Sharing our Learning from our 2023 applicant and grantee survey

In August 2023 we conducted a survey of over 350 past applicants, both successful and unsuccessful. The applicants we spoke to had applied to one of our grant programmes between June 2018 and June 2023. We made this survey anonymous so that respondents could share their honest opinions of our application processes, their experiences when speaking with us and any ways that we could improve and become a better, more responsive funder.

We know that most of the respondents had applied to our Community fund for funding for a specific project. We also know that most applicants applied for just one year of funding within the social welfare space.

We asked our applicants to tell us about their experiences with the pre-application conversation that they had with our Grant Managers. We strongly encourage applicants to speak to one of our Grant Managers before applying as it enables applicants to ask any questions about the application process, our priorities and whether their planned application fits within our funding aims.

It was brilliant to be able to showcase our work and speak candidly about aims, ambitions and challenges. We appreciated the insight into what would stimulate the Trustees interest, and this felt well balanced with an appreciation of our need for core/programme funding

We asked our applicants to tell us about how they found the accessibility of the website, the Grant Programme guidelines, the organisational eligibility and our ‘FAQs’ section. Overall, respondents were very satisfied with these resources, with Grant Programme guidelines scoring highest a ‘Very Satisfied’ percentage of 74%. Our Frequently Asked Questions section scoring slightly lower at 65%.

We really appreciated the level of detail and transparency on your priorities as a funder and how we can design the application content to be as relevant as possible

We asked if there was any way that we can improve the support provided before an application is submitted and applicants said:

“The support from the Grant team (in person and by video conference) could be promoted more. It was so valuable to us as a small team.”

“Our communications about the correct grant for us have always been answered promptly and the grants team help us to apply for the right grant rather than dismiss us. It is a really helpful and supportive process.”

“Providing a selection of anonymised case studies of successful applications.”

Overall applicants were positive about the application process with 96% saying they were either ‘very satisfied’ or ‘satisfied’ with the application process.

“Informal approach with friendly warm welcome. Can do attitudes.”

“RF understands the needs of its local community and designs funds that will support and enrich the lives of the people who live around the manor site. It is so very much appreciated to have such a prestigious funder open to supporting local, community projects.”

“Get a good balance of focus and flexibility – so that it can both demonstrate coherent impact, but allow for flexibility of projects that meet needs identified by the organisations. As such they have created a coherent and complimentary set of projects (in the food strand) that cover local and national impact.”

“Providing significant funding for so many local organisations over so many years is a wonderful contribution to your local community. The Foundation is exceptional in the ways it tries to engage with and support the voluntary sector in Bucks and it responds quickly to changing needs. Having grants staff available to answer queries is very helpful and they are always quick to respond.”

“Offering grantees the opportunity to get together, hosted by the Foundation so that both grantees and the Foundation can learn from one another’s experiences. Doing this as a face-to-face day is something we have found useful from other funders.”

“timelines maybe – the panel meetings are infrequent so it can be easy to lose momentum between the application/ideas stage and decision. And when a project requires bringing new people into the team there’s then a further delay to allow for recruitment.”

“communicating about funding opportunities. We heard about the opportunity from another local organisation.”

We have already run our first Grant Holder Networking Event in February 2024 following feedback from the survey and are making changes to improve how we work and communicate opportunities.

Thank you to all our applicants that responded to the survey, we really appreciate the time taken to help us understand your needs and how we can improve our offering.