Conclusion

Grantmaking is a relational enterprise, and like any relationship it has its moments of sublime connection and its moments of frustrating miscommunication. It is an enterprise in which inequalities of wealth and power must be overcome, in which opposite numbers must find ways to communicate, and in which every phone call offers new opportunities for misunderstandings. Unlike Richard Nixon's press secretary Ron Ziegler, you do not have the luxury of saying “I misspoke myself” and soldiering on. You must choose words carefully, employ them with the proper tone, and work to banish ambiguity from all communications, whether with those outside the foundation or with colleagues. In short, excellence in grantmaking requires the specialized knowledge of the technocrat, the communication savvy of the diplomat, and, some would say, the breathtaking agility of an acrobat.