Managing Expectations in Landscape Scanning

Recognize that scanning inevitably raises hopes of a possible grant. Consulting potential grantees during a scan “obviously generates expectations,” said one funder. “I don’t think you can eliminate that, although you can try to mitigate it by being forthright. I tell people, we’re at a learning or search stage right now. We’re trying to decide if we want to go into the space. If we do, I will need to present a strategy to the board and get it approved, along with a budget. So we’re some distance away from a grant right now.”