Accounting for what you did.
WHAT REPORTS TYPICALLY REQUIRE
Activities delivered Outcomes achieved Expenditure against budget Variances explained Challenges encountered Evidence
WHAT EVIDENCE MEANS
Records supporting what you claim: attendance, photographs where appropriate, records of delivery.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH AT THE START
What will be required at the end.
WHY AT THE START
You cannot collect evidence retrospectively.
WHAT TO PUT IN PLACE
Data collection built into delivery.
WHY BUILT IN
Collection as a separate task does not happen.
WHAT TO REPORT HONESTLY
What did not work.
WHY
Funders know programmes encounter difficulties, and concealment is discovered.
WHAT CONCEALMENT COSTS
The relationship, and future funding.
WHAT TO EXPLAIN
Variances, with reasons.
WHAT TO SUBMIT
On time, in the format required.
WHY ON TIME
Late reporting affects future applications more than modest underperformance.
WHAT TO KEEP
A copy of every report and its supporting evidence.
HOW LONG
Per the funder's requirement and your own retention policy.
WHAT TO ANTICIPATE
Audit or verification visits.
WHAT THEY EXAMINE
Whether activities occurred Whether expenditure is supported Whether beneficiaries exist
WHAT TO MAINTAIN
Records that would satisfy that.
