At HIWCF, we believe that listening matters and that’s why earlier this year, we asked community groups that have engaged with our grant programmes to share their experiences of working with us. The survey forms part of our ongoing commitment to learn, improve and make our funding processes as supportive as possible.
First and foremost, I would like to say thank you to everyone who took the time to respond. The feedback we received was thoughtful, honest and constructive, and it has given us valuable insight into both what we are doing well and where we need to focus our thinking on improvements.
Becoming a more open and trusting funder
This work sits alongside our recent commitment to the Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR)’s principles of Open and Trusting Grant-making.
These commitments challenge funders to be more transparent, more responsive and more understanding of the pressures faced by the organisations they support. They encourage funders to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, communicate clearly and build stronger relationships with applicants. You can view the IVAR principle and find out more about them here.
We know that trust has to be earned. That’s why we are continuing to review our processes, listen to feedback and make practical changes wherever we can.
What we heard
We were delighted to receive plenty of positive feedback from community groups. Many respondents told us that they value our understanding of the sector, appreciate the support provided by the team and feel that our funding programmes are relevant to the needs of local communities.
We were particularly encouraged to see that more organisations now feel able to determine whether they are eligible for funding before they apply. This has been a significant area of focus for us over recent years, and we’ve worked hard to continuously improve our website, grant guidance and applicant support.
At the same time, groups highlighted some recurring challenges.
The most common themes centred around the amount and quality of feedback provided on unsuccessful applications, the time and effort involved in completing applications, and the desire for more communication and support throughout the process.
None of these themes were a surprise, but while there are no quick fixes, they are important issues and we are committed to finding ways to improve.
What we’re already doing
We have already introduced a number of changes over the last 6-12 months, designed to improve your experience as a funding applicant, including:
Publishing application dates earlier and sharing them through our grants alert emails
Improving communication around the requirements for funding opportunities
Providing quicker responses to unsuccessful applicants, and sending direct emails which are less likely to be blocked by email filters
Publishing details on the website of awarded grants to improve transparency
Sharing application statistics for repeat programmes, helping groups better understand demand for funding
We are also reviewing our programme schedules to see where we may be able to shorten the time between application and decision-making and reviewing how we give feedback for rejected applications – this is something we know is important to groups and we are actively looking to improve this.
Did you know?
One of the things we realised from the survey is that many applicants may not know much about HIWCF itself.
Did you know that HIWCF is a charity too?
Like the organisations we support, we rely on funding, donations and partnerships to deliver our work.
Did you know that our entire organisation consists of just five staff members?
Of those five, only two work full-time. Apart from Trustees, we have no volunteer help.
Did you know that only 1.6 full-time equivalent posts are dedicated specifically to grants?
That small team manages dozens of funding programmes, supports applicants, coordinates assessments, processes awards, manages reporting and helps distribute hundreds of thousands of pounds to communities across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, every year.
Did you know that we are also operating in a challenging financial environment?
Like many charities and community groups, we work within tight resources. Although we may look wealthy on paper because of our endowment funds, we are only entitled to utilise a small amount of these funds each year to help us run. This does not cover all our costs, and we need to fundraise for the rest – and like you – we also operate in a challenging funding environment.
Please be assured that we believe community groups deserve a high-quality service regardless of our size. However, we hope this information provides some context for the balancing act we face every day, as we try to provide the best possible support within our own limited resources.
Navigating a difficult time together
The survey also provided a wider snapshot of the challenges facing our sector. Many organisations told us they are worried about raising sufficient income, managing rising costs and responding to increasingly complex needs within their communities. These findings will come as no surprise to anyone working in the voluntary sector today.
Across the region, community groups are facing what many describe as a ‘polycrisis’ – a combination of increasing demand, rising costs, workforce pressures, funding uncertainty and growing complexity and level of need. We see these pressures every day through our grant making and our conversations with local groups.
While funders and community groups often sit on different sides of an application process, the reality is that we are navigating many of the same challenges. We are all trying to do more with less, while supporting communities that need us more than ever.
Thank you
We want you to know that we are resoundingly on your side. We champion small community groups in many ways – whether that is on television or radio, or in private events or one to one interactions. We are grateful for everything you do to support us in getting those messages out there, and even more grateful for the excellent work you do for our communities, every day.
The insights gathered through this survey will help shape the next phase of our development as a funder. We remain committed to listening, learning and evolving our approach, and we will continue to seek feedback from the organisations we support.
On behalf of everyone at HIWCF, thank you for your honesty, your partnership and, most importantly, the incredible work you do every day to strengthen communities across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Jacqui Scott
CEO, HIWCF