Harvest Foundation, as concluded by the report, is external engagement. Harvest’s understanding of the grantees’ local community and the communities they serve received a high rating.
Harvest also received ratings in the top five percent of CEP’s cohort for its relationships with grantees, including responsiveness, candor, and openness to ideas from grantees about programs and strategies. The foundation provides a higher than typical amount of non-monetary assistance to grantees, nearly 80 percent compared to 58 percent at a typical funder.
While Harvest is rated higher than typical for many measures related to grantee relationships, ratings for relevance, adaptability, and straightforwardness of its reporting process are less positive.
“These survey results are a great indicator of what we’re doing well and where we can make improvements,” Keller said. “It helps us expand our reach and build better relationships to achieve the vision of a Martinsville-Henry County where everyone shares in the promise of a healthy, prosperous, and vibrant community.”
Visit theharvestfoundation.org to view the report’s executive summary prepared by CEP.
