City Bridge Foundation
We provide grants and use our resources to help communities foster connections, become more resilient and build a more equal London.
Overview
Total reviews: 80
Median 10 hours
Latest Reviews
Oct 29, 2020
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2016
They should know about the funder's grant committed programmes and overall background.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Responsive
Cons
What is your relationship with the funder for this experience?
Current or former grantee
If you were funded tell us the outcome
Funded for amount requested
What year was this experience?
2016
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
Very accessible and understanding.
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
Supportive not only with giving grants, but additional training paid by them.
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
Flexible and additional support
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
If you believe the contents of this review are inappropriate please contact us via email.
Reply from City Bridge Trust
Mar 22, 2023
Thank you for your feedback, we are pleased to hear that you found us flexible and appreciated our additional support and training.
Oct 22, 2020
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2019
Pros
Insightful
Friendly
Understands nonprofits and issues
Responsive
Cons
What is your relationship with the funder for this experience?
Current or former grantee
If you were funded tell us the outcome
Funded for amount requested
What year was this experience?
2019
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
Communication. Porta for submissions of requirements is very efficient too.
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
If you believe the contents of this review are inappropriate please contact us via email.
Reply from City Bridge Trust
Mar 22, 2023
Thank you for this great feedback. Our Funding Managers are committed to having as good relationships as possible with organisations we fund, so we are delighted that you feel we are insightful and responsive.
Oct 12, 2020
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2019
Plan ahead. Great funder with clear communication, though the decision-making process was slow.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Risk taker
Understands nonprofits and issues
Openminded
Responsive
Cons
What is your relationship with the funder for this experience?
Current or former grantee
If you were funded tell us the outcome
Funded for amount requested
What year was this experience?
2019
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
Always easy to reach by phone or email.
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
This is a strategic funder that trusts the groups it funds.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
The decision-making time can impact on staff retention and I think the funder should have a question about this. In our case we had to let go a person who was a real asset to the sector.
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Is there anything else that's be useful for others to know to understand this funder?
This funder understands the need for personal resilience and has put in very useful place free support for funded groups. City Bridge Trust are strategic and are gradually capacity-building the sector as a whole. They are a great funder with thorough application forms and then much appreciated light-touch monitoring and contact, with an interest in the end results. They respond to twitter tagging too.
If you believe the contents of this review are inappropriate please contact us via email.
Reply from City Bridge Trust
Mar 22, 2023
Thank you very much for your honest feedback. We are delighted to hear that you feel trusted by CBT and that you appreciate the support we offer around resilience and other free support. We are sorry to hear that you had to let a member of staff go while waiting for the results of your application. This is such a shame. We will feed back all of your comments to our teams.
Sep 7, 2020
Other - applied in 2019
The Funding Manager was a breath of fresh air compared to other funders. Throughout the process, she open and transparent, and in the assessment call in particular, she did not put us under any pressure with tricky questions to catch us out. It was more like a conversation than an interview. She showed genuine interest in out cause and achievements, and was sympathetic to our weaknesses and needs, with helpful recommendations on how the funder can support us even if we are not successful with this funding application.
Throughout the application process she has been responsive to email queries (even when on annual leave!). We came away with the impression that the funder wants us to succeed, with or without them, and they wanted to create a relationship with us.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Risk taker
Culturally sensitive
Insightful
Friendly
Builds relationships
Understands nonprofits and issues
Openminded
Responsive
Cons
What is your relationship with the funder for this experience?
Grant currently pending
If you were funded tell us the outcome
Other
What year was this experience?
2019
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
Transparency on what they are looking for and creating long term relationships.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Carry on doing what you are doing!
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Is there anything else that's be useful for others to know to understand this funder?
Talk to them about your ideas. They are very good listeners.
If you believe the contents of this review are inappropriate please contact us via email.
Reply from City Bridge Trust
Mar 22, 2023
Thank you for your positive feedback and for taking the time to write this review. We are pleased to hear that you have found it such a good experience and that you could have an open dialogue with the Funding Manager.
Aug 31, 2020
applied in 2019
That the decision making process is 6 months and there was radio silence between acknowledgement (Feb) of the application and receiving a reference no. (July).
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Builds relationships
Understands nonprofits and issues
Openminded
Cons
What is your relationship with the funder for this experience?
Grant currently pending
If you were funded tell us the outcome
What year was this experience?
2019
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Average
Once my application was being reviewed they were accessible but during the 6-7 months prior to that there was no named person to speak to just the general enquiries email and no response.
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
I think they have clear criteria for what they will fund.
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
I get the impression that they will advise small charities on resilience and governance issues as well as provide funding.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
To be more responsive in the early months to reassure applicants that they're not forgotten or lost in the system.
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
If you believe the contents of this review are inappropriate please contact us via email.
