In Conversation with… Jo Maddocks
Adam and Jo throw back the curtain on how funding works at Norfolk Community Foundation
Comms & Insight Manager Adam Baker sat down with seasoned Programmes Advisor Jo Maddocks to learn more about how Norfolk Community Foundation awards grants. From figuring out how applications are assessed by the team to looking at how donors choose which projects get funded, Jo gave Adam a taste of a day in her world as a member of the Programmes Team…
When a group presses submit on an application, what happens next?
When a group submits a funding application, it is immediately stored safely in our central database. One person has overall responsibility for the applications to each fund, but as we tend to receive dozens of applications, we share the task of reading applications among the team. We read every application that comes to us; there is no automatic filtering or AI-wizardry! We check that the group meets our eligibility criteria, and after making sure all of the basics are there, we move on to assessing the application.
What is grant assessment, and why do we do it?
Assessment is an in-depth look at both the application and the organisation that submitted it. We check we have up-to-date policies and accounts from the groups, as well as checking their website and social media. We often call or visit groups – especially if they are new to us. We take time to understand each group thoroughly, so our donors can be confident they will deliver their proposed project well.
In terms of the application itself, we check the proposed project fits the fund criteria, ensure the group is equipped to deliver it, and make sure their budget is realistic. If there are concerns with the application, we will call groups to get clarity. Provided all is well, we summarise each application into an easy-to-read assessment for our donors. We aim to provide a comprehensive yet simple overview of the organisation and project, giving them all the information they need to make their decisions at the panel.
What is a grant panel and who sits on them?
Panels are the most important part of the grant making process, because this is where the decisions are made on what is funded. Usually, donors like to be involved in the decision-making themselves, however each fund is unique, so every panel is different.
Some panels may include members of a donor’s family, while others might involve staff from a local business or local authority. For funds with multiple donors, we also invite community members with expertise in specific areas, such as youth mental health, or representatives from previously funded groups, to help make decisions.
Representatives from Norfolk Community Foundation also attend each panel. We ensure the panel have everything they need to make good decisions.
What happens at a panel meeting? Who decides what gets funded?
Although representatives from the Foundation are present at every panel, we do not make the decisions. As we are deeply embedded in supporting the applicants, we are on hand to offer broader insights and share more detailed information about the projects with donors on the panel. Essentially, our role is to guide and support the panel in making well-informed decisions to achieve maximum community benefit.
Donors want to fund projects they believe will have the most impact. Every application gets a fair shot, and the donors make their decisions after careful thought. In an ideal world, panels would award grants to every applicant, but what gets funded often depends on how much money is available and how many applications there are. This means some panels can approve most projects, while others might have to make tougher choices. Representatives from the Foundation always put the best case forward on behalf of each application, and support donors to come to their decisions responsibly – but ultimately the decision is theirs to make.
What happens after a panel when the funders have made the decision?
The best part of the whole grant making process is letting groups know they have been awarded funding! We know it takes a lot of hard work to put in an application, and letting them know their work has paid off is the best part of the job.
We also know how disappointing it is when groups don’t receive the funding they hoped for, so we take the time to write to them explaining the situation. We tell them as much as we can about why their application was not successful. This is crucial because we want to ensure they understand the reasons and can improve for the future.
Here for you.
Our team delivers thousands of grants each year to hundreds of voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations each year, helping to tackle challenges facing Norfolk communities and build a better, more equitable future for all.
We aim to be transparent around our practices, so our donors, partners and beneficiaries can be confident in all that Norfolk Community Foundation does. We are committed to ensuing our practices streamline the funding processes. We want to build stronger, more transparent relationships with the groups we support. By adopting clear communication, flexibility, and proportionate requirements, we reduce burdens on applicants and ensure effective, trusting partnerships where donors know their investment is making a real difference.
