Case studies

Read stories about the benefits and challenges of collaboration, from funders, in their own words.

Latest case study

Progress driven by passion

Collaboration doesn’t happen overnight, but passionate and committed individuals can make all the difference in keeping up momentum. Carla Marshall tells us how setting up a ‘Task Force’ helped a group of regional funders to simplify and align their application forms.

November 1, 2023

I’ve seen an improved quality of applications since adopting the Yorkshire Common Application Form, with less need to go back to groups with follow-up questions.

Carla Marshall

All case studies

Learning and unlearning together

Funders’ evaluation practices are changing. But questioning the status quo can sometimes feel isolating. In Scotland, a peer support group is helping funders to navigate new ways of learning.

From conversations to collaborations

The Unite Foundation funds scholarships for care experienced young people, but it also wants to improve the university system. By using the Hub to connect with other funders, they've formed new partnerships to build an influential evidence base for providing stable homes to care experienced students.

A sensitive job

The Greater Manchester Funders Forum helped its members respond to the stresses of Covid-19 - and explore ways to make their funding more inclusive.

Advancing racial justice

Nine foundation chief executives share their collective experience of forming a sector-wide initiative to drive action on racial justice

Growing together

By pooling resources, knowledge and networks, a group of funders are using their collective power to build a better food and farming system.

Listening and learning

Together with their partners, the Blagrave Trust set out to address a collective failure to listen to young people.

Light on bureaucracy, heavy on impact

Funder collaboration doesn’t have to be complicated. By sharing an opportunity on the Hub, Continuo Foundation connected with like-minded funders who agreed to pool resources, making grant processes more streamlined and accessible for small music ensembles.

Using data strategically

A group of local funders recognised that sharing more data was essential for coordinating their efforts effectively. They worked together to create Bucks Data Exchange, which is now informing the work of funders, charities and voluntary groups.

A new approach

A charitable trust and a local authority saw that their separate funding processes were incentivising competition rather than collaboration between local service providers. Now they are in a five-year strategic partnership that is transforming youth work in Perth and Kinross, with potential for nationwide influence.

Humans at the heart

The Future Mental Health Collective is a global peer-to-peer network for mental health funders, including individual philanthropists, foundations and corporations. Creating a trusted safe space for this community is key to its success.

Advice, agility and anti-racism

Justice Together is a values-led collaboration, aiming to improve access to justice in the immigration system by creating a more accessible, sustainable and co-ordinated sector

A good match

The Match Trading® Task Force has catalysed funder experimentation, learning and impact, while helping social enterprises become more sustainable.

Building a movement

LocalMotion is a collaboration between six funders and six local communities. Kathleen Kelly shares what they have learned so far.

Participation in practice

Participatory grantmaking is not new, but has only recently started blossoming. Community and cameraderie have been key ingredients.

One application to many funders

In response to the pandemic, Gloucestershire Funders came together as an informal, action-oriented collaboration to share intelligence between funders and simplify processes through a single application form.

A shift in gear

Set up in response to urgent need for legal advice during the pandemic, the Community Justice Fund is now working towards a longer-term vision.

Safe from harm

In response to a crisis, five funders came together with the aim of strengthening funders’ safeguarding cultures and capabilities. Now they've developed a global space for the sector to learn together.

What would aliens think?

To anyone looking at our funding system from the outside, the lack of co-ordination would seem strange. In Moray, funders are working to address this.

No going back

No Going Back helps prison leavers build productive lives, and is proving that Livery Companies - in partnership with other expert organisations - can learn and change more when collaborating.

Transformed by pandemic pressure

Reshaped by the pandemic, Wales Funders’ Forum is a space for funders to learn from each other, problem solve together and increase funding co-operation.

Connecting with Government

By match-funding with Government, the Co-op Foundation aimed to build an evidence base and influence policy on tackling loneliness.

Supporting artists' livelihoods

A group of arts funders took urgent action in the pandemic, thanks to Jerwood Arts' specialist capabilities to fund individual artists.

A thriving partnership

Combining their expertise in the women’s sector and financial resilience helped Rosa and the Smallwood Trust to amplify their advocacy voice.

Changing the system

Collaborative funding has been crucial for helping London's civil society infrastructure to work together towards a collective vision for change.

Collaboration and partnerships are the life blood of how we achieve our mission. We know we cannot do it alone.

Danielle Walker Palmour

Director, Friends Provident Foundation

We made some useful connections from you sharing our idea on the Hub, and have used them to strengthen our thinking about a new programme we are planning to launch.

Chris Johnes

Chief Executive, Building Communities Trust

Thank you for the Hub's incredible support in amplifying our pilot fund. This platform has helped to spark so many new connections, including to one of our major funders.

Sarah Bradley

Climate Activist Speaker Fund

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The Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF) is the membership body for UK foundations and grant-making charities. ACF is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales.