BD Giving Notes #58 – What Makes a Great Application

If you’re considering applying to GROW 2025 this Note will help you understand what makes a strong application. Read these tips before you start writing to save you time.
BD Giving Notes #47 – ‘’History is happening all the time‘’

Though our fund could only support eight businesses, the other ninety-something predominantly black-led businesses made us think deeply about our role in decolonising funding and the meaning of “purpose” in business. Kate Harmatz It’s really exciting when lots of things you’ve been working on over many years start to join up and tell a great […]
BD Giving Notes #39 – “Thinking carefully about inclusion as we promote the GROW Fund‘’

We see the future of our borough as one where underrepresented groups have the same opportunities as others. We want to spread equity across the borough. Jack Webb As we continue to market the GROW Fund and spread the word about this fantastic opportunity in the community, we can’t help but think about all the […]
BD Giving Notes #36 – “Reaching out to local businesses about the GROW Fund‘’

We have already started to adapt our outreach strategy to ensure that information about the GROW Fund is available in local community hubs, places of worship and local businesses on the high street. Adeshola Adejare On Monday 30 January 2023, we launched the GROW Fund. This blog is about how we reached local business owners […]
BD Giving Notes #34 – ‘’Democratising Finance‘’

With new players moving in and supporting local communities, it will be important not to repeat past errors. People must have a say over what happens where they live. That’s why we strongly believe that those most affected by funding decisions should be the ones in charge of making them. Géraud de Ville de Goyet […]
BD Giving Notes #33 – ‘The trouble with funding (Part 3)’

The joy of making something collaborative and participatory is that you never have to be ‘done’ because you’re always open to the possibility of someone new making improvements and changes that are literally beyond the system’s current ability to make. Cameron Bray This is the third of a three-part series of blogs in reaction to […]
BD Giving Notes #29 – ‘The trouble with funding (Part 2)’

In the education system, students are able to apply to dozens of colleges and universities using one application form. Could a similar system help small UK charities unlock multiple funding opportunities? Géraud de Ville de Goyet This is the second of a three-part series about the impact Impact Means the changes to the world we […]
BD Giving Notes #28 – ‘A Pot of Stew’

We are all products of the many socio-political systems we find ourselves caught in and we will, often ignorantly, act in ways that those systems have taught us to act. Cameron Bray This Note is by our Learning and Participation Manager, Cameron Bray. In this Note, they talk about their personal learning about Power (sharing, […]
BD Giving Notes #27 – ‘Working for a smaller charity’

There is magic in small charities – something special, and being place-based means that we see what is happening locally. Cláudia Ramalhosa I’d like to use this Note to talk about how I’ve adapted to life at a small charity. Working for a smaller charity has proven to be a learning opportunity for me. It has […]
BD Giving Notes #26 – ‘The trouble with funding (Part 1)’

Why does a funder get to decide what is strategic for our organisation? And; if they’re certain about what they won’t fund, then why won’t they tell us what they will fund? Kate Harmatz This is the first of a three-part series of blogs on the impact Impact Means the changes to the world we […]