In the world of philanthropy, choosing organizations and projects to fund is a first step for a grantor. For a project to truly succeed over the long term, a grantee needs to receive more than just a check. It needs a solid foundation of grant management skills, and an understanding of requirements, expectations, and best practices. This is the purpose of technical assistance, commonly referred to as TA. Through TA, grant experts provide the advice and tools necessary for a grantee to plan, run, and manage their grant-funded project effectively. TA focuses on improving the grantee’s knowledge of how to manage a grant effectively, to improve their chance of success.
For grantors, technical assistance acts as a safety net. It helps ensure that funds are handled properly and that the project doesn’t fall apart due to a lack of experience. For the grant recipients – especially smaller or newer ones – it acts as a powerful boost. It gives them the professional training they need to grow their operations, including grant accounting and project management skills. By focusing on grant-related business processes, TA makes sure that organizations don’t just survive the grant period, but actually become better at what they do.
To be truly effective, TA should be provided early with follow-up offered throughout the grant’s period of performance. TA should focus on several key areas. First, it should help grantees with financial management, teaching them how to build budgets and track spending so they are always ready for an audit. Next, help them navigate the mountain of paperwork and legal rules that often come with grants – especially larger and government grants. Build up the skills of the staff, training them in project management and data analysis. This helps a team move from simply “doing the work” to actually measuring how much of a difference they are making. Introduce new technology, particularly for small and new grantees who may not be computer-savvy. TA should present strategic planning practices, to make sure the grantee’s daily tasks align with its big-picture goals.
The way technical assistance is delivered can vary based on what a grantee needs most. Sometimes it happens in a classroom setting through expert-led workshops and training sessions with multiple grantees. Other times, it is more hands-on, involving one-on-one meetings or calls with consultants who dive deep into specific problems. Grantees might receive access to digital libraries of templates and guides they can use when needed. These materials can cover everything from fundraising and long-term planning to making sure the project is inclusive and reaches a diverse audience.
Ultimately, providing technical assistance marks a major change in how grantors think about giving. It moves the relationship from a simple business transaction to a realized partnership. By investing in improving a grantee’s knowledge and capabilities, a grantor ensures its money can create lasting change rather than just a temporary fix. For the grantee, this support serves as a bridge between receiving funding for a project and achieving permanent, sustainable growth.
Blue Sky Consulting can assist grantors and grantees with grant technical assistance training. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you.