50 funders sign pledge to be open & trusting in their grant-making

A campaign has launched today (11 February) calling on funders to adopt simpler, more flexible practices that make life easier for those they fund, in light of the ongoing uncertainty caused by Covid-19. The Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR), in collaboration with London Funders and a group of UK foundations and charities are behind the new campaign. The goals They are asking funders to commit to being more open and trusting by making grants in a way that reflects the realities facing VCSE and other civil society organisations now and for the foreseeable future, and managing grants in a way that reflects their confidence in and respect for the organisations they fund. These two goals provide the framework for eight, actionable commitments, with the ambition to see these commitments extend beyond the crisis and become standard practice in the sector. The commitments 1. Don’t waste time – funders will be open, transparent and clear about all of their priorities, requirements and exclusions. 2. Ask relevant questions – funders will test their application forms to ensure clarity, relevance and avoid repetition, only collecting information that genuinely informs a funding decision. 3. Accept risk – funders will clearly explain how risk is assessed and be realistic about how much assurance applicants can provide. 4. Act with urgency – funders will aim to make decisions as quickly as possible by publishing and sticking to timeframes to ensure they work at a pace that meets the needs of applicants. 5. Be open – funders will provide feedback, including reasons for rejections. They will analyse and share relevant data, including publishing success rates. 6. Enable flexibility – funders will aim to give unrestricted funding; where they can’t (or are a specialist funder), they will ensure their funding is as flexible as possible. 7. Communicate with purpose – a funders contact is positive and purposeful. They will be realistic about their time commitments. 8. Be proportionate – funders will ensure that their formal reporting requirements are well understood, proportionate and meaningful. Eliza Buckley, Head of Research at IVAR said: "When people say “it took a pandemic for the value of unrestricted income and light touch reporting to be felt by trusts and foundations”, it brings home how hard it is to achieve deep and meaningful change. Together, we seek to translate words – ‘trust’, ‘speed’, ‘light touch’ – into visible, practical and durable changes to behaviour and practice. To turn things upside down, so the burden falls on funders to ensure that their systems and their processes are truly simple, respectful and inclusive." The pledge is built on the stand by the sector statement, led by London Funders, which over 400 funders signed – in recognition of the impact that the Covid-19 outbreak continues to have on civil society groups, and to provide assurance that they stand with the sector at this time. For funders who sign up to the eight commitments, IVAR is creating a community for dialogue, debate and challenge on the details of day-to-day practice, involving both funders and charities. The pledge complements other work aiming to influence change – both in funder practice and improving relationships between charities and funders, such as ACF’s Stronger Foundations initiative. IVAR will continue to collaborate with ACF and others active in this space to ensure work is complementary. James Banks, Chief Executive at London Funders said: "We are proud to join with our friends at IVAR and across the funding community to call for the achievements of 2020 to strengthen our work for the future. Over 400 organisations signed our ‘We stand with the sector’ statement at the start of the crisis, and we believe that the eight funder commitments are the natural next step to take for funders who have already pledged to adapt activities, be financially flexible, and to listen. We encourage all of our members to sign up to the commitments, and to make practical changes where necessary, so that together we can enable our communities to thrive." 50 independent funders across the four nations of the UK have already signed up, with IVAR, its partners and networks calling for more funders to join them in adopting the eight commitments, sharing how they will bring them to life, and joining a community of practice with other funders and charities to adapt and improve practice together. Funders and those they fund are also invited to join in in championing these commitments and engaging with the campaign as it progresses using the hashtag #FlexibleFunders and tagging @IVAR_UK. The 50 funders in full: Cripplegate Foundation Peabody Charitable Trust AB Charitable Trust The Access to Justice Foundation The Allen Lane Foundation Ballinger Charitable Trust Barrow Cadbury Trust CareTech foundation Cattanach Charterhouse in Southwark City Bridge Trust Community Foundation Northern for Ireland Corra Foundation Devon Community Foundation Do-It Foundation East End Community Foundation Esmée Fairbairn Foundation Haberdashers’ Company Halifax Foundation Harpur Trust Jerwood Arts John Ellerman Foundation John Lyon's Charity Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust The Legal Education Foundation Lloyds Bank Foundation for England & Wales Mercers’ Company Millfield House Foundation Paul Hamlyn Foundation Pears Foundation Peter Minet Trust Pilgrim Trust Southwark Charities Spirit of 2012 Trust Texel Foundation The Blue Thread The Bromley Trust The Postlethwaite Music Foundation The Robertson Trust The Tudor Trust Two Ridings Charitable Foundation United St Saviour's Charity Walcot Foundation William Grant Foundation Youth Music Social Investment Business London Community Foundation Kensington and Chelsea Foundation Co-op Foundation The Wolfson Foundation       The Legal Education Foundation   Lloyds Bank Foundation for England & Wales   Mercers’ Company   Millfield House Foundation   Paul Hamlyn Foundation   Pears Foundation   Peter Minet Trust   Pilgrim Trust   Southwark Charities   Spirit of 2012 Trust   Texel Foundation   The Blue Thread   The Bromley Trust   The Postlethwaite Music Foundation   The Robertson Trust   The Tudor Trust   Two Ridings Charitable Foundation   United St Saviour's Charity   Walcot Foundation   William Grant Foundation   Youth Music   Social Investment Business   London Community Foundation   Kensington and Chelsea Foundation   Co-op Foundation   The Wolfson Foundation      

from UK Fundraising https://ift.tt/2OhzFjJ