Grantee Perception Report - The Tull Charitable Foundation

Better partnerships begin with listening.

We believe the organizations we support should help shape how we show up to our Grantees. This report shares what we heard, what we’ve learned and how we’re putting that feedback into action.

Pictured: Global Village Project

Center for Effective Philanthropy Report (PDF)

Tull Foundation engages the Center for Effective Philanthropy

In 2023, the Foundation engaged the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) to collect candid perspectives of our grantees to improve the effectiveness of our grantmaking.

This valuable feedback and the insight shared are helping the Tull Charitable Foundation remain as impactful as possible for the organizations we are privileged to support. We chose CEP because its survey-based assessments are designed to gather insights from our most important stakeholders while providing actionable benchmarking across hundreds of funders of every type and size.

The results of the CEP Grantee Perception Survey and our continuing efforts to improve in response to that feedback are shared below.

Center for Effective Philanthropy Report (PDF)

Our Response

We believe in building transparent and trusting partnerships. The feedback we received is guiding our efforts to continue being relational and responsive, particularly in improving the overall grantee experience.

The following is an update on the important steps we’ve taken in response to the findings of the Grantee Perception Report:

LOI and Grant Application Process Improvements

Spring-Summer 2023: Together with the R. Howard Dobbs, Jr. Foundation and the Sartain Lanier Family Foundation, we created a common Letter of Inquiry (LOI) and streamlined the grant application. Word count suggestions were added to narrative fields to help applicants make the best use of their time.
June 2024: We updated the Foundation’s grant agreements to better reflect the partnerships we seek to build with grantees. Rather than requiring formal grant reports, we now request updates on progress toward the goals outlined in each application. New grantee partners also have the option to provide updates through a meeting with Foundation staff instead of written submissions.

Reporting Improvements

September 2023: We informed grantees that, effective immediately, reporting would move from semi-annual to annual.
Fall 2023: All interim and final updates began being submitted electronically through the GivingData grants management portal rather than by mail or email.
Winter 2023: We streamlined annual reporting by reducing the amount of information requested.
- Interim updates include a list of funding commitments and a description of project progress (750-word maximum).
- Final updates include a list of funding commitments and a brief narrative outlining accomplishments and impact on the organization’s strategic goals (750-word maximum).
June 2024: We updated the language in our grant agreements to better reflect the partnerships we seek to build with grantees. The terms report and reporting have been replaced with update and updating throughout our grant agreements.

Communications

By the Fall 2024, The Foundation will clarify language throughout our website to provide grantees with a clearer understanding of the Foundation’s broader work and how funded projects align with our grantmaking priorities.
By the end of 2024, The Foundation will introduce an updated communications plan informed by feedback gathered through a series of focus groups with grantees who participated in the CEP survey.

“Working with the Tull Foundation has been a collaborative and supportive experience. Tull has a sincere understanding and appreciation for the current environment and provides resources to address the current opportunities.”

Libby Saylor Wright, President & CEO
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta