In the past month we have assessed 228 grant applications for the Catalyst & The National Lottery Community Fund COVID-19 Digital Response fund. We have been privileged to get close to the challenges that charities are facing during this crisis, and have seen the incredible work that they are doing in adapting and responding to the needs of the communities they serve.
We have read about the challenges brought about by digital exclusion, online safeguarding and the urgent need to upskill staff and volunteers across multiple platforms.
We are witnessing a monumental acceleration in the digital capacity and capability of the third sector. Charities are right at the forefront of accessible, inclusive, safe and ethical tech and it’s a critical priority for the sector right now.
But we can’t fund every charity - although we wish we could. Of the 228 we have assessed so far, 114 have been successful (103 Discovery grantees and 11 Development grantees). The aim of this article is to explain openly why some organisations did not succeed, and give every application the best chance of success next time.
Each application went through four stages over a two week assessment period (from application closing date to decision of award).
Here are four of the main reasons why applications were turned down.
44 applicants failed to pass due diligence checks. During these checks we looked at the accounts published most recently (either at The Charity Commission or Companies House) to make sure they were up to date. Then we looked at their projected budget (to see how they planned to spend the grant) and checked all of the requisite supporting documents (e.g. insurance and policies). We also assessed their commitment to the programme, based on whether they had staff capacity and support from different levels of the organisation.
The main reasons applicants failed due diligence checks were:
Tips on overcoming these issues in future applications:
As an assessor you can only make a decision based on the evidence put before you. If that evidence is presented clearly then making that decision becomes much easier. This is especially important when decisions are made by consensus during a three hour panel meeting.
You want to feel confident in that meeting. And the most important criterion you want to feel confident about is whether the applications you assessed show that the applicant understands the problem to be solved.
The main reasons applicants received low scores during assessment were:
Tips:
When an applicant presents us with a solution that they want to develop (such as a mobile app, a chatbot, an e-learning platform, or a digital knowledge hub), we want to feel assured that this is the right solution to the problem. The last thing we want is for a charity to end up with a piece of tech that isn’t sustainable in the long term and doesn’t fix the problem.
Let’s assume the applicant is really clear on the problem they want to solve (see Reason 2), we now want to hear why they’re confident that the solution they are proposing will solve it. We’re looking to understand:
Tips:
As a funder, we want to be able to offer the greatest value for money. And for us, optimum value lies in something that benefits people, society and / or the sector more broadly.
The prospect of one solution being shared and re-used multiple times by a wider group excites us. We’re not the only funder who feels this way.
For example, imagine you’ve identified a need to upskill your volunteers so that they can offer online support to your beneficiaries. You’ve done your user research, piloted a number of different online platforms and tested some different training methods and materials.
Now you want to develop a suite of online elearning training for your volunteers but you need some specialist digital support to set it up. Imagine then if you had a network of 10 similar charities who were also looking to upskill their volunteers, and with whom you are committed to sharing your solution. Imagine how a funder would feel knowing that you were planning to share with this extended network. Your commitment to sharing your solution is likely to increase the value of your application to any funder.
Tip: Arrange a short session with a few of your peers to talk about your challenge. Find out if others are having the same problem. You could try Coffee Connections call as a starting point.
We know it’s not nice to be turned down for funding. And we appreciate how much time and effort goes into making applications. But if you’re one of the charities that wasn’t funded this time around, please don’t be disheartened. We will do our best to link you to other support, and will make sure that you hear about future funding opportunities through our newsletter, social channels and website.
Photo by Javier Allegue Barros on Unsplash