Discuss the benefits of site visits. Learn how to meet with a nonprofit in a way that is respectful of its time. Discover whether site visits are valuable for you. The term site visit simply means meeting with one or more staff, board members, or clients of a nonprofit organization, at their office or location, with the intention to understand more about what they do and how well they do it. Usually a funder will go on a site visit as a part of the vetting or decision-making process for a grant, or to monitor a current grantee midway or at the end of a grant cycle (the period a funder supports an organization). Much like a school field trip, site visits can give you insights that simply reading about an organization cannot. For funders, these meetings are an opportunity to look beyond what's in a written grant application, and gain a clear picture of what the inside of an organization really looks like. Many philanthropists say that site visits are the most informative, interesting, and fun part of funding! It's a chance to connect with the people who are doing great work and learn more about their needs and successes. It's also a chance to see firsthand the staff and board's enthusiasm for their mission, their commitment to it, and their hopes for the future.