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  • 27 Sep 2018

Paul Hamlyn Foundation releases Review of UK Grant-making 2018

Today Paul Hamlyn Foundation (PHF) publishes the Review of UK Grant-making 2018.

This report analyses learning from around 450 grants, from three years of grant-making under the current strategy. A rich data source for grantees, funders and those active in the fields in which we operate, the report pulls together emerging challenges, trends and the outcomes being pursued in efforts to advance social justice.

This is the second such report released in this period, continuing PHF’s commitment to the importance of openness and transparency in philanthropy. It presents the types of organisations being funded, common approaches and methods being used and the major outcomes that grantees are working towards.

With a three year cycle now complete for some grants, some interesting learning is emerging across our six strategic priority areas. The review reveals an increase in partnerships and in co-production practices, in which grantees collaborate with those they support to design and deliver work. The findings also highlight the importance of long-term and core funding, the value grantees place on convening and other forms of non-monetary support and the differences between making grants to individuals and to organisations.

Much of the insight comes from our grant-making data and reports from grantees, the knowledge of our staff about the organisations and sectors that we support, as well as ongoing evaluation in specific areas.

Over the coming year, this work will continue to inform our thinking about how best to support grantees to respond to the challenges they have identified as well as provide the support that is needed to foster innovative practice and grow impact.

Tom Wylie, Trustee and Chair of PHF’s Evidence and Learning Advisory Group, said:

“The Foundation is committed to making sure our knowledge goes as far as possible to assist those working in the diverse fields in which we operate. As last year, the 2018 report provides valuable insight into work within those different sectors and I hope also starts to help others understand the complex societal landscape that many of our grantees and the people they support are navigating. Because knowledge is an asset which should be available to all, we have invested in new communication tools this year to help bring the analysis to life and to share our intelligence with broader audiences. I hope that those working with us find these useful and valuable in furthering their understanding of the wider ecosystems in which they are operating.”

Jane Steele, Director, Evidence and Learning, Paul Hamlyn Foundation:

“Our commitment to openness and transparency means that we aim to share what we are learning, in the belief that this knowledge can be valuable to those we fund and others. With hundreds of live grants operating at any one time, we learn a lot from talking to grantees and others we work with. Reports from grantees and commissioned research and evaluation all help us to spot trends and judge our effectiveness as a grant-maker. Analysis guides us to where we can do better, differently or sustain activity to have the maximum impact in the areas that we support. We also know this is valuable insight for those working with us, applying to us and investing in similar areas of social justice. So we hope that this review of our grant-making helps others, in particular those we support and partner with.”

Read the full report here