It may be the best money you invest. Trust is not a static condition. For better or worse, there is a power differential in the relationship between funder and grantee. Maintaining productive and healthy relationships requires constant attention. An internal champion for the capacity-building work is vital to the success of the project.
Grantees have important, often urgent, work to do.
Organization-building takes longer and is harder than anyone thinks. We hear this over and over again from our grantees as they reflect back on their OE work. Holding an organizational effectiveness grantee to a tight time-line can actually inhibit learning and lead to posturing and lack of candor in reporting. We reassure our grantees that we will extend a grant period if progress is being made and more time is needed. A grant for planning, training, assessment, or evaluation will not help an organization in crisis.