New platform launched for grantseeker feedback
In 2022, the Charity Commission published a report titled Making it Count: Overcoming the barriers to better grant-making.
The report acknowledges the value of grant-giving foundations but says the way some funders disperse grants creates problems for charities and is holding the sector back from achieving its full potential.
The Commission suggests there are three key issues:
Short-termism: i.e. the length of time for which grants are offered, leads to uncertainty and inefficiency among grant-seekers, alongside a tendency to prioritise narrowly conceived projects in the present over investment in an organisation’s ability to develop and deliver its mission in the longer term.
Sub-optimal processes: these include expensive and cumbersome application and monitoring processes that directly reduce the value of funds, but also more strategic factors such as determining where and how to direct funds, meaning that funding does not always go to where it can have the most impact.
Reproduction of wider social inequalities: meaning that some groups disproportionately suffer the consequences of problems in the system, resulting in funding not always getting to those that most need it.
GrantAdvisor UK
In an attempt to improve the grant-making process, CAST, in partnership with the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits has rolled out GrantAdvisor UK - a platform that enables grant seekers to share their positive and negative experiences of working with funders.
How does it work?
Charities are invited to leave a review on the platform. It’s free to do and reviews can be left for any UK funder (even if it’s not yet listed), for any period over the past ten years. The review process takes around five minutes to complete, although reviewers can leave more comprehensive feedback if they wish.
Funders are alerted when a new review is posted and are encouraged to respond.
Oh, and in case you’re concerned about damaging relationships with your funders, reviews are published anonymously.
The aim of Grant Advisor UK
The free service aims to help funders review and improve their practices, and act as a resource for fundraisers to gain peer-to-peer insights to help with funding applications.
Emily Dyson, Deputy Director of The Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR) commented:
“One of the biggest challenges funders face is hearing authentic feedback from applicants and grantees. The GrantAdvisor UK platform provides an exciting opportunity for funders to hear regular, honest feedback – where the possibility of receiving funding is not a factor. We look forward to seeing how this opens up conversations about grantseekers’ experiences and needs as they evolve over time, providing important information to grant makers about their practice. We will be sharing the platform with our Open and Trusting funder community and look forward to working with GrantAdvisor UK – and CAST – to make life easier for grantseekers.”
Call to action
CAST is calling on charities to provide feedback and funders to add their organisations to the site, to help refine their systems in line with applicants’ needs.
Final Word
Looking for an experienced Trust Fundraiser to boost your grant income? We’re well connected. Give us a call on 020 3750 3111 to start the search.