The Insider's Guide to Grantmaking: How Foundations Find, Fund, and Manage Effective Programs

Relations with Colleagues

In any foundation large enough to employ more than a single program officer, it is important to consider the relationships between and among staff members. Perhaps the most obvious of these considerations is a concern for how the daily flow of work is handled. For example, if a proposal is sent to you by the applicant, do you automatically handle it, or is there a mechanism for transferring it to a different program officer who may have more expertise in the area covered by the proposal? If you are planning on meeting with an applicant, by what criteria will it be decided whether or not colleagues are invited to attend the meeting?

You can avoid much friction with your colleagues by reaching an agreement as to how the ...