Using dialogic web site design to encourage effective grantor-grantee relationships

The relationship that occurs between grantors and grantees in the grant-making process may be complicated by numerous factors, among them a reluctance by independent foundation grantors to communicate with their potential grantees. Yet a willingness to communicate—to engage in building dialogue as suggested by Kent and Taylor (2002)—and provision of transparent information to grantees could alleviate some frustrations inherent in the grant making process for both grantors and grantees. This study investigates the extent to which independent foundation grantors are willing to engage in dialogue with potential grantees as indicated through transparent web site features. Through analysis of 106 independent foundation web sites, the study examined features that correspond with the five elements of dialogic communication proposed by Kent and Taylor (2002). Each of these features, in turn, was examined for level of transparency, for example, was the information clear, easy to find, and located on the homepage or further into the site. In general, independent foundations with web sites had a greater than 50% propensity for dialogue (52.6%). Results indicate that independent foundation web sites contain many of the design features and information that can help build more effective and efficient grantor-grantee relationships through propensity for dialogue.