100%
0%
11 hours
Median
100%
0%
94%
6%
2017 Deadlines:
Types of Grants Awarded:
Geographic Focus:
For Fiscal Year
Total Assets:
Total Grants:
Change in Assets FY :
Amount of Grants to Minnesota Nonprofits:
Largest Grant:
Smallest Grant:
Average Grant:
Reviewer 5393 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2018
ORA is extremely candid and up-front about what is and isn't a fit and there is tremendous organizational alignment around the fit. This is unusual and very helpful since its unlikely program officers will send you on a wild goose chase -- thanks goodness! So, have the conversation. It's usually very predictive of whether it's worth moving forward. While ORA has quite strict criteria, they are open-minded. Don't shy away from making the case. They'll tell you if it's not a good fit :).
Positive leader in the field, Gives more than money, Risk taker, Culturally sensitive, Insightful, Friendly, Builds relationships, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Openminded, Responsive
(Unknown)
Current or former grantee
Funded for lesser amount
2018
Good
Good
Sharp, sophisticated, honest and open-minded. Some work required up front, but very light touch and enabling throughout. A recipe for catalytic and discrete success.
The application process is a bit more work and time-consuming than ideal given desire to act fast and catalytically.
Grantee-centric engagement. They listen really well -- in the 1% of donors.
15
Reviewer 6557 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2018
Open Road fills a specific and needed niche - bridge funding and they excel at it. A call with them to describe your situation is needed up front and the personnel are extremely helpful and easy to work with.
Positive leader in the field, Risk taker, Insightful, Friendly, Builds relationships, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Openminded, Responsive
Massachusetts
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2018
Good
Super accessible, very easy to deal with, very flexible to our needs, extremely responsive
Good
Open Road really gets the challenges that nonprofits that need bridge funding face and they have built there model to react quickly, efficiently and with compassion.
Bridge funding by definition needs to happen quickly and Open Road was able to get from our initial meeting to an approval in approximately a week, which is to say extremely quickly. This is absolutely critical for the type of emergency funding they are providing.
10
Reviewer 8776 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2018
Make sure the roadblock is truly external and could not have been foreseen, and that there is a clear pathway to impact should this be overcome.
Gives more than money, Insightful, Friendly, Openminded, Responsive
District of Columbia
Grant currently pending
Funded for lesser amount
2018
Good
Good
Open Road Alliance is agnostic to sector and focus of work. They focus on overcoming unexpected obstacles through providing relatively rapid access to funds which can be the difference between success and failure.
Streamlined application process. Either the form could be simplified (there is duplication across sections), or word limits could be imposed per section.
Communicatoin
24
Reviewer 9413 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2018
I was amazed by the efficiency at which Open Road operates. The staff could not be more helpful. As I had questions through the application process, they were quick to respond and explain changes that were needed.
Positive leader in the field, Gives more than money, Insightful, Friendly, Builds relationships, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Responsive
(Unknown)
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2018
Good
Completely accessible, open and honest.
Good
Open Road truly has a unique model, identifying projects requiring a "bridge" to ensure the desired outcome is met and stepping in to see that it gets done. Could not be more pleased.
The only 'advice' I could give would be to identify more sources of capital to put to work. They have a model that needs more recognition from the marketplace. They are fulfilling a clear need for investment.
Open Road gets to the heart of the problem quickly. The impact is there, but why does the entity need this capital (i.e. what is the roadblock and why?). They are able to see that and navigate through these otherwise complex issues quickly and efficiently.
8
Grant Applicant - applied in 2018
This worked well because 1) We were introduced to ORA and 2) We had extensive discussions with them about whether or not we would meet their criteria. Through those discussions it became a lot more evident that we would have a legitimate shot at getting funded. It also helped greatly in honing our application message.
Risk taker, Responsive
(Unknown)
Grant currently pending
Funded for amount requested
2018
Good
Good
They were very very good at defining their criteria for funding and helping determine whether or not we would meet that criteria.
20
Reviewer 2600 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2018
They work fast. Are responsive. Provide guidance through the application process to help you refine the narrative into their funding criteria. If for-profit, it is probably best to structure your ask so that Open Road gets its capital back upon raising further funding or closing a particular sale.
Responsive
(Unknown)
Applied and not funded
Other
2018
Good
I was introduced to the funder and they were very response once connected.
Average
I would challenge Open Road to expand the scope of what they fund to better align with the various types of obstacles that stand in the way of creating impact on the ground. I think their grant and debt offering could have greater impact if applied to the missing middle funding gap than to their current criteria of only: mid-implementation, unexpected, discrete, and catalytic funding opportunities.
Make sure your funding need is "discrete" enough before diving into the rest of the application process.
Was not funded
I absolutely love the role the funder is playing in the "unexpected roadblock or opportunity" space and the fact that they offer both grants and debt capital. The funder was also very clear in feedback, and fast with their decision making.
25
Grant Applicant - applied in 2018
It's probably best to have a quick call before you apply - we were introduced to someone here so I don't know whether they would accept a cold call. The application process was very straightforward and they were very supportive along the way in terms of understanding next steps and their decision criteria.
(Unknown)
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2018
Good
Good
Very straightforward process for applications and they are quick to make decisions. Given applications are for bridge funding which is often urgently needed, this approach is so helpful and very refreshing.
15
Reviewer 5667 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2018
Understand Open Road's criteria for funding, have an initial call to see whether and how your project might align, be thorough, and be honest.
Gives more than money, Risk taker, Culturally sensitive, Insightful, Friendly, Responsive
Oregon
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2018
Good
Open Road staff are very accessible and helpful throughout the entire process. They lay out clearly what they are looking for, ask all the right questions, and are very available.
Good
I am so impressed that Open Road had the foresight to establish a mechanism for covering unexpected funding gaps. It is vital.
None, for us, everything went really smoothly and the process was very transparent.
Open Road fills a very unique and vital niche. For organizations who find themselves in the horrible and unexpected position of having a project funding gap for reasons beyond their control, Open Road is a critical partner.
They are communicative, clear, and smart.
15
Grant Applicant - applied in 2017
Communicate directly and often with Open Road. They sincerely want to help companies that provide positive impact but have hit unexpected roadblocks. They are very responsive and were a big helpful throughout the entire application process.
Positive leader in the field, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Responsive
Texas
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2017
Good
ORA are fantastic communicators. They were very responsive and worked with us every step of the way.
Good
We believe they are achieving their goals. They provide funding to social enterprises that have hit roadblocks and have taken strides to streamline the process as much as possible.
N/A funder has done a great deal to streamline the process and are very responsive. It's hard to imagine a simpler way they could still meet their impact criteria.
Extremely efficienty, communicative and organized. Set a timeline and stuck to it.
10
Grant Applicant - applied in 2017
Be clear and comprehensive. ORA is smart and will see right through a request that isn't substantive.
Risk taker, Culturally sensitive, Insightful, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Responsive
Maryland
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2017
Good
Once you're in the door with them, they're unusually hands on and responsive.
Good
They're identified a need for nonprofits that not sexy or glamorous, but critical .
Scale up.
There should be more funders like ORA.
They understand the realities of doing this kind of work.
10
