Our Favourite Funders: Fund Better in 2024 Survey Results
We have engaged in many meetings, workshops, and roundtable discussions with funders over the past year in which the importance of systems change, equitable outcomes, fair and transparent procedures, and more are justifiably at the top of the agenda. However, it is still difficult to see the impact of those discussions on the day-to-day experiences of CSEs that are struggling to both actively seek funding while firefighting to keep their impactful operations alive.
Inevitably, the charity and social enterprise (CSE) leaders feel disheartened by the slow progress being made. Through this post, we want to acknowledge that there is so much to be done when it comes to evolving the third sector and creating participatory and fair systems from the ground up, but there are funders who are doing it now and doing it well.
In December, we asked our community of CSEs to give us insight into the positive experiences they had with funders in 2023. We want to start this new year by giving praise where praise is due. We hope that we will see the funders listed below and others call for continued efforts to achieve increased grantee satisfaction in these key areas:
due diligence
feedback
ease of communication
transparency
flexibility & willingness to support; and
responding to the Cost of Living Crisis.
To better understand the results of this survey, you must understand its respondents; our community members, a group of Black and Global Majority lived experience leaders of CSEs. To achieve this, we suggest that you have a read of our Cost of Living Report, A Desert without Resources.
The following funders were recognised in these key areas:
Please note: some were mentioned multiple times, but we chose to share the entire list to honour the experience of that individual CSE leader as well as the efforts of the grants manager who supported their journey.
Due diligence
Feedback
Ease of communication
Transparency
Flexibility and willingness to support
Responding to the Cost of Living Crisis
Overwhelmingly, the most listed funder was The National Lottery Community Fund across all key areas. Though we do have to take the volume of grants into consideration, it is pleasing to see that the highly participatory strategic review that took place last year is yielding results concerning grantee/applicant satisfaction.
Finally, when asked, “what is the number one change you would like to see from funders (trusts and foundations) in 2024?” We received responses that are well captured within the following selection of quotes:
“Involvement in the strategy of creating a funding stream so that it actually meets the needs of the organisation rather than adapting something to fit the funding.”
“Fund increase - but much quicker response/turn around to grants. It's very hard to continue with such long times between, and such arduous forms.”
“More core funding and a less time-consuming application process.”
“Make reporting less cumbersome, let us have a conversation and not fill out so many accounts for a small grant.”
“Improved capacity support and unrestricted funding focused on operating costs.”
We want to thank all of the respondents for their submissions, and we want to thank the funders who are working hard to change the narrative and support those with lived experience on the road to vast systems change and a participatory funding sector.
If you haven’t already, please read our Cost of Living Report, A Desert without Resources.
