Podcast

Tony and Rachel discuss how to reframe failures and innovation in grant-making

In this episode

Headshot of Rachel Kimber

Rachel Kimber, Vice President of Grants Management, Smile Train

Rachel Kimber joined Smile Train as the Vice President of Grants Management in March 2022. For more than 15 years, Rachel Kimber has led and contributed to the nonprofit sector through her commitment to grantmaking that is human-centered, data-informed, and technology-supported. She is advancing the implementation of emergent grantmaking practices around equity and technological innovations. Before joining Smile Train, Rachel served as Grants Manager at the Arcus Foundation, overseeing an international portfolio of LGBTQ rights and ape conservation grantees spanning from Indonesia to Mexico. Responsibilities included regulatory compliance, advising on complex grantmaking environments, and developing operational and technical projects to advance Arcus’ mission and values. At the Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, which supports the arts and humanities, she administered financials, compliance, and regulatory procedure in the grantmaking process. Rachel also supervised the archiving of the family’s foundation history and standardized grant data. At Smile Train, Rachel is setting the strategic direction of the department, with a focus on improving collaboration across the organization, designing and implementing efficient and effective processes and practices, providing governance for the organization’s grants management system and related data, and developing a structure to support the successful execution of these initiatives.

Our discussion

In this episode, we explore the importance of shifting our perspective on failure and how it can lead to more innovative and effective grant-making. We dive into the challenges faced by the nonprofit sector in capturing and reporting qualitative data, and the critical role technology infrastructure plays in enabling strategic decision-making. Join us as we hear from Rachel Kimber about innovative and alternative approaches being explored to develop more equitable and fair approaches in grantmaking. Get ready to challenge your thinking and learn how reframing failure can lead to new perspectives and insights.

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