Reply from City Bridge Trust
Mar 22, 2023
Thank you for taking the time to submit your feedback, which we will be sharing with the team for discussion so that we can ensure that we are always communicating in the best way possible with those who are awaiting a decision.
Oct 29, 2020
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2016
They should know about the funder's grant committed programmes and overall background.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Responsive
Cons
Pros
Cons
What is your relationship with the funder for this experience?
Current or former grantee
If you were funded tell us the outcome
Funded for amount requested
What year was this experience?
2016
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
Very accessible and understanding.
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
Supportive not only with giving grants, but additional training paid by them.
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
Flexible and additional support
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Reply from City Bridge Trust
Mar 22, 2023
Thank you for your feedback, we are pleased to hear that you found us flexible and appreciated our additional support and training.
Oct 22, 2020
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2019
Pros
Insightful
Friendly
Understands nonprofits and issues
Responsive
Cons
Pros
Cons
What is your relationship with the funder for this experience?
Current or former grantee
If you were funded tell us the outcome
Funded for amount requested
What year was this experience?
2019
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
Communication. Porta for submissions of requirements is very efficient too.
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Reply from City Bridge Trust
Mar 22, 2023
Thank you for this great feedback. Our Funding Managers are committed to having as good relationships as possible with organisations we fund, so we are delighted that you feel we are insightful and responsive.
Oct 12, 2020
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2019
Plan ahead. Great funder with clear communication, though the decision-making process was slow.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Risk taker
Understands nonprofits and issues
Openminded
Responsive
Cons
Pros
Cons
What is your relationship with the funder for this experience?
Current or former grantee
If you were funded tell us the outcome
Funded for amount requested
What year was this experience?
2019
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
Always easy to reach by phone or email.
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
This is a strategic funder that trusts the groups it funds.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
The decision-making time can impact on staff retention and I think the funder should have a question about this. In our case we had to let go a person who was a real asset to the sector.
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Is there anything else that's be useful for others to know to understand this funder?
This funder understands the need for personal resilience and has put in very useful place free support for funded groups. City Bridge Trust are strategic and are gradually capacity-building the sector as a whole. They are a great funder with thorough application forms and then much appreciated light-touch monitoring and contact, with an interest in the end results. They respond to twitter tagging too.
Reply from City Bridge Trust
Mar 22, 2023
Thank you very much for your honest feedback. We are delighted to hear that you feel trusted by CBT and that you appreciate the support we offer around resilience and other free support. We are sorry to hear that you had to let a member of staff go while waiting for the results of your application. This is such a shame. We will feed back all of your comments to our teams.
Sep 7, 2020
Other - applied in 2019
The Funding Manager was a breath of fresh air compared to other funders. Throughout the process, she open and transparent, and in the assessment call in particular, she did not put us under any pressure with tricky questions to catch us out. It was more like a conversation than an interview. She showed genuine interest in out cause and achievements, and was sympathetic to our weaknesses and needs, with helpful recommendations on how the funder can support us even if we are not successful with this funding application.
Throughout the application process she has been responsive to email queries (even when on annual leave!). We came away with the impression that the funder wants us to succeed, with or without them, and they wanted to create a relationship with us.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Risk taker
Culturally sensitive
Insightful
Friendly
Builds relationships
Understands nonprofits and issues
Openminded
Responsive
Cons
Pros
Cons
What is your relationship with the funder for this experience?
Grant currently pending
If you were funded tell us the outcome
Other
What year was this experience?
2019
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
Transparency on what they are looking for and creating long term relationships.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Carry on doing what you are doing!
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Is there anything else that's be useful for others to know to understand this funder?
Talk to them about your ideas. They are very good listeners.
Reply from City Bridge Trust
Mar 22, 2023
Thank you for your positive feedback and for taking the time to write this review. We are pleased to hear that you have found it such a good experience and that you could have an open dialogue with the Funding Manager.
Aug 31, 2020
applied in 2019
That the decision making process is 6 months and there was radio silence between acknowledgement (Feb) of the application and receiving a reference no. (July).
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Builds relationships
Understands nonprofits and issues
Openminded
Cons
Pros
Cons
What is your relationship with the funder for this experience?
Grant currently pending
If you were funded tell us the outcome
What year was this experience?
2019
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Average
Once my application was being reviewed they were accessible but during the 6-7 months prior to that there was no named person to speak to just the general enquiries email and no response.
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
I think they have clear criteria for what they will fund.
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
I get the impression that they will advise small charities on resilience and governance issues as well as provide funding.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
To be more responsive in the early months to reassure applicants that they're not forgotten or lost in the system.
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Reply from City Bridge Trust
Mar 22, 2023
Thank you for taking the time to submit your feedback, which we will be sharing with the team for discussion so that we can ensure that we are always communicating in the best way possible with those who are awaiting a decision.