Lessons about Funding Plus
How funders can add value to grant-making by going beyond the money.
What is funding plus?
We use the term ‘funding plus’ to describe ‘any activity which is additional to a grant and the grant-making process’.
Other terms in use include ‘grants plus’ and ‘funder plus’.
Should all funders go beyond the money?
For a small number of foundations, the distinction between ‘funding’ and ‘plus’ is consciously and deliberately blurred: going beyond the money may be automatic and is an expression of values and beliefs. For others, funding plus might just not be the right thing. While there’s no shame in that, we do encourage all funders to engage in debate and discussion about the best and fullest use of their assets to support funded organisations.
Making funding plus work
Align purpose, focus and method
Align purpose, focus and method: To inform thinking about the focus and method of additional support, funders need to think about purpose. Is it to strengthen individuals, projects and organisations, or a combination of all three?
Know and understand the work
Know and understand the work: Funding plus works better when funders understand charities’ field, context, circumstances and concerns – this helps to ensure a good fit between the organisation and the support.
Avoid prescriptive and standardised approaches
Avoid prescriptive and standardised approaches: Bespoke approaches allow charities to have ownership of support and outcomes. Organisations benefit most from flexible, tailored support that they can access when needed.
Choose the right support provider
Choose the right support provider: Funding plus falters and fails if the support provider is inconsistent; unreliable; too busy; or out of their depth. Funding plus works best when there is a real match between the skills of the support provider and the charity’s needs, and the support is enthusiastic; committed; motivational; and non-judgemental.
Prioritise support for forward thinking
Prioritise support for forward thinking: It may be most helpful to focus support on forward thinking and planning. Organisations that are able to adapt and develop are those which review and renew their mission in a changing environment.
Be mindful of power
Be mindful of power: Foundations need to pay serious attention to some of the ethical dilemmas posed by extending involvement in funded organisations beyond the provision of funding. In particular, what is your mandate? What are the limitations of your role? How best to use your power for good ?
Be ready and willing
Be ready and willing: For additional support to be both useful and usable, charities need to be ready and willing to engage. This includes:
- Involving everyone – staff and trustees – so that the support reaches into the heart of the organisation
- The ability and mindset to effect change
- Capacity for implementation
Our insights are drawn from work with:
You may also be interested in
“From subordination to reciprocation”
From the archive: The text of Ben Cairns’ opening remarks at the September 2011…
It’s not about the money money money?
At a recent Association of Charitable Foundations workshop on ‘funding plus’ (aka ‘grants plus’…
Beyond Money
Beyond money: A study of funding plus in the UK is the final report…