# Grantmaking Process: Examples + Inspiration

As you form your Community Fund, consider how the fund will give money to charities. 

We find that transparency around your grantmaking process is a helpful way to share your operating principles with potential supporters, and establish the fund as a trustworthy giving vehicle.

## Our grantmaking process

The following questions and responses are examples intended to guide your thinking on how your Community Fund will distribute grants to charities, based on our experience with a variety of fund managers. 

These are just examples - feel free to modify the questions and responses included on your fund page to fit your story.

### Who primarily makes grant decisions?

*Example responses:*

* The fund manager(s) directly
* The hosting charity (for giving syndicates)
* A committee of decision makers
* A democratic group of supporters (e.g., via voting system)

### How are grant decisions evaluated?

*Example responses:*

* This fund has pre-selected charities that we support: Charity Name 1, Charity Name 2, etc.
* Charities may apply for grants from our community fund. We evaluate grant requests according to the following criteria: alignment to mission, effectiveness, etc.
* Charities are nominated for consideration by fund supporters, and evaluated based on the following criteria: alignment to mission, effectiveness, etc.

### How frequently are grants made?

*Example responses:*

* Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly
* After fund reaches $X in available balance
* At the discretion of the fund manager

### How is the size of the grant determined?

*Example responses:*

* In accordance with the size of charity need
* In fixed increments (e.g., always grants of $X)
* Proportionally, based on our level of support (e.g., we give X% of our quarterly grant value to the charity with the most votes from supporters, X% to the charity with the second most votes, and so forth)

### Will grants be designated for specific purposes?

*Example responses:*

* No, grants are able to used wherever needed by the charity
* Some grants will be restricted to specific purposes, projects, or campaigns
* Yes, most of our grants to organizations may only be used for specific purposes