Pre-Grant Due Diligence

Pre-Grant Due Diligence for Intentional Funders.

Clear Philanthropy helps funders assess nonprofit health before they invite, recommend, or approve a grant. We gather the information, run the assessment, and deliver a clear picture of where the organization stands.

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Eastside Family Resource Center
Pre-Grant Assessment · FY 12/31/2024 · EIN 12-3456789
78
/ 100 Health Score
Low Risk
KEY FINANCIAL RATIOS
Operating Margin
8.4% Good
Current Ratio
1.82 Good
Months of Cash
2.1 Moderate
Program Expense
71.3% Good
Revenue Concentration
55.1% Poor
Debt to Assets
38.2% Good
FINANCIAL HEALTH INDICATORS
Revenue concentration above 40% — diversification risk.
Operating margin is positive and sustainable.
Program expense ratio reflects strong mission alignment.
RECOMMENDATION
Invite to Apply
NARRATIVE
Solid financial health with strong program efficiency. Revenue concentration warrants monitoring...
What We Do

Independent Assessment. Before the Process Begins.

Current, Not Stale
Public filings are a starting point. CP collects current financial data directly from the organization — so your assessment reflects where they are today, not 18 months ago.
Interpretation, Not Just Data
The value isn't in the numbers — it's in understanding what they mean. CP provides substantive, plain-language analysis that tells you what the data shows and what questions it raises.
Actionable, Not Academic
Every assessment ends with clear recommended next steps — so you know exactly how to move the conversation forward, regardless of what the data shows.
When a funder is interested in a nonprofit, Clear Philanthropy helps answer the next question: is this organization healthy, prepared, and ready for funding?
— Clear Philanthropy
How It Works

Simple for Funders. Respectful for Organizations.

A structured process that works for everyone — and keeps the focus on what matters.

1
Funder Identifies an Organization
A foundation, DAF advisor, or corporate giving team flags an org they want to know more about.
2
CP Sends an Intake Link
The organization receives a simple, guided intake request — current financials, governance basics, and key organizational information.
3
CP Runs the Assessment
Financial ratios, three-year trends, governance indicators, and risk factors — reviewed, scored, and interpreted.
4
Funder Receives a Clear Summary
A concise assessment with scoring, narrative analysis, key strengths and risks, and recommended next steps.
5
Funder Decides What Comes Next
Invite a proposal, continue the conversation, request more information, or move forward — with a clear picture of the organization behind the ask.
What You Receive

A Complete Picture of Organizational Health.

Every assessment covers the dimensions that matter most to a funding decision.

Financial Health
Eight key financial ratios, a weighted health score, three-year trend analysis, and plain-language interpretation of what the numbers show.
Quantitative assessment
Organizational Health
Governance practices, leadership stability, conflict of interest policies, board oversight, and indicators of operational readiness and sustainability.
Qualitative assessment
Assessment Narrative
A plain-language summary of findings — strengths, risk factors, key questions, and recommended next steps — written to inform the funding conversation, not replace it.
Actionable findings
Who It's For

Built for Any Funder Who Wants to Give More Intentionally.

Pre-grant due diligence isn't just for large foundations. Any funder who cares about where their dollars go can bring this kind of rigor to their process.

Private Family Foundations
Foundation teams doing meaningful grantmaking who want a structured, independent assessment before inviting a proposal or approving a grant.
Family Offices & DAF Advisors
Philanthropic advisors and family offices who want to assess organizational readiness before recommending a grant or directing donor funds.
Corporate Giving Programs
Corporate philanthropy and community investment teams who want consistent, defensible pre-grant due diligence on the organizations they support.
Growing With You

Pre-Grant Due Diligence Is Just the Beginning.

Clear Philanthropy starts by solving one specific problem: giving funders a clear, independent picture of an organization before the proposal process begins.

As that relationship deepens, CP can grow into broader operational support — serving as an extension of your team for as much or as little as you need.

Pre-Grant Assessment
Independent organizational diagnostics before you invite, recommend, or approve a grant.
Ongoing Grant Review
External review of applicants across a full grant cycle — financial health, organizational capacity, and proposal evaluation.
Fractional Program Support
Embedded operational support for foundations that want an experienced program function without the overhead of a full-time hire.
Platform Access

Run Assessments With Your Own Team.

Clear Philanthropy's assessment platform is available to foundation teams who want to bring structured pre-grant due diligence in-house. Request access and we'll be in touch to learn more about your work.

  • Your team runs assessments directly using the CP platform
  • Private dashboard — your assessments, your data
  • Access is reviewed and approved before onboarding
  • Currently in beta — free for early access partners
Request Platform Access
Tell us a bit about your work and we'll be in touch.

Ready to Know More Before You Decide?

Get in touch to learn how Clear Philanthropy can support your pre-grant due diligence process.

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