Member Spotlight: Hannah Conover
Hannah Conover, CPA - Executive Director, Grant Ready Kentucky
Brief Bio: Hannah Conover is a lifelong Kentuckian who has led the finance and operations departments of multiple innovative organizations. She is the founding executive director of Grant Ready Kentucky and previously held leadership positions at a large private foundation, multiple VC-funded technology startups, and an audit/professional services firm. Her passion for achieving social impact has consistently driven her professional endeavors in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors. Hannah graduated summa cum laude from Eastern Kentucky University with a BBA in finance. She is also a licensed CPA and recently completed the AICPA’s rigorous not-for-profit certificate program. Hannah currently resides in Lexington, Kentucky with her husband, Tony.
How long have you been part of AFN? I’m a new member that joined in July 2022.
What is the mission of your organization, and why is this pursuit important to you?
Our organization is dedicated to enhancing grant readiness capacity for under-resourced nonprofits and communities in Kentucky. Our approach includes funding for grant training, personalized grant readiness coaching, technical assistance, and facilitating the creation of peer networks and cash match pools. To me, this issue is urgent. We are in a once-in-a-lifetime period where trillions of dollars of federal spending will be allocated over the next few years for everything from infrastructure upgrades to STEM education. Yet, studies consistently show that economically distressed communities are the least likely to apply for and receive funding. Our primary objective is to help our rural communities meet this rare opportunity and take advantage of this transformative moment.
What is a project you are working/have recently worked on that you’re passionate about? What was the impact of this project? How did you demonstrate that impact?
Last year, I had the privilege of collaborating with two other AFN members, the James Graham Brown Foundation and the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, on the L.I.F.T. Fund (Leveraged Investment for Federal Traction). L.I.F.T. is a multi-funder pool that offers cash match to nonprofits in Appalachian Kentucky who are seeking a state or federal grant. Our surveys indicate that more than 50% of nonprofits in the region face difficulties in securing federal funding due to a lack of cash match. The L.I.F.T. fund addressed this barrier and achieved over 8X leverage on each $1 invested, leading to successful federal funding for many Eastern Kentucky nonprofits and their essential work.
What do you see as the greatest strength of Central Appalachian communities?
The people, community, and unparalleled natural beauty.
What is one thing you’d like to see improved in how funders work together in Central Appalachia? I’d like to see more tangible collaboration through sharing funding opportunities and creating multi-funder pools with some decision-making relinquished to the local level. A foundation recently shared a simple idea with me: They updated their grant application to ask grantees for permission to share their proposal with other foundations who may be interested. This helps reduce some of the “friction” of funding for both grantors and grantees.
What do you see as the primary hurdle in the pursuit of equitable Appalachian transition? How would you approach this challenge? Capacity. Headwaters Economics recently released a Rural Capacity Map and Index which vividly demonstrates this hurdle. Grant Ready Kentucky is working with partners to illuminate and address these challenges, but there is no quick fix. Collaboration from all sectors is needed: private and community foundations, state and local governments, local leaders and nonprofits.
What questions do you think funders in Appalachia should be asking regularly about improving their grantmaking processes? What is the cost/benefit ratio of each part of our grantmaking process? In this context, I’m defining cost as time and effort expended by the applicant and benefit as the information necessary for informed decision-making. I’m intrigued by the emerging concept of the “common proposal” for grant making, similar to the common application used by universities. Technology can play a key role in streamlining grantmaking, freeing up time for all parties to focus on the crucial, human work.
What is the one experience from your past, personal or professional, that most influences the work you do today? My personal background informs my perspective on economic opportunity and advancement. My grandfather was a coal miner in Bell County, Kentucky before starting his own cab company. My mother was a first-generation college student who had to fight against gender discrimination in the workplace. In my professional life, this perspective influences how I think about barriers to economic mobility. It’s easy to attribute individual success to personal achievement while discounting the incredible advantages our circumstances afford us. My parents' emphasis on education and their guidance throughout my academic and professional pursuits have been instrumental in my success. I am grateful for these advantages and mindful of the barriers that others may face.