Continuing the Conversation: Lessons from APC's Subgranting Experience
Association for Progressive Communications (APC) (2020), 52 pp.
ISBN 978-92-95113-38-1
"Subgranting is a readily accessible source of short- to medium-term financial support for organisations. It offers a flexibility in disbursing funds that is not often found in donors. It catalyses change in organisations. It can serve as “seed funding”, allowing new organisations to become known in an advocacy space. It allows for experimentation, innovation, and unpredictability. It allows organisations to strengthen the work they are already doing, and empowers them to seek funding elsewhere based on new experiences and knowledge.
• Transparency in deciding how funds are disbursed is essential. APC has tried different models for subgranting, including a centralised decision-making model, which offers autonomy for member organisations to decide on a project’s focus within a broad framework of shared objectives; a decentralised model with a thematic focus, working with members and new partners; and a collective decision-making model, that is issue based, working with a network of like-minded activists. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, and the most appropriate mechanisms for transparency might depend on the size of the project or initiative, and the overall objectives of the subgranting work.
• Clear communication is necessary for meeting concrete deliverables, for growing a community or network, and for transparency. Make sure meanings are aligned and shared, even in like-minded networks. This streamlines the process, avoids disappointment, and ensures clearer outcomes.
• Subgranting can be used effectively for outreach to meet and work with new organisations at the local level, growing a network or membership base, and increasing the profile of an organisation at the grassroots level.
• Thematically focused or issue-based subgranting programmes can encourage a greater level of interaction between organisations, and allow cross-border advocacy with the potential of amplifying advocacy impact. However, collaboration needs to be created – it does not happen on its own. It requires processes and specific considerations, such as the type of decision-making structure to follow, thatcreate the context for cooperation to happen." (Key lessons from APC’s subgranting work, pgae 50)
• Transparency in deciding how funds are disbursed is essential. APC has tried different models for subgranting, including a centralised decision-making model, which offers autonomy for member organisations to decide on a project’s focus within a broad framework of shared objectives; a decentralised model with a thematic focus, working with members and new partners; and a collective decision-making model, that is issue based, working with a network of like-minded activists. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, and the most appropriate mechanisms for transparency might depend on the size of the project or initiative, and the overall objectives of the subgranting work.
• Clear communication is necessary for meeting concrete deliverables, for growing a community or network, and for transparency. Make sure meanings are aligned and shared, even in like-minded networks. This streamlines the process, avoids disappointment, and ensures clearer outcomes.
• Subgranting can be used effectively for outreach to meet and work with new organisations at the local level, growing a network or membership base, and increasing the profile of an organisation at the grassroots level.
• Thematically focused or issue-based subgranting programmes can encourage a greater level of interaction between organisations, and allow cross-border advocacy with the potential of amplifying advocacy impact. However, collaboration needs to be created – it does not happen on its own. It requires processes and specific considerations, such as the type of decision-making structure to follow, thatcreate the context for cooperation to happen." (Key lessons from APC’s subgranting work, pgae 50)
1. Introduction, 3
2. Working in context: Perspectives from organisations who have benefited from APC’s subgranting programme, 8
Getting off the ground -- Speaking the same language -- Creating space to move -- Building collaborations -- Working with power
3. A Feminist Tech Exchange, 31
4. “Connecting the Unconnected”: Building a grassroots movement through subgranting, 35
5. From the inside, 42
6. Conclusion: “Going in with eyes open...”, 47
7. Key lessons from APC’s subgranting work, 50
2. Working in context: Perspectives from organisations who have benefited from APC’s subgranting programme, 8
Getting off the ground -- Speaking the same language -- Creating space to move -- Building collaborations -- Working with power
3. A Feminist Tech Exchange, 31
4. “Connecting the Unconnected”: Building a grassroots movement through subgranting, 35
5. From the inside, 42
6. Conclusion: “Going in with eyes open...”, 47
7. Key lessons from APC’s subgranting work, 50
