Blog
We feature the voices of charities, foundations and public agencies we work with, and share our take on both opportunities and challenges for the voluntary sector.
Recent blog posts
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BlogShifting power, building trust: Reflections from new Head of Open and Trusting, Helen Kersley
Read more: Shifting power, building trust: Reflections from new Head of Open and Trusting, Helen KersleyHow funding is delivered matters as much as what gets funded. In this introductory…
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PublicationCollective Futures – Learning from Discovery Partners
Read more: Collective Futures – Learning from Discovery PartnersThis briefing shares learning from Collective Futures’ Discovery Partners programme, exploring what a relational,…
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Publication‘The best funding’: How multi-year unrestricted grants enable small and medium-sized local charities to support people facing complex issues
Read more: ‘The best funding’: How multi-year unrestricted grants enable small and medium-sized local charities to support people facing complex issuesImagine a world where small and medium-sized charities can plan for the future, invest…
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PublicationFunding differently for systems change
Read more: Funding differently for systems changeAcross the funding sector, funders are showing a growing interest in collaborative, equitable and…
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BlogFunding for systems change: what Propel taught us
Read more: Funding for systems change: what Propel taught usBy Jo Brown, Deputy Director of Research, IVAR There is considerable interest right now…
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BlogLife Rafts and Gold Dust: what we can learn from 1,200 funding experiences
Read more: Life Rafts and Gold Dust: what we can learn from 1,200 funding experiencesAs we publish our 2026 Funding Experience Survey, Ben Cairns reflects on a survey…
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BlogChanging the odds: How Postcode Lottery embraced flexible funding
Read more: Changing the odds: How Postcode Lottery embraced flexible fundingPostcode Lottery’s Katherine Sellar shares how they shifted from rigid project grants to multi-year,…
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PublicationEnhancing stability and responsiveness: How multi-year unrestricted funding enables organisations to support young people
Read more: Enhancing stability and responsiveness: How multi-year unrestricted funding enables organisations to support young peopleIn 2023, the Co-op Foundation funded 13 organisations that work with young people as…
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Blog“It was a knock on the door that needed answering” – Why we moved to multi-year grants
Read more: “It was a knock on the door that needed answering” – Why we moved to multi-year grantsFlexible funding is one of the clearest ways funders can show trust in the…
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BlogFrom charity advocate to funder convert: The case for flexible funding
Read more: From charity advocate to funder convert: The case for flexible fundingThe evidence is clear: flexible funding – unrestricted grants, multi-year commitments – enables charities…
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PublicationAct with urgency
Read more: Act with urgencyIn an increasingly turbulent and challenging environment, where there is high and growing demand…
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BlogBank of Scotland Foundation: Our journey to unrestricted funding
Read more: Bank of Scotland Foundation: Our journey to unrestricted fundingBackground Social exclusion, disadvantage and deprivation remain huge priorities to address in Scotland. Levels…