“Site visits” by funders, foundations, and other donors to the nonprofits they support are one of the most important ways donors learn about the impact of their support and what nonprofits need to succeed. But they can also be fraught with the potential for stress, miscommunication, inefficient use of time, and problematic power dynamics.
With all that in mind, Philanthropy Massachusetts (PMA), the leading statewide philanthropy‑serving organization that counts both funders and nonprofits as members, has developed and made freely available a new “
Guide to Site Visits”, along with streamlined preparation checklists for both funders and nonprofit staff.
Jessica Berns, Senior VP, Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives, said: “It reflects wisdom and insights generously provided by dozens of PMA members and partners. We are especially grateful for the nonprofit staff who engaged in this process.”
In 2023, PMA’s Mid-to-Senior Level Program Staff Learning Network – one of our
many funder networks and collaboratives – held a program titled Site Visits to Deepen Knowledge & Relationships at which more than 50 funders participated. The session featured a panel of three nonprofit executives and was informed by a survey of our nonprofit community. The
recommendations from these nonprofits were heard by funders and inspired collaborative development of the guide and accompanying checklists tailored for funders and nonprofits.
Amy Hampe, Senior Program Officer at the Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation said: “In its “Guide to Site Visits,” PMA’s produced an insightful, concise, and practical tool that meets a real need for funders and nonprofits alike. It is unique in that it was created in close partnership with nonprofits and acknowledges the imbalance of power inherent to grantor/grantee relationships. It’s wonderful that PMA is making it available as a free resource that can benefit the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors not only throughout Massachusetts and New England, but across the country as well.”