The recent introductions and updates of new Federal grant regulations are focusing on themes such as transparency, performance, and compliance. To succeed in all these efforts, experts in the grants space are suggesting organizations focus on the more overarching concept of centralization.
This has led to organizations evaluating if and how they should invest in centralizing their grant processes to increase transparency, monitor performance, and maintain compliance.
Specifically, the debate of ad hoc processes versus formal centralization has emerged.
Ad hoc processes, or the management of grants on a case-by-case basis, may have been the primary grant management method in the past, but now, only a select few organizations can continue this practice without risking non-compliance.
Ad hoc processes could suffice for your organization if you:
a. Have very few awards to manage
b. Have a limited amount of funding complexity
c. Have one or fewer Federal awards in your grant portfolio
For most organizations, taking the time to institute formal centralization processes will be necessary to improve outcomes and comply with regulations.
In general, there are three main pillars that set the stage for formal centralization processes. Organizations who require formal processes should focus on:
Formalizing centralization also extends further than just implementing internal processes and adopting tools. If organizations want to fully formalize centralization, they must also:
Performance measurement is one of the practices your organization will need to centralize if you take the formal approach. To learn more about effective performance management, read AmpliFund’s latest blog on the topic.