1. London Cold Spot Collaboration

2. Contents
Need
Aim of collaboration
Overview for collaboration
Benefits for charities and social enterprises
Benefits for funders
Who are The Fore and how will it work
Timetable for pilot
Looking longer term
Next steps

3. Need
Funders are finding it hard to get grants into London “cold spots” (outer London Boroughs). We know:
There is significant need within communities
Many excellent community organisations already exist
But
Hard to attract good applications
Lack of resources to undertake due diligence needed
Hard to provide the tailored support the organisations need

4. Aim of Collaboration
To provide tailored funding and skills support to high quality community organisations based in London “cold spots”.
Partners and roles so far:
London Funders – convening and advocacy
The Fore – grant-funding, due diligence, M&E, coordination of impact measurement
Mayors Fund for London – convening, advocacy, fund-raising
Other Funding Partners tbc – grant-funding, expertise, advocacy

5. Overview of Collaboration
Partners commit in principle to London Cold Spots collaboration.
All partners “market warm” through their own channels.
The Fore assesses all applicants through its due diligence process.
Grantees selected
Funders “bagsy” grants which meet their specific criteria
All grantees access The Fore’s “venture philanthropy” support

6. Benefits of collaborative approach
Charities and Social Enterprises:
Single application point offering exposure to multiple funders
Reduced barriers to access
Access to skills support and training
Feedback on applications
Impact measurement support

7. Benefits of collaborative approach
Funders:
Increased ability to fund in “cold spots” across London and to build the capacity and potential of community organisations in these areas
Ability to match grants to individual funder criteria whilst taking in collaborative effort
Ultra-low-cost (For pilot The Fore will undertake all DD and M&E at no cost)
Ability to provide all grantees with skills support and training
Opportunity to publicly demonstrate collaborative working while retaining autonomy over funding decisions

8. Who are The Fore?
Early-stage grant-maker for small (income >£0.5m) SPOs in the UK
Set up to simplify the pathway to accessing funding and skills
Launched in 2017 after successful 4 year pilot
Unrestricted grants of up to £30,000 offered over up to 3 years
£2m distributed as 76 grants since launch
Average grant £28,000 Access to skills and impact management support
89% success rates in grantee organisations achieving transformational change

9. Assumptions and Intentions of Cold Spots Fund
Applicants are operating with extremely limited resources
Applicants are more expert in their field than we are
Applicants are best placed to identify the opportunities to transform their own organisations— although assessors can be instrumental in facilitating this
The funding process is designed to:
Encourage applicants to undertake basic overview strategic thinking
Request information that, if not readily available, once produced will be useful in future
Level the playing field – no advantages for experienced fundraisers
Use as little of applicants’ time as possible

10. What the cold spots fund will be looking for
Transformational Impact of Grant on Organisation
Strength of Leadership
Strength of Organisation
Financial Situation
X-factor

11. How we will find the best grantees
The assessment process is rigorous:
Team of highly-skilled, strategic professionals with a minimum of 15 years experience e.g. former , exited entrepreneurs
Assessors sift, interview and work with applicant organisations to find the best leadership, draw out and articulate the impact the grant will have and how this can be measured.
The assessor produces a single page report for the panel including KPIs for the organisation and skills gaps.
Assessors advocate for the applicant at the panel.

12. Application Process – 12 weeks
1000+ per year
30%
~ 5%
~3%
Review of pitch document (max 3 pages)
Interview and due diligence with Consultant Grant Assessor
Funding Panels of funders, corporate Members and small SPOs experts
Grants and skills support awarded
Feedback to all applicants
“The process was more valuable than funding.”
Unsuccessful applicant

13. Case Studies of funding in Cold Spots
JAGS Foundation – London Borough of Croydon Grant Autumn 2017 – £20,000 Year 1 £10,000 and Year 2 £10,000
Wellgate Community Farm- London of Barking and Dagenham
Grant Summer 2017 – £24,276
Year 1 £12,138 and Year 2 £12,318

14. Potential Timetable for Pilot
June Funders confirm participation in theory
July Market warming
Funders collectively spread word about the fund
Mayors Fund for London convenes
The Fore targets “Application Preparation Workshops” in cold spots – pre-registration available
29th July Registration for funding round closes.
Applicants given 5 weeks to submit application document
Sept-Nov Applicants work with The Fore assessors
Mid Nov Assessors present best applicants to panels – funders welcome
End Nov Funders convene to choose which grants to take on (or through portal)
Jan 2020 Evaluation of Cold Spots pilot collaboration

15. Funding model can be white-labelled if required
Looking Longer Term
Funders may wish to continue the “cold spots” fund as part of their regular grant making strategy.
Funding could be offered three times per year, in line with The Fore’s regular funding rounds.
Funding model can be white-labelled if required
Potential to promote local-collaborative model nationally
Due diligence and support costs c.15-20% in addition to funding

16. Next steps:
What would be needed from Funders
Commitment in principle to participate and idea of individual funders decision- making timeframes.
Indication of level of funding available for “cold spots” fund – suggested minimum £30,000
Indication of any likely restrictions on funding e.g. children, Barnet only etc

17. Let’s collaborate!