A major grant-giving organisation has launched a new five-year strategy, which aims to make its applications “more streamlined and accessible for all”.
Heart of England Community Foundation, which provides financial support to voluntary and community organisations across the West Midlands and Warwickshire, announced the new strategy late last week.
One of the key aims is to “transform” the foundation’s grantmaking process. The strategy additionally mentions that enhanced data audits will also take place to “better understand the needs across the area”, identifying so-called “cold spots” where there is a need for further funding.
Ambitions for future income base
The foundation also said that it aims to grow its income base and distribute grants totalling £25m, as well as grow its endowment to £30m by 2030, solidifying the long-term future of the organisation for decades to come.
As part of this, it will be working to expand the number of corporate donors it supports to achieve their corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals.
Tina Costello, the foundation’s chief executive, said: “Our five-year strategy sets out our plans and ambitions for the future so that we can continue to support our communities, creating a fairer, happier and healthier region.
“We want to improve the way organisations can apply for our grants, becoming more efficient and only asking questions that are proportionate to the grants being applied for.
“We also want to support the diversity of our region, championing organisations which are doing incredible work but often have low profiles.
“Better use of data will improve our delivery of evidence-based funding, identifying cold spots and directing funding to these areas.”
New partnership with property grant-giver
Meanwhile, long-standing corporate donor IM Properties will partner with the foundation to administer the IM Properties community fund, which delivers grants across the Midlands.
IM Properties, which has already worked with the foundation for seven years across multiple project-related funds, described the launch of the strategy as setting the foundation apart as offering a “streamlined and effective solution for CSR”.
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