Why Scan? Synthesize Information and Find Gaps

A scan can be useful for assembling a specific body of information in order to see what’s there, what’s not there, and where further action might be needed.

Example: To prepare for a trip to Rwanda with potential donors, a philanthropic advisor conducted a scan on key issues facing the country. She and her colleagues began by reading current books and articles and talking with experts from universities, think tanks, intermediary funders, and nonprofits. They also knew from planning earlier trips that “the best people to talk to are journalists who have worked there.” In every conversation, they asked, a handful of standard questions: What are the key issues facing the country? Who else should we be talking to? Who are your organization’s competitors and main collaborators?

They followed up on those leads and assembled a list of key issues and leading organizations working on each. Prior to the trip, they selected a “spectrum” of approaches for addressing a core problem and some organizations that were able to offer informative field visits. The objective was to enable the tour participants to “understand the country they’re visiting and its unique context,” and to see activities where their philanthropy might make a difference.