MTVH Migration Foundation Personal reflections from a funder Tuesday 14 th May 2019 Dominic Briant
Foundation Strategy 2017 - 2020 Re-focussed grant Communities have money and infrastructure to neighbourhood cope investment Comprehensive Improved Destitution or a services that New services support, training return to it is can resolve alone or in and guidance for prevented immigration crises partnership housing colleagues 2
3
TL;DR Had funding from… Lessons… • • Big trusts I could have saved energy by research • Local Authorities • Relationships are key • NHS • People can tell when • EU you are confident in • Central Gov your idea (and not). • Family charities • There are • Private philanthropists opportunities…honest! 4
I could have saved energy or… Context Matters Givens… • Accountability (or lack of) is one of the easiest ways to tell the difference between Trusts. Purpose and who keeps track of it. • Almost all Foundations/Trusts have more demand than supply • Almost none have regular meaningful interaction with people in crisis • Very few are focussed on one issue Mysteries waiting to be solved… • Connection with strategic environment • Values (not as liberal as I might have guessed) • How they get their money
Relationships are key • 3 tribes: Local action, behemoth and those trying to work on ‘strategic solutions’. • Even with behemoth’s (e.g. BLF), there is a relationship or sorts in the form of reputation. • It is competitive. I do a fair amount of saying no – usually because of funding but almost as many times because the project doesn’t meet our aims . • Good relationships are founded on trust and genuinely wanting to provide value to the other person.
Confidence and patience Questions I rarely get asked • Have you funded any other projects recently? • What’s your approach? • Are you looking to invest in any other projects? • How do you usually make decisions? • Do you fund with anyone else? Things I rarely receive • A follow up that helps me or shows understanding • An opportunity to understand your organisation without prejudice
Opportunities • Some fads are now in their place • People are searching for solutions and some will have gained from financial uncertainty • We know that demand and complexity will increase • Trust in some larger charities has been tested • Family trusts are known to change their strategy on a whim • The Foundation sector has lost a direct voice from refugees and asylum seekers Work for you • Explain destitution in simple terms • Capture people’s imagination • Think who is best-placed to communicate/bid/apply
Thank you Dom Briant Head of Community Investment and MTVH Migration Foundation dominic.briant@mtvh.co.uk 07738 714 152
Recommend
More recommend
