Comments for Knowledge Sharing Website http://fundernetwork.org.uk A place for funders Thu, 10 May 2012 13:39:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on A plea for common sense in impact measurement by Sara Harrity http://fundernetwork.org.uk/?p=2556#comment-467 Sara Harrity Thu, 10 May 2012 13:39:41 +0000 http://fundernetwork.org.uk/?p=2556#comment-467 I couldn't agree more, impact assessment or monitoring and evaluation or whatever you want to call it has burgeoned into a full scale industry, and it's not always obvious how helpful this is to charities. The charities that thrive will in any case be checking out the effects of their work and seeing what difference it makes to their beneficiary group, and changing and developing their plans accordingly - whatever they call it or don't call it, this is the key bit of process that enables them to thrive. The business of reporting to funders should piggy back on it. I'm sure there is good and simple advice out there, the trouble is there is just so much and such confusing terminology - perhaps both a cause and effect of it turning into an industry? I couldn’t agree more, impact assessment or monitoring and evaluation or whatever you want to call it has burgeoned into a full scale industry, and it’s not always obvious how helpful this is to charities. The charities that thrive will in any case be checking out the effects of their work and seeing what difference it makes to their beneficiary group, and changing and developing their plans accordingly – whatever they call it or don’t call it, this is the key bit of process that enables them to thrive. The business of reporting to funders should piggy back on it. I’m sure there is good and simple advice out there, the trouble is there is just so much and such confusing terminology – perhaps both a cause and effect of it turning into an industry?

]]> Comment on A plea for common sense in impact measurement by Pierre Espinasse http://fundernetwork.org.uk/?p=2556#comment-466 Pierre Espinasse Wed, 09 May 2012 16:20:46 +0000 http://fundernetwork.org.uk/?p=2556#comment-466 I'm delighted to see that I am not alone in worrying about the increasing emphasis on demonstrating and measuring impact. The problem with impact metrics is not just that you end up measuring only what can be measured but you face the very real risk of altering behaviour or skewing activities towards those measurable outcomes. Of course charities need to be sure that their funding is making a difference but, more often than not, this is best demonstrated through 'story telling'rather than just numbers. I’m delighted to see that I am not alone in worrying about the increasing emphasis on demonstrating and measuring impact. The problem with impact metrics is not just that you end up measuring only what can be measured but you face the very real risk of altering behaviour or skewing activities towards those measurable outcomes. Of course charities need to be sure that their funding is making a difference but, more often than not, this is best demonstrated through ‘story telling’rather than just numbers.

]]> Comment on A plea for common sense in impact measurement by Andrew Cooper http://fundernetwork.org.uk/?p=2556#comment-465 Andrew Cooper Wed, 09 May 2012 12:43:19 +0000 http://fundernetwork.org.uk/?p=2556#comment-465 Dear Malcolm Thank you so much for your blog - I am so pleased to hear a common sense approach, and I agree that we mustn't get too caught up in trying to measure everything. There are times when quantitative and/or qualitative measures are necessary and useful, but we do need to keep it in proportion. Perhaps greater transparency is another way of helping to ensure that impact measurement doesn't get out of control? Best wishes, Andrew Dear Malcolm

Thank you so much for your blog – I am so pleased to hear a common sense approach, and I agree that we mustn’t get too caught up in trying to measure everything. There are times when quantitative and/or qualitative measures are necessary and useful, but we do need to keep it in proportion. Perhaps greater transparency is another way of helping to ensure that impact measurement doesn’t get out of control?

Best wishes,

Andrew

]]> Comment on Protect yourself and your charity from fraud and bribery by Pauline Crowe http://fundernetwork.org.uk/?p=2548#comment-464 Pauline Crowe Tue, 08 May 2012 15:48:47 +0000 http://fundernetwork.org.uk/?p=2548#comment-464 We provide grants to individuals but to qualify you have to be in prison in certain countries overseas which I think makes us less likely to deal with the kind of organized fraud to which Mike refers. But I would be very interested to hear of any longer term impact assessment that anyone does with individuals. Many thanks. Pauline We provide grants to individuals but to qualify you have to be in prison in certain countries overseas which I think makes us less likely to deal with the kind of organized fraud to which Mike refers. But I would be very interested to hear of any longer term impact assessment that anyone does with individuals. Many thanks. Pauline

]]> Comment on Hi, Inflation question. If the net value of … by Jenny Oppenheimer http://fundernetwork.org.uk/?p=2566#comment-463 Jenny Oppenheimer Tue, 08 May 2012 09:28:44 +0000 http://fundernetwork.org.uk/?p=2566#comment-463 Hi Daniel, I am assuming 2005 was the year that the endowment was first made? If it is then will need RPI for both years (i.e.2010 and 2005). Formula is: RPI 2010/RPI 2005 x original investment e.g. £7.4million. You can get historical RPI here: http://www.incomesdata.co.uk/pay-employment-data/rpi.aspx Hi Daniel,

I am assuming 2005 was the year that the endowment was first made? If it is then will need RPI for both years (i.e.2010 and 2005). Formula is: RPI 2010/RPI 2005 x original investment e.g. £7.4million.

