Scanning Builds Relationships

Scanning does more than gather data; it makes connections. As a program officer at an American regional foundation described it, “Scanning is about more than just plucking information. The process of conducting a scan can help you develop relationships and connect more deeply with the grantee community.” A scan can help you:

  • Get to know people and organizations working in the field
  • Test ideas or funding strategies before committing significant resources
  • Inform potential grantees about your funding interests
  • Strengthen ties among people working on similar issues
  • Be more accountable to the community or field

Takeaways are critical, bite-sized resources either excerpted from our guides or written by Candid Learning for Funders using the guide's research data or themes post-publication. Attribution is given if the takeaway is a quotation.

This takeaway was derived from Scanning the Landscape 2.0.

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