A common question we often hear is….

Can you come and visit our group?

We totally appreciate it would be a great opportunity for our donors to visit groups and projects ahead of a panel meeting. They would definitely get a ‘sense’ of your work and the impact you make, it can be incredibly powerful to see delivery of an activity first hand.

This said there are a number of reasons we don’t visit groups ahead of decision making, these reasons all hinge on our commitment to being an equitable grant maker.

Every group should be treated equally, so if we visited one group ahead of a panel meeting we would need to visit every group  – no one organisation should have that advantage.

Due to being a small (but efficient!) team, capacity wise, and time wise for our donors, it isn’t a tenable ask – especially given the length and breadth of the county. Bearing in mind we receive c. 300 applications every year.

Some groups would also not be able to accommodate a visit, they may work with vulnerable clients, or in locations that can’t be accessed by the general public or they may only work remotely / or in no fixed location.

We also need to consider that some individuals may be excellent orators, they may be able to ‘sell’ their organisation really well and leave a lasting impression. Other groups may also do really crucial work but feel less confident in pitching their impact and value, but they are no less worthy of financial support. The application and assessment process in place, brings out the best in each and every application – letting each bid shine.

We do visit groups, after, an award. This gives our donors that chance to see fantastic local work up close, and gives successful groups a chance to showcase their valuable contributions to our communities.

Our ‘seeing is believing’ visits happen every quarter, if you would like to request a visit just ask