How we fund
Organisations working in our priority areas are often underfunded and overstretched. We give unrestricted multiyear funding when we can, and work with partners to identify gaps and opportunities to bring about change.
The way we work
Listening and building trusting relationships is fundamental to our approach, as is being aware of how we fit in the ‘ecosystem’ of charities, funders, and civil society more broadly so that our funding adds value given what others are doing. We want to develop our role as a bridge builder, being led by the field in our priority areas, and working differently with it.
We aim to place as little burden as possible on the organisations we fund, to enable you to get on with your work – we recognise that you are the experts in what you do.
We value opportunities to learn from our partners and the communities they support. We look to do this in ways that help us to be flexible, and to continually adjust and improve our work, but which also feel mutually beneficial.
We aim to support organisations who learn from their work and respect the agency and talents of the people they work with, putting their interests front and centre.
We will continue to seek feedback, and to work on improving our processes to minimise the barriers people face accessing funding.
How we make decisions:
We are always focusing on ensuring our decision making is as fair and transparent as possible.
Funding decisions are made by our Board and Grants Committee (a subgroup of four members of the Board), both of which meet quarterly. Grant decisions up to £30k pa are made by the Grants Committee, whereas anything above £30k pa is considered by the full Board.
Applications to our open programme follow a shortlisting process prior to decision (see the apply page for more information).
The special initiative and anchor programme grants are by invitation only, but do also go through a review process prior to Board decision.
Our funding streams
Our largest funding stream is the open programme. While special initiatives and the anchor programme are by invitation, organisations funded through these streams are sometimes already known to us through applications to the open programme.
Open Programme
This programme aims to support and strengthen small to medium sized charities, and the wider ‘eco-system’, in our priority areas.
We usually fund single focus organisations working solely in our priority areas. For these organisations, we generally give unrestricted grants.
Special Initiatives
Working with others, this programme aims to identify and address gaps and opportunities in our priority areas.
These grants can be larger or smaller than those made in the open programme and usually involve working closely with partner organisations and other funders.
Applications are by invitation.
Anchor Programme
This programme aims to support specialist infrastructure organisations that are indispensable to their sector.
Anchors contribute to a stronger and more resilient sector by providing infrastructure support across their field and laying the path for change. Unrestricted funding for a period of five years.
See FAQ on what A B Charitable Trust means by specialist infrastructure.
Applications are by invitation.
