Supporting community projects through ActionFunder is an exciting way to drive local impact. Whether you’re funding as a business, foundation, or individual, here are some best-practice tips to help you fund effectively, fairly, and with long-term benefit in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When setting up your fund, clearly define your fund by using the set criteria. A well-scoped fund leads to stronger matches and better outcomes for everyone involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Take time to write a helpful fund description – this is your chance to tell non-profits exactly what you’re looking for. Be specific about what you will and won\u2019t fund, and outline what success looks like from your perspective. The clearer you are, the more likely you are to attract high quality, relevant applications from groups that align with your vision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u270d\ufe0f Tip: Use plain language and avoid jargon\u2014most community groups don\u2019t have professional bid writers!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Transparency builds trust. Be open about your expectations, decision-making process, and timelines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Aim to review and respond promptly to matches within the timelines you have set – especially if your fund has a short timeframe. Quick responses help community groups plan and deliver with confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not all community groups have full-time bid writers or dedicated fundraising teams. Being flexible with requirements and open to different kinds of impact can make your fund more accessible and inclusive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Great funding relationships go beyond a transaction. Stay in touch with the non-profits you support. Use the platform\u2019s messaging tool, visit project sites, or explore volunteering opportunities to deepen your impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Use the platform\u2019s reporting and feedback tools to understand what worked and what could be improved. Reviewing metrics like project outcomes, demographic reach, or match rates will help you refine your strategy over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Celebrate your grantees! Share their work on your website and social media, feature their stories in internal comms, and help them attract more supporters. It\u2019s a win-win. Your impact is amplified, and they get more visibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n –<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u270d\ufe0f<\/em> Remember: Being an effective funder isn\u2019t about being perfect. It\u2019s about being intentional, thoughtful, and engaged. With the right approach, you\u2019ll not only support incredible grassroots work – you\u2019ll build lasting relationships and stronger communities.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n –<\/p>\n\n\n\n Still have questions? Your Customer Success Manager is here to help, or reach out to us at customersuccess@actionfunder.org. Supporting community projects through ActionFunder is an exciting way to drive local impact. Whether you’re funding as a business, foundation, or individual, here are some best-practice tips to help you fund effectively, fairly, and with long-term benefit in mind. 1. Be clear about your priorities When setting up your fund,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"ht-kb-category":[25],"ht-kb-tag":[],"class_list":["post-68","ht_kb","type-ht_kb","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","ht_kb_category-getting-started"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/help.actionfunder.org\/funders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb\/68","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/help.actionfunder.org\/funders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/help.actionfunder.org\/funders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/ht_kb"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/help.actionfunder.org\/funders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/help.actionfunder.org\/funders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=68"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/help.actionfunder.org\/funders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb\/68\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/help.actionfunder.org\/funders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=68"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"ht_kb_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/help.actionfunder.org\/funders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb-category?post=68"},{"taxonomy":"ht_kb_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/help.actionfunder.org\/funders\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb-tag?post=68"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}2. Communicate transparently<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Be timely<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Be flexible where possible<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. Think beyond the money<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
6. Learn from each fund<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
7. Champion the projects and non-profits you fund<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"