The Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR) are calling for funders to adopt simpler, more flexible practices during the ongoing uncertainty and unpredictability caused by Covid-19.
IVAR ask you to join their webinar on Wednesday 3rd March to find out about the eight commitments to open and trusting grant-making and their community of practice.
They are working in collaboration with London Funders and a small group of UK foundations and charities all ambitious for change.
As a group of charities and funders, they have developed eight commitments to make funder practice more open and trusting. These commitments reflect their dedication to keeping the best of their emergency responses into 2021 and beyond;
- We will not waste time – we will explain our funding priorities clearly; we will be open and transparent about all our requirements and exclusions.
- We will only ask relevant questions – we will only collect information that we must have to make funding decisions; we will test our application forms rigorously to make sure our questions are clear and do not overlap.
- We will accept our share of risk – we will be realistic about how much assurance applicants can reasonably give us; we will clearly explain how we assess risk when we make our funding decisions.
- We will act with urgency – we will seek to work at a pace that meets the needs of applicants; we will publish and stick to our timetables; we will make our decisions as quickly as possible.
- We will be open about our decisions – we will give feedback; we will analyse and publish success rates and reasons for rejection; we will share our data.
- We will enable them to respond flexibly to changing priorities and needs – we will give unrestricted funding; if we can’t, we will make out funding as flexible as possible.
- We will be clear about our relationship from the start – we will be realistic about time commitments; we will ensure that our contact is positive and purposeful.
- We will use light touch reporting – we will ensure that our formal reporting requirements are well understood, proportionate and meaningful.
IVAR want you to join them on Wednesday 3rd March to find out how you can make a start by signing up to:
- Adopt the eight commitments to being open and trusting
- Share what you are doing to bring them to life
- Join a community of practice with other funders and with VCSE organisations to help them adapt and improve (this is likely to include some kind of collaborative review, involving VCSE organisations).
You can register to their online event here.
