Crafting the Questions and Concerns

The number of questions that could be asked in a Q&C, of course, is virtually limitless. The only questions that should be asked are those that will elicit information needed to write the funding document and to defend it before the internal committee or the board of trustees (or both). If you will not need data for these purposes, then the Q&C should not request such data. This simple test will save time for all involved, both you and the grantseeker.

Most of the questions in a Q&C will be strictly factual, designed to gain information: “How many people will the project serve? What will be the cost per person? How will the project's outcomes be evaluated?” There is also, however, a need for occasional leading questions, designed to make the grantseeker defend a position: “Do you believe that the best approach to promote a childhood vaccination campaign is through advertisements in periodicals? If so, why?” Leading questions can also be very pointed, so as to help the grantseeker fix mistakes in the proposal: “All studies of which we are aware suggest that your conclusion regarding the first point on page three is in error. Could you provide additional support for your position? If you are unable to provide additional support for this conclusion, would you consider withdrawing it?”

Concerns, like questions, could be offered in virtually infinite numbers. It is best, however, to limit them to major issues on which the foundation has policies—or strong opinions, at least. For example, if the proposal has no evaluation section and the foundation requires that projects be evaluated, then you should state as a concern the need to include an evaluation plan in the addendum. Similarly, if the line item for personnel is higher than the foundation considers reasonable, then you should state that fact as a concern—and counter with an amount that is considered reasonable. An important rule to remember is never to ask a question when the answer is not negotiable. If the proposal contains a line item titled Contingency and the foundation's policy does not allow for such a line item, then that fact should be stated. There is no point in asking the grantseeker to justify something that will be disallowed anyway.