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
Dec 2, 2019
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2019
This is an approachable funder who understand the issues that infrastructure organisation face in this current funding climate.
They also, in addition to funding, help you to make connections to supportive services and training that enables you to improve skills base in areas that can enhance or improve service productivity.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Insightful
Friendly
Builds relationships
Likes site visits
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
Being approachable
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Continue doing what you are doing. Allocation of an approachable grant manager with regular opportunities to feedback on progression and any changes or difficulties
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 delighted that you have found us a supportive and approachable funder. Our Funding Managers work very hard to understand the current funding climate and will continue to do this.
Nov 1, 2019
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2018
As with any application, read the criteria carefully, make sure that your ask is a good fit for the funder's objectives, and demonstrate clearly how your programme delivers on their priorities.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Culturally sensitive
Friendly
Builds relationships
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?
2018
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
City Bridge Trust have recognised that core cost funding is vital to the financial stability of charities. They also provide multi-year funding, which takes a huge pressure off to be fundraising for the same costs each year, and allows organisations to focus on delivering their objectives and getting better at what they do. The grants officers maintain an ongoing dialogue with the grantees, and signpost additional support and capacity building offers developed by City Bridge Trust with partners.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
You can also support organisations to develop their fundraising capacity by giving detailed and explicit feedback on unsuccessful applications.
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
If you believe the contents of this review are inappropriate please contact us via email.
Oct 17, 2019
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2019
conversations at a strategic level helped to ensure our work aligned with theirs. If possible, seek out these conversations (whether directly or joining their events)
Pros
Gives more than money
Builds relationships
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
Incredible convenor
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 leave this review. We are very keen to have an open dialougue with the sector and would encourage all prospective grantees to follow us on Twitter @CityBridgeTrust to be alerted of future events where you can engage with us. We are keen to utilise a full assets approach to our grant-making, so we really value your feedback regarding giving more than money and convening.
Oct 3, 2019
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2019
A fair and thoughtful funder but one which needs lots of well thought through information and data. Investing the time to do this properly is necessary.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Risk taker
Culturally sensitive
Insightful
Friendly
Builds relationships
Likes site visits
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
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
Understands the context
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Standardised checklist of what's required - all the extra stuff (budgets, P&L mgt accounts, etc)
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 value your time and honesty, and will use your comments to feed into our processes as we refine them. We are reviewing our assessment workflows and procedures and will ensure your feedback regarding the various required “extras” is taken into account.
Sep 30, 2019
Funded for greater amount - applied in 2018
Have an open and honest dialogue about your work and the challenges your organisation is facing, as City Bridge really understand these and the relationship is enhanced by open dialogue. Make sure you have thought out and have in order organisational processes as well, such as Safeguarding and other key policies.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Friendly
Builds relationships
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 greater amount
What year was this experience?
2018
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
Easy to speak to someone at the other end of the phone
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
Understands the needs and challenges of small organisations and supports them in the right way
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Salient issues in the fundraising sector at the moment are Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (within fundraising) and climate change. As a funder, it would be great if you can see how you can support these themes through your funding and application process, so that our sector is the right fit for everyone and creating a sustainable culture.
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 really value having an open and honest dialogue with our grantees. It’s really helpful that you’ve highlighted the importance of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and climate change. We’re considering these issues as part of current work to better live our organisational values and we’ll make sure your comments feed into this.
Dec 2, 2019
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2019
This is an approachable funder who understand the issues that infrastructure organisation face in this current funding climate.
They also, in addition to funding, help you to make connections to supportive services and training that enables you to improve skills base in areas that can enhance or improve service productivity.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Insightful
Friendly
Builds relationships
Likes site visits
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
Being approachable
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Continue doing what you are doing. Allocation of an approachable grant manager with regular opportunities to feedback on progression and any changes or difficulties
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Reply from City Bridge Trust
Mar 22, 2023
Thank you for your feedback - we are delighted that you have found us a supportive and approachable funder. Our Funding Managers work very hard to understand the current funding climate and will continue to do this.
Nov 1, 2019
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2018
As with any application, read the criteria carefully, make sure that your ask is a good fit for the funder's objectives, and demonstrate clearly how your programme delivers on their priorities.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Culturally sensitive
Friendly
Builds relationships
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?
2018
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
City Bridge Trust have recognised that core cost funding is vital to the financial stability of charities. They also provide multi-year funding, which takes a huge pressure off to be fundraising for the same costs each year, and allows organisations to focus on delivering their objectives and getting better at what they do. The grants officers maintain an ongoing dialogue with the grantees, and signpost additional support and capacity building offers developed by City Bridge Trust with partners.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
You can also support organisations to develop their fundraising capacity by giving detailed and explicit feedback on unsuccessful applications.
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Oct 17, 2019
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2019
conversations at a strategic level helped to ensure our work aligned with theirs. If possible, seek out these conversations (whether directly or joining their events)
Pros
Gives more than money
Builds relationships
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
Incredible convenor
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Reply from City Bridge Trust
Mar 22, 2023
Thank you for taking the time to leave this review. We are very keen to have an open dialougue with the sector and would encourage all prospective grantees to follow us on Twitter @CityBridgeTrust to be alerted of future events where you can engage with us. We are keen to utilise a full assets approach to our grant-making, so we really value your feedback regarding giving more than money and convening.
Oct 3, 2019
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2019
A fair and thoughtful funder but one which needs lots of well thought through information and data. Investing the time to do this properly is necessary.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Risk taker
Culturally sensitive
Insightful
Friendly
Builds relationships
Likes site visits
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
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
Understands the context
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Standardised checklist of what's required - all the extra stuff (budgets, P&L mgt accounts, etc)
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Reply from City Bridge Trust
Mar 22, 2023
Thank you for your feedback. We value your time and honesty, and will use your comments to feed into our processes as we refine them. We are reviewing our assessment workflows and procedures and will ensure your feedback regarding the various required “extras” is taken into account.
Sep 30, 2019
Funded for greater amount - applied in 2018
Have an open and honest dialogue about your work and the challenges your organisation is facing, as City Bridge really understand these and the relationship is enhanced by open dialogue. Make sure you have thought out and have in order organisational processes as well, such as Safeguarding and other key policies.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Friendly
Builds relationships
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 greater amount
What year was this experience?
2018
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
Easy to speak to someone at the other end of the phone
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
Understands the needs and challenges of small organisations and supports them in the right way
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Salient issues in the fundraising sector at the moment are Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (within fundraising) and climate change. As a funder, it would be great if you can see how you can support these themes through your funding and application process, so that our sector is the right fit for everyone and creating a sustainable culture.
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Reply from City Bridge Trust
Mar 22, 2023
Thank you for your feedback. We really value having an open and honest dialogue with our grantees. It’s really helpful that you’ve highlighted the importance of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and climate change. We’re considering these issues as part of current work to better live our organisational values and we’ll make sure your comments feed into this.