What is a Monitoring Report?

A monitoring report is a short update during delivery that confirms progress, spend and risks so funders can support effectively.

• Keeps payments aligned to milestones.
• Surfaces issues early for proportionate action.
• Feeds into final impact reporting.

What to include

Keep it brief and useful.

• Activities delivered and outcomes so far.
• Spend vs plan; explain any variances.
• Risks, changes and needed support.

Key takeaway: aim for clarity, not volume.

Scheduling and tools

Match frequency to risk and size.

• Quarterly for larger grants; lighter for micro‑grants.
• Pre‑filled fields to reduce duplication.
• AI‑drafted summaries for quick review.

Key takeaway: Plinth makes monitoring low‑burden and insightful.

Using updates well

Turn information into action.

• Adjust payments or timelines as needed.
• Capture case studies and lessons.
• Share trends with boards and partners.

Key takeaway: monitoring is a support tool, not a hurdle.

FAQs

Do we need evidence each time?

Only where proportionate; sample checks can suffice.

Can updates be verbal?

Sometimes—record notes and agreed actions.

How do we avoid over‑reporting?

Set clear schedules and keep forms short.