Recognizing Support and the Final Report/Evaluation

There are a few key steps to recognizing financial support:

1. Send a "Thank You" note immediately upon receipt of funding. It is critical that you acknowledge foundation support. Remind the foundation how you will be using the money and how many people will be served.
2. Marketing - Most funders request that you acknowledge support in collateral related to the project they are funding. You should receive specific instructions for recognizing support. If not, here are a few good rules of thumb:
   • If you receive operating support, the foundation should be mentioned on your website and in your season brochure.
   • If you receive project support, the foundation should be mentioned on all materials related to the project.
   • If you receive major support and would like to notify the press, discuss this with your foundation liaison.
   • Refer to Searching for Grants for more information on recognizing funders.
3. Complete your Final Report/Evaluation as requested upon receipt of funding. Some foundations will provide a form to use when reporting. Others simply request that you send them an update in one year. The Final Report should include:

• Amount of Funding
• Project Funded
• Brief Description of Project or Program
• Goals/Objectives stated in proposal
• Actual results: Number of services, number of people served, geographic impact. This should include a description of tools and a summary of data captured to evaluate goals and objectives (survey, focus group, ticket sales, etc.). Data should be quantitative.
• Final budget for project (only if requested)
• Narrative evaluation of success or failure of program/project
• Description of how funding from this foundation impacted your program/project and why the funding was important (it is also helpful to include if this funding helped leverage other support).
• Include any press clippings or collateral material about the project, especially that which recognizes support from this foundation