Advice from International Grantseekers

We asked a number of grantees who contributed to this guide to share their thoughts on what they wish grantmakers in the United States knew (and would remember) when working with grantseekers in other countries. Here's what they had to say:

• People in other countries may not understand how U.S. philanthropy works or your role as a grantmaker. Remember, cautioned one grantee, that the people you talk with may not understand whether you're collecting ideas or actually making decisions.
• A model that works well in one place won't necessarily work in another. Local culture - including attitudes toward entrepreneurship, patterns of graft and corruption, and views toward outsiders - can doom a project to failure, even if the approach has worked elsewhere.
• Try to clarify the meaning of technical terms. Terms that mean one thing in the United States may have different meanings or connotations in other countries. Try to spend time discussing what all parties really hope will be accomplished and how the work will get done.
• Be clear about your projected exit from a grant. Our contributors stressed the importance of structuring your work from the beginning with an eye toward your eventual withdrawal. Plan your transition strategy from the first moment you begin to engage in another country and shape your role to support that strategy.
• Be strategic about translation. Make sure key documents and conversations are translated between English and the main language (or languages) of the countries where you are working. An American grantee who works globally translates all presentation slides in advance of international meetings, as an aid to bilingual participants and to enhance the quality of simultaneous translations.