How would you design a grant programme where payments depend on the grantee submitting reports?

I model the obligation as a record rather than a reminder, because a reminder is not reportable.

1. One Funding Award for the grant, with a Funding Disbursement for each planned payment rather than a single lump sum. That way the outstanding liability is visible at any point.
2. A Funding Award Requirement for each deliverable — the interim report, the final report, the audited accounts — with its due date. Requirements can relate to a disbursement, which is what makes the payment gate explicit rather than tribal knowledge.
3. Then the process layer: an action plan or automation that chases the requirement before it is due, and a clear rule about who may release a disbursement and on what evidence.
4. The trade-off worth raising with the funder is administrative burden. Every requirement you add is work for a grantee who is usually smaller and more stretched than you are. I encourage funders to ask whether each report will actually change a decision.