You can get historical RPI here: http://www.incomesdata.co.uk/pay-employment-data/rpi.aspx

]]> Comment on Can anyone advise me exactly what by law a Grantma… by Dorothy Napierala http://fundernetwork.org.uk/?p=2565#comment-462 Dorothy Napierala Fri, 04 May 2012 14:57:08 +0000 http://fundernetwork.org.uk/?p=2565#comment-462 Sue, I have got a document prepared for trustees a few years ago which I think is still valid, listing periods of retention for governing and financial documents. I will gladly email it to you. Please get in touch on dorothy@charleshaywardfoundation.org.uk Sue,

I have got a document prepared for trustees a few years ago which I think is still valid, listing periods of retention for governing and financial documents. I will gladly email it to you. Please get in touch on dorothy@charleshaywardfoundation.org.uk

]]> Comment on Can anyone advise me exactly what by law a Grantma… by Alan Eagle http://fundernetwork.org.uk/?p=2565#comment-461 Alan Eagle Fri, 04 May 2012 13:12:36 +0000 http://fundernetwork.org.uk/?p=2565#comment-461 Hi Sue, as with house deeds electronic versions of Trust Deeds and signed auditted accounts(PDF)are now acceptable. So you may be able to do away with your hard copy versions. Other than what has already been mentioned we archive externally with a destruct date of 7 years. Hi Sue, as with house deeds electronic versions of Trust Deeds and signed auditted accounts(PDF)are now acceptable. So you may be able to do away with your hard copy versions.
Other than what has already been mentioned we archive externally with a destruct date of 7 years.

]]> Comment on Have any Trusts or Foundations got a clause in the… by Emma Quinn http://fundernetwork.org.uk/?p=2564#comment-460 Emma Quinn Fri, 04 May 2012 12:59:43 +0000 http://fundernetwork.org.uk/?p=2564#comment-460 With our grant programme we had three deadline dates approximately 6 months apart with ever decreasing amounts at each stage. Those who were unsuccessful could apply again at the next stage. Our deadlines were immovable and if we received an application after 5pm on the deadline day it was not eligible. We were very clear about this exact deadline and the onus was on the applicant to ensure that all the paperwork was submitted in a timely fashion. This of course made the initial sift through a little easier because those who missed the deadline were not assessed. We were also very stringent about required supporting material - (constitution, accounts, etc) and if any item was missing from the application, it again went into the reject pile. Again, we were very clear about this on the application form and the supporting information. Because we had specified a deadline it meant that we could start assessing applications that were early but it also meant that we knew when all the applications were in and how much work we had to do. We had to process all the applications in time for the grants panel, which was an immovable date and so having a deadline for delivery of the applications was a massive help in terms of planning our time. With our grant programme we had three deadline dates approximately 6 months apart with ever decreasing amounts at each stage. Those who were unsuccessful could apply again at the next stage.

Our deadlines were immovable and if we received an application after 5pm on the deadline day it was not eligible. We were very clear about this exact deadline and the onus was on the applicant to ensure that all the paperwork was submitted in a timely fashion.

This of course made the initial sift through a little easier because those who missed the deadline were not assessed.

We were also very stringent about required supporting material – (constitution, accounts, etc) and if any item was missing from the application, it again went into the reject pile. Again, we were very clear about this on the application form and the supporting information.

Because we had specified a deadline it meant that we could start assessing applications that were early but it also meant that we knew when all the applications were in and how much work we had to do.

We had to process all the applications in time for the grants panel, which was an immovable date and so having a deadline for delivery of the applications was a massive help in terms of planning our time.

]]> Comment on Can anyone advise me exactly what by law a Grantma… by Chris Lightfoot http://fundernetwork.org.uk/?p=2565#comment-459 Chris Lightfoot Fri, 04 May 2012 12:26:43 +0000 http://fundernetwork.org.uk/?p=2565#comment-459 Sue, Certainly Trust deeds and Minutes must be kept in perpetuity. Finance records must be kept for 7 years, anything earlier may be discarded. Your auditors/solicitors should advise of any other requirements. Sue, Certainly Trust deeds and Minutes must be kept in perpetuity. Finance records must be kept for 7 years, anything earlier may be discarded. Your auditors/solicitors should advise of any other requirements.

]]> Comment on Have any Trusts or Foundations got a clause in the… by Sue West http://fundernetwork.org.uk/?p=2564#comment-457 Sue West Fri, 04 May 2012 11:26:53 +0000 http://fundernetwork.org.uk/?p=2564#comment-457 I experimented with stating deadlines on our website and found that given a deadline everyone waits until the last minute...we now say : The Trust does not have a defined period for the submission of applications—they are processed and considered continually. The Trust aims to contact you within two weeks of receipt of an application to either: - ask for further information; or - inform you that the application will be going forward to the next stage of assessment and what the timetable for a final decision will be; or - tell you that we will not be able to consider your application further and the reason why. The Trust reserves the right to ‘close’ an agenda once sufficient appropriate applications have been received. Please note that the Trust receives many applications for support, and although your work may fit the objects of the Trust, we may not be able to help you. Trustees’ decisions are final. I experimented with stating deadlines on our website and found that given a deadline everyone waits until the last minute…we now say :
The Trust does not have a defined period for the submission of applications—they are processed and considered continually. The Trust aims to contact you within two weeks of receipt of an application to either:
- ask for further information; or
- inform you that the application will be going forward to the next stage of assessment and what the timetable for a final decision will be; or
- tell you that we will not be able to consider your application further and the reason why.
The Trust reserves the right to ‘close’ an agenda once sufficient appropriate applications have been received. Please note that the Trust receives many applications for support, and although your work may fit the objects of the Trust, we may not be able to help you. Trustees’ decisions are final.

]]>