Welcome to Day 14 of the 30-Day Grant Readiness Challenge!

Establishing a fulfilling relationship with your funder is a major step toward long-term success. At its core, this is about trust-based philanthropy. Funder trust is built on accountability, transparency, and—most importantly—consistent communication that goes beyond the required report.

Today’s challenge is to pick up the phone and share a specific success story with a current grantmaker.

Phase 1: Before You Make the Call

Don’t go in “cold.” A little preparation goes a long way in calming nerves:

• Prepare Your Script: Write down three to five bullet points (or use our Talking Points Guide).
• Have the Folder Ready: Be prepared to answer quick questions about your programmatic or financial progress.
• Find Your Upbeat Voice: Take a quick walk before calling. Your physical energy translates through the phone.

Phase 2: During the Call

Remember, the funder is on your side. They want to see you succeed!

• Set an Agenda: State clearly: “I’m calling to share a quick two-minute success story and give you a brief update on our progress.”
• Focus on Mission Alignment: Share how the grantor’s support has directly allowed you to achieve the goals set in the original proposal.
• Be Honest about Challenges: If you’ve hit a minor roadblock, sharing it now builds more trust than waiting for a formal report later.
• Ask for Future Contact: Ask whether you can reach out quarterly with similar informal updates.

Phase 3: After the Call

• Update Your Team: Send a quick email to your grant team so that everyone is aware of the conversation.
• Save a Digital Note: Enter a brief outreach report about the call (in your organization’s relationship management system or your chosen method) to track how and when you’re stewarding the relationship.
• Calendar It: Set a reminder on your grant calendar to reach out again in 90 days.

Master Your Funder Conversations

Use these resources to make your outreach more effective:

• Review: Grantmaker Relationship Guide – Review additional talking points to help you while you reach out to grantmakers.
• Read: 10 Ways to Improve Relationships with Grantmakers – Explore more strategies for keeping the momentum going.
• Assess: How ready are you to manage these relationships? Check your score with the GRASP Tool.

Join the Discussion

We want to hear from you! What is the most memorable success story you’ve ever shared with a funder? How did they react?

Leave a note in the comments below and let us know how your call went!