Host Session: Best Practices in Implementing a Grants Management System [HRA Members Meeting, New York, Fall 2022]
Grants management systems have evolved from platforms that simply manage, store and report on grant making data to solutions that grant management professionals and program staff can use to streamline workflows, analyze processes, and shed light on bottlenecks, gaps in funding and more.
In this session, the Simons Foundation will share their journey on implementing a new grants management system, SmartSimple, and their decision to make the leap from simply managing grants to streamlining processes and improving efficiencies in all phases of grants management. You will learn about their requirements gathering process and actions they took to reduce the burden on program staff and applicants; lessons learned from stakeholder testing; the evolution of ‘Minimum Viable Product’ (MVP); and, best of all, get a sneak peak into their new system, the Simons Award Manager (SAM).
Presenters
Kori Smith
Deputy Director of Grants Management | Simons Foundation
Kori Smith joined the foundation in 2010, developing 12 years of grants and project management experience at the foundation. As the Deputy Director of Grants Management, Kori is responsible for overseeing the Simons Award Manager (SAM) and provides continuous systems and workflow improvements for grants management at the foundation. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, and holds a certification in project management from NYU’s school of professional studies.