Do Relationships Matter? The Data on Funder Relationships

This study investigates the impact of funder relationships on grant application outcomes by analyzing data from a grant consulting firm over 19 months. The primary objective was to compare the success rates of proposals submitted by applicant organizations with pre-existing funder relationships to those without connections at the time of submission. Data were collected using the firm’s project management software, tracking the existence of relationships and the outcomes of grant applications. The results suggest that having a relationship does not guarantee funding. At the same time, the absence of a relationship between an applicant and a potential funder is definitively associated with denials. The article provides rich insights into the complex dynamics between funder relationships and grant application outcomes, offering a data-driven perspective on a topic that has primarily relied on conventional wisdom in the grants profession.