We’re part of IVAR’s Open & Trusting programme – a commitment to improving how funders work with the organisations they support.
The eight commitments below are IVAR’s principles. Under each one, you’ll see what that means in practice for you.
You’ll see clear funding priorities, eligibility criteria and exclusions for every fund. There’s no hidden criteria, our Grant Strategy is always publicly available. Our panels assess applications consistently against what’s published. We’re refreshing our Grant Strategy following our strategic organisational review to keep it focused and clear.
We only ask for the information we genuinely need to make a fair decision. Our application portal is continuously being improved to make it easier to use and track your progress. You won’t need to re-submit supporting documents unless something has changed. We test our forms with users to make sure questions are clear and relevant.
We recognise that risk is part of meaningful work, and it’s shared. We’re realistic about the level of assurance organisations can provide. We’re committed to developing a clear Risk Statement so you understand how we approach decisions.
You’ll see expected decision timelines on every fund page. Wherever possible, we aim to give you a decision within two months of the deadline. If something changes, we’ll let you know.
We publish success rates so expectations are realistic. We share common reasons applications aren’t successful. Where appropriate, we offer constructive feedback. If you’ve applied several times without success, we’ll offer a conversation to support you.
Wherever we can, we offer flexible funding. We review how we can increase core and unrestricted support. If circumstances change during your grant, we’ll be sure to talk this through with you.
If your application isn’t eligible, we aim to tell you early. We’ll be clear about what’s expected from the start of a grant. Our communication should feel constructive and respectful, not transactional.
Reporting requirements are proportionate, especially for smaller grants. We only ask for information that’s genuinely useful. We aim for reporting that supports learning and reflection, not just compliance. This work is ongoing. Open & Trusting isn’t a badge, it’s a way of working. We’ll keep reviewing and improving how we fund, and we welcome your feedback about your experience with us.