Foundation Recognised as “Open and Trusting Grantmaker”
Norfolk Community Foundation has been recognised as an Open and Trusting Grantmaker by the Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR)
For the past 20 years, Norfolk Community Foundation has worked with over 2,000 of Norfolk’s grassroots charities. As a grantmaker, we understand the challenges posed to charitable organisations by the grants process. We have taken action to streamline our processes to make grants more accessible and less burdensome to local organisations.
That is why we have taken the significant step of joining the ranks of over 100 UK funders in signing up to be an “Open and Trusting Grantmaker” through a campaign led by the Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR) and London Funders. We have been recognised as an Open and Trusting Grantmaker because we have adopted IVAR’s 8 commitments. The commitments are at the core of our decision-making as an organisation at every level; they guide our conversations and also give us a framework to continue to evaluate ourselves against. We recognise that they are an ongoing and active commitment, and are constantly striving to embody them.
IVAR’s 8 Commitments: what we’ve done, and what we’re doing.
- Don’t waste time: We have increased the visibility of our criteria, and have added important information to our Fund webpages to help groups make informed decisions before applying to us. We’re continuing to improve website navigation and looking at hosting more Q&A sessions for larger Funds.
- Ask relevant questions: We are committed to refining our application forms so they are straightforward, collecting only the information necessary for making funding decisions. We hope to consult organisations more thoroughly in reviews of our forms moving forward.
- Accept risk: NCF recognises that innovation and risk are part of meaningful change. We have recently opened a “microgrant” offer which will allow groups forming to receive funding to develop their governance from scratch or pilot a wholly new activity. We are working to make our approach to risk assessment clear and be realistic in our expectations, allowing for greater innovation from applicants.
- Act with urgency: By setting and adhering to clear timeframes for decisions, we’re striving to make the process timely and responsive to applicants’ needs.
- Be open: Feedback is essential to improvement, and we pledge to provide constructive feedback, including the reasons behind funding decisions. In addition, we’ll share data and statistics around success rates to help applicants understand the process more fully.
- Enable flexibility: Whenever possible, NCF aims to offer unrestricted funding. Where specific funding is necessary, we work to ensure it remains as flexible as possible to suit the evolving needs of our partners.
- Communicate with purpose: Our communication is direct and constructive. We aim to make every interaction helpful and grounded in genuine partnership. We are clear with organisations in our contact with them, particularly if we are seeking further information to support an application.
- Be proportionate: We use customised application forms wherever possible, so that questions asked are relevant for the size of the grant. We recognise that the monitoring side of our grantmaking is where we need some more investigation in setting expectations with donors and customising our asks to funded projects.
“We worked hard to understand how we could truly embody these values in our grantmaking, focusing on simplifying processes and making our support genuinely responsive to the needs of our partners. Being recognised as an Open and Trusting Grantmaker has been incredibly rewarding and I’m delighted that our commitment to these principles has been recognised.”
Charitable and voluntary organisations need flexible funding to deliver better outcomes for communities. By ascribing to these principles, we agree to make and manage grants in a way that enables organisations to respond to changing needs in a funding landscape characterised by limited resources but increasing need. We believe that working together towards shared goals, by making the most use of precious resources on all sides, will lead to greater impact for our Norfolk communities.
Joining this movement as a flexible funder signals our commitment to a future where grantmaking is simpler and more empowering for applicants. By transforming these values into daily practice, we hope to foster a thriving, resilient charitable sector in Norfolk and beyond, where funding is a tool for realising potential, rather than a hurdle to overcome. We will continue to support vital initiatives and projects while also committing to supporting the growth and development of these pivotal community organisations.
“Our commitment to being an open and trusting grantmaker reflects our belief that funding should empower, not encumber, those working tirelessly in our communities. By committing to flexible and transparent practices alongside IVAR, we’re aiming to build on the genuine partnerships with our grantees, allowing them to focus on what truly matters: making a positive impact in Norfolk.”
We are proudly displaying the ‘Open and Trusting with IVAR’ logo on our website. When you see this logo, and hear us talking about our commitment to the IVAR principles, you will not only know what we mean by this, but will also appreciate our commitment to being a sector-leading organisation committed to doing more to support the local charities who receive our support.
For more information on IVAR’s campaign and to see the full list of funders involved, visit IVAR’s website.
[Published 21.05.2025]
