Sharing our Learning

We make a commitment to continuing learning through our grant programmes. It informs our approach as a responsive funder and supports organisations addressing the complex issues faced by communities today. We gather knowledge through reports submitted by funded organisations and also tailored evaluations and research relating to the Foundation’s priority areas of interest. Applicants to our funding programmes should be reassured that our reporting is not burdensome. We will clarify what reporting is required from the outset of the grant and will only ask for the information we need.

We want to share our learning with the wider charitable sector and other funders to contribute to a mutually beneficial conversation. The Rothschild Foundation is a founding partner in the Bucks Data Exchange, an open-access platform containing the latest insights about Buckinghamshire and links to useful external resources. We believe that better use of data can strengthen our decision making and investments, and support our charity partners to be even more effective and joined up. Here you’ll find reflections from our learning journey.

Learning from our Covid-19 Support Fund

Here we reflect on our action to address the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. We share which groups benefited from the Rothschild Foundation’s funding and what we learnt about the needs of organisations and the communities they serve. We reflect on how the pandemic changed our practise as a funder, and where we can continue to build on this as we face the cost of living crisis.

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Local and Community Insights

Author James Mayhew delivering a children's workshop at Pop Up Festival 2014

The Local and Community programme launched in 2018 and offered grants of up to £5,000 supporting a broad range of charitable activity in Buckinghamshire. The programme closed in 2020 when our support needed to focus on the coronavirus emergency. Both have informed our approach to our current Community Fund.

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Impact Insights

View of sheep at Waddesdon Estate

Through Impact Grants the Foundation has made sustained investment in a diverse range of approaches that address our strategic priorities; sustainable food and farming, access to culture and opportunity for young people. Whilst these grants are ongoing, initial learning has informed our approach to the Strategic Fund.

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Open Data

Waddesdon Manor Parterre in Autumn

The Rothschild Foundation is committed to transparency in our grant-making and we work with 360Giving to publish information about our grants.

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