Technical Assistance
While the VNA Foundation’s primary function is to support nonprofit organizations through grants, we recognize that true partnership involves sharing time and insight. The VNA practices trust-based philanthropy, aimed at creating collegial, respect-based relationships where all parties are heard and all experience is valued. Our seasoned staff prioritizes accessibility and transparency with our nonprofit partners, and we welcome questions, exploratory conversations, and opportunities to exchange ideas. Our technical assistance offerings take many forms.
Thought-partnership around regional connections
Our focus is on the Greater North Penn region, and our Staff and Board have developed lots of relationships with providers and leaders in our community. If you are launching a new program in our region, want to connect with people or organizations whose work might complement your own efforts, or simply looking to get involved and don’t know where to start, we are happy to point you in the right direction and put you in touch.
Open discussions about grant alignment/eligibility
Responsive, respectful real-time discussions to help determine whether your nonprofit organization should take the time to apply for funding, and guidance on what type of funding to seek, ideas for partnerships, etc. Simply email us to request a time to talk by phone, Zoom or in person, and we’ll gladly schedule a meeting to explore your options and share our feedback.
Guidance on alternate sources of support
If we cannot fund your work (in part or in full), we might know of another funder who could be a good fit for your project/organization, and we will help with an introduction or support wherever possible.
Reporting conversations
Since 2021, our practice at the VNAF has been to eliminate written grant reports and simply schedule 30-minute Zoom conversations with all of our nonprofit partners once a year, toward the end of the grant period. We recognize that our nonprofit partners are busy and that paperwork is often the last thing they have time to do. In these conversations, we welcome the participation of anyone involved in the project/organization, from Executive Directors to Development officers and Program Staff or Volunteers. The VNAF often involves our Board members in the conversations as well, to enhance the person-to-person understanding. Our goal for these reporting sessions is to listen to where our partners are, where they are heading, trends on their horizon, and not to focus just on grant outcomes. We also use these conversations as an opportunity for both grantor and grantee to share feedback and ask questions, or to make suggestions regarding potential partners or other funders who might be interested in the work. We are heartened to see that these reporting conversations have been tremendously well-received by our grantee partners.
