Funders make stronger choices when they can hear from people who use a service or live with the condition a grant is meant to address. Collecting feedback takes skill. People need a safe way to speak, and someone must have time to study and use what they say.
The Center for Effective Philanthropy surveyed 241 nonprofits and 243 foundations for its 2025 report Voices That Matter. The report examined how organizations gather community feedback, how they use it, and what gets in the way.
Organizing provides more than a survey list. Trusted local groups can help residents name shared concerns, compare experiences, and stay involved after the first listening session. They can also tell a funder when a question misses the real issue or when a proposed solution creates a new burden.
The report records the practices and views of participating organizations. It does not prove that every feedback process improves outcomes. Feedback can become performative if no one explains what was learned or what will change.
Funders can improve this work by paying for it. Grants should include staff time, accessible meetings, language support, compensation for community expertise, analysis, and a clear response to participants. This turns listening into a responsible part of decision-making.