68 survey respondents
Location: 111 18th Street Se, Washington, 20003 DC
EIN: NA00001
100%
0%
10 hours
Median
100%
0%
97%
3%
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 8258 - Professional in the field
Open Road has been an amazing resource for many nonprofits in my network. They fill a need many foundations are unwilling to address. Generally you can only get funding once from them as the requirements are very specific and limited to removing unforeseen roadblocks.
Positive leader in the field, Risk taker, Insightful, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Openminded
California
Professional in the field
Other
2018
Good
Good
They produce great resources for other funders and the social sector field that advocate for a more supportive and empathetic approach to grantmaking.
Removes funding constraints in the moment help is most needed.
0
Grant Applicant - applied in 2018
They have four distinct criteria that you must align with to be considered. It's helpful to review these (on their website) as you think about applying to make sure your "roadblock / opportunity" aligns with their criteria. Once you do connect, they are extremely helpful in talking trough your challenge and how it aligns (or doesn't).
They did reach out to one of our partners for an interview to help better understand our specific challenge. We felt this was really helpful for Open Road to more deeply understand our roadblock and future project potential!
Builds relationships, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Openminded, Responsive
Pennsylvania
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2018
Good
Good
Thank you for taking the time to provide thoughtful feedback during our application process! It allowed us to ensure we were explaining the full story behind our roadblock. It was also extremely helpful as we refine our proposal materials as we were able to explain more deeply the ways in which we met all 4 of your criteria.
They provide extremely useful real time feedback on your proposal during initial conversations. They take time to read your roadblock concept, discuss, and then offer specific feedback that is deeply useful as you continue to refine your proposal materials.
20
Grant Applicant - applied in 2018
It's good to just be honest and lay out the problem you are facing in the most simple and logical way possible. The ORA team is in a better position to help in this case.
Positive leader in the field, Risk taker, Insightful, Builds relationships, "Gets" nonprofits and issues
(Unknown)
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2018
Good
The application/approval process was very smooth and very straightforward. Definitely the fastest process I have ever experienced. The staff was very supportive throughout the process and we never lost contact.
Good
The alliance wants to provide emergency finance (either grant or loan) for projects/enterprises which are faced with unforeseen, potentially compromising circumstances in their work. I thought that ORA had a very effective framework for assessing the challenge we presented them, and looking at their body of work I believe they do an incredible job in fulfilling their mission to help projects encountering a roadblock.
Work fast - from the moment we applied to the moment we got approved it only took 2 weeks (maybe a little less).
10
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
