Committee considers partial upfront payments to reduce barriers for small grantees

Steering committee members warned that standard reimbursement-based government payments can prevent small organizations from participating and suggested alternative payment structures to increase access.

"Not everybody has 25,000 in their bank account that they can unload," Elizabeth Jordan said, describing why reimbursement requirements disadvantage small groups. Jordan suggested paying an initial portion up front, then a second installment after an interim report: "structuring it so that you pay 0.5 upfront, you have the interim report, and then you pay the 2nd 0.5." Cowick said she will ask finance and purchasing whether partial payments are permissible and report back to the committee.