Planning Award Ceremonies


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Competitive Grant Cycles and Awards

Competitive Scholarship Cycles and Awards

When a community foundation awards grants and scholarships it’s an important time to broadcast this activity in your community. This can be done several ways:

  • Host an event
  • Share your story through photos
  • Send out media releases
  • Using social media
  • Presenting the Grant

Each of the above efforts requires a bit of extra work on the part of the board but it is well worth it! Your board may want to appoint a Task Force to plan for your awards. Let’s unpack the points above:

HOST AN EVENT

SHARE YOUR STORY THROUGH PHOTOS

SEND OUT MEDIA RELEASES 

  • Promote your event everywhere you can think of… to the media using a Media Release, church bulletin announcements, school district and city newsletters, with posters at senior center, bank, on Social Media, etc.
  • Post the Crowd Sourcing Poster in a prominent place at your event.

USING SOCIAL MEDIA

PRESENTING THE GRANT

  • Prepare the scholarship or grant recipient to tell their story at the celebration and give recipients a couple minutes to speak about the project being funded through your grant award at the celebration.
  • It is not entirely necessary to hand the recipient the actual award check at the celebration. A symbolic envelope or certificate will do the trick! As appropriate, you may give receiving organizations a sign or giant check to display about the grant from your foundation.
  • Consider asking one of your current or past grant recipients to host your celebration at their facility.
  • Recognize the donor(s) who make grants and scholarships possible and tell their story (with their permission) to inspire others to get involved.
  • Consider hosting an event at the location where a grant has been spent on a new project to show the community what your foundation funded. A media release after grant funds are utilized is also a good option.