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What happens at a site visit?
How should I prepare for a site visit?
How many people should I have present at the site visit? How should I choose those people?
If a member of one of the Foundation’s advisory committees attends the site visit, does that mean we have a better chance of receiving funding?
How many organizations that receive site visits are typically declined? What happens at a site visit?
The site visit is an opportunity for The Denver Foundation to develop a deeper understanding of your organization and your proposal. The assigned Program Officer will get a chance to meet you face-to-face and discuss specific details about your organization’s programs, staffing, financial situation, board of directors, etc. It is also an opportunity for you to bring your organization “to life” in a way that just doesn’t happen by reading a proposal. While Program Officers necessarily ask a lot of questions, we strive to have the site visit be a two-way exchange of information. Site visits normally last about 1 ½ hours.
How should I prepare for a site visit?
You are the expert about your organization, so you will probably be able to answer most questions with little difficulty. The most important thing is to re-read your proposal and to have it available during the site visit. Try to imagine what kind of questions you would ask if you were just learning about your organization. Some Program officers develop a list of questions that they will forward to you before the site visit, but there are always questions that arise spontaneously during the discussion. A site visit is not a test, it’s a discussion, and if there is some information you don't have readily available, it can be supplied later to the program officer.
How many people should I have present at the site visit? How should I choose those people?
Too many people can overwhelm a site visit and also extend the time by quite a bit. We definitely recommend against having a really big group – say, more than three or four people. Your Program Officer will make suggestions about who you might include. Someone else from The Denver Foundation may accompany the Program Officer. That may be another staff member, a member of the advisory committee that will be reviewing your proposal, or a donor. If this is the case, the Program Officer will let you know who else will be coming.
If a member of one of the Foundation’s advisory committees attends the site visit, does that mean we have a better chance of receiving funding?
Not really, since funding depends on many factors. Program Officers think of themselves as being advocates for the organization they are reviewing. Assuming the site visit goes well, if an advisory committee member attends the site visit your organization will have two advocates, rather than one, at the meeting where funding is decided.
How many organizations that receive site visits are typically declined?
About 5-10%. Many organizations, however, receive less than the amount they requested in their proposal.
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