The Importance of Trusts and Foundations
By Charlotte Burns, Research and Grant Associate Intern
We are increasing our focus on securing grant funding for Trusts and Foundations to enable larger projects, help more children in Tanzania and support us to grow. Donations from individuals and companies are still incredibly important to us, but having researched the funding mix of other small charities, we believe that a balance of 60% grant funding from Trusts and Foundations is a healthy proportion. We want to be transparent about how we are funded, so we’ve asked our Research and Grant Associate Charlotte, who has been helping us to identify potential grant funders, to introduce the role of Trusts and Foundations and their impact on Made With Hope.
In the UK, Trusts and Foundations play an increasingly important role in the funding and support of small INGOS. In recent years there have been significant changes to funding for the international development sector from governments. Non-Government grants are an increasingly important source of income for many small INGOS like Made With Hope, and the Trusts and Foundations that make them are increasingly influential in making projects happen.
In the UK every year there is over £2 billion given away as grants by more than 10,000 trust and foundations, according to Association of Charitable Foundations. These are giving small INGO’s a fighting chance to have an impact and make a difference to the most vulnerable of communities.
What are Trusts and Foundations?
Trusts and Foundations are organisations or charities that make grants funded by their own private income. They often do not deliver their own projects directly, rather it is through providing funding for other charities that Trusts and Foundations can achieve their outcomes. They function independently from the government and follow their own direction with their own purpose, values, and missions. These views underpin what they would like to achieve from their funding, what causes and communities would benefit the most, and determine their eligibly criteria and funding strategy for which projects and organisations they will fund. There are many different types and sizes of Trusts and Foundations that function at different levels and focus on different causes, they are key funders for many charities. They are contributing greatly to making a difference for the most vulnerable in the world.
Importance of Trusts and Foundations for Made With Hope
“For the first 5 years of MWHs existence we were built on community fundraising. Whilst community fundraising is still really important, we were not seeing a good return on investment for our time. As a small charity with no fundraising budget, we were spending hours organising events, making crafts to sell in minus-degree weather at Christmas markets and baking a lot of cakes! Trusts and Foundations was an important cost-effective step for us in our fundraising strategy and its allowed us to reach much bigger pots of money. To be honest I was a little nervous to apply to T&F because I doubted that we’d receive any money...basically it was out of my comfort zone. But I’m so glad we diversified our income in this way. We’ve got a really good success rate and I still cry every time a grant comes through!”
Trusts and Foundations made up nearly 30% of Made With Hope funding in the financial year 2017/2018 and this portion is growing.
Impact of Trust and Foundations on Made With Hope
A view of CHETI Secondary
CHETI Secondary School
One of the most ambitious projects supported by Made With Hope was the construction of CHETI Secondary School, which was completed in November 2018. We are extremely appreciative of the grants awarded by Allan and Nesta Ferguson Trust, Hazel’s Footprints Trust, Ashworth Charitable Trust that enabled this project. The most vulnerable children have a chance to continue their education into secondary school. In Tanzania many children cannot move forward to secondary school as a direct result of poverty. This project will give children in Nadisoito the chance to receive the highest quality education, unlocking a future full of opportunities and provide long term sustainability. Education will help these students achieve a promising career.
Two new classrooms funded by the Kitchen Table Charitable Trust
CHETI Primary School Classroom infrastructure
CHETI Primary School was overcrowded with children. As a result, there were not enough materials and resources to support each child. Furthermore, teachers were struggling with the stress and difficulty of both teaching large amounts of children and the management of a overcrowded school. However, with many thanks to Trust and Foundations like British and Foreign School Society, Kitchen Table Charitable Trust, One Kind Act they have awarded grants to Made With Hope and CHETI to help build 8 new classrooms in CHETI Primary School. With more classrooms and access to high quality education for young children, they will be taught the very foundation of literacy and mathematics providing them with a better chance of being lifted from poverty and the possibility of a better future. The expanded CHETI Primary School will be opening in 2020.
These are two projects that have been enabled by grants that Made With Hope and CHETI are creating to bring a brighter future by providing high quality education to children in rural Arusha. We at Made With Hope have great appreciation to the Trust and Foundations that have supported and believed in our mission. We are excited to work with future funders to continue our journey.