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: 75
Median 10 hours
Latest Reviews
Jul 24, 2023
applied in 2023
The funding guidelines are simple to follow. The questions are a logical way to explain the project you are applying for.
The main positive is the phone call with the funder to discuss the application further, it felt very collaborative, solution focused and whilst thorough and following a process it did not feel stressful.
Pros
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
What year was this experience?
2023
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
If you believe the contents of this review are inappropriate please contact us via email.
Jul 5, 2023
Funded for lesser amount - applied in 2023
There is good intention at the fund and they are conscious to ensure that there is consideration given to and funds made available to projects that are London based and which represent the interests of marginalised communities.
Pros
Gives more than money
Culturally sensitive
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
Funded for lesser amount
What year was this experience?
2023
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
They appear to fund a wide reaching community of beneficiaries and projects initiated by those with lived experiences. There is a transparency in how decisions are made in that applicants are sent the link to view committee meetings and it was clear when I looked at the recording of the meeting that considered our bid, that there was representation around the table, which is important.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
The monitoring and evaluation framework written work requires a lot of time and consideration - it is probably worth ensuring that those with less experience of writing grant applications but who have the passion and ability to work with communities are supported with some of the application process in terms of writing. It is also worth indicating how long the application should take to write. I am an experienced grant fundraiser, so this is not so much an issue for me, but I am aware of other people from other organisations who have applied for funding (not to CBT but to others) and who have not understood the level of detail and time needed to really respond to what is being asked.
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?
As well as a written application, assessment included an over 2 hour discussion with who has since been allocated as my grants manager, she was very good at putting me at ease and it was really clear she was not just doing a job, but was genuinely interested in social justice/ equality agendas. Her write up of our programme when I later looked at the case she presented to the committee to make decisions on funding showed me she fully absorbed our conversation and the issues that racially minoritised leaders delivering to their communities can face. I found this part of the process - a face to face conversation - to be so important, it was all about creating human connection and respect for the work.
If you believe the contents of this review are inappropriate please contact us via email.
Jul 5, 2023
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2023
Make sure that you have your project completely planned out and you are confident in knowing all aspects of it. Also ensure it is a team effort putting the application together and when talking to the funder about the project.
Pros
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?
2023
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
They were really good at trying to understand the project and the outcomes we are trying to achieve. Having a site visit to discuss the application was really good as I think this is the best way for a funder to understand the project.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
To give more core funding rather than having funding streams all based on project funding
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
If you believe the contents of this review are inappropriate please contact us via email.
Jul 5, 2023
Funded for greater amount - applied in 2023
Do research to find suitable suitable grant programme prior to completing a proposal
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Friendly
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 greater amount
What year was this experience?
2023
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
Good process and the zoom second stage assessment process was very useful
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
Really help you go through your organisation needs and are thorough with the assessment process. Also, really helped us access additional resources
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
If you believe the contents of this review are inappropriate please contact us via email.
May 10, 2022
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2019
Very honest and understanding
Pros
Gives more than money
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
Supports londoners from disadvantahed backgrounds
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Continue to support projects that make an impact to their local community.
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?
No
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 feedback, we really appreciate it.
Jul 24, 2023
applied in 2023
The funding guidelines are simple to follow. The questions are a logical way to explain the project you are applying for.
The main positive is the phone call with the funder to discuss the application further, it felt very collaborative, solution focused and whilst thorough and following a process it did not feel stressful.
Pros
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
What year was this experience?
2023
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Jul 5, 2023
Funded for lesser amount - applied in 2023
There is good intention at the fund and they are conscious to ensure that there is consideration given to and funds made available to projects that are London based and which represent the interests of marginalised communities.
Pros
Gives more than money
Culturally sensitive
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
Funded for lesser amount
What year was this experience?
2023
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
They appear to fund a wide reaching community of beneficiaries and projects initiated by those with lived experiences. There is a transparency in how decisions are made in that applicants are sent the link to view committee meetings and it was clear when I looked at the recording of the meeting that considered our bid, that there was representation around the table, which is important.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
The monitoring and evaluation framework written work requires a lot of time and consideration - it is probably worth ensuring that those with less experience of writing grant applications but who have the passion and ability to work with communities are supported with some of the application process in terms of writing. It is also worth indicating how long the application should take to write. I am an experienced grant fundraiser, so this is not so much an issue for me, but I am aware of other people from other organisations who have applied for funding (not to CBT but to others) and who have not understood the level of detail and time needed to really respond to what is being asked.
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?
As well as a written application, assessment included an over 2 hour discussion with who has since been allocated as my grants manager, she was very good at putting me at ease and it was really clear she was not just doing a job, but was genuinely interested in social justice/ equality agendas. Her write up of our programme when I later looked at the case she presented to the committee to make decisions on funding showed me she fully absorbed our conversation and the issues that racially minoritised leaders delivering to their communities can face. I found this part of the process - a face to face conversation - to be so important, it was all about creating human connection and respect for the work.
Jul 5, 2023
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2023
Make sure that you have your project completely planned out and you are confident in knowing all aspects of it. Also ensure it is a team effort putting the application together and when talking to the funder about the project.
Pros
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?
2023
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
They were really good at trying to understand the project and the outcomes we are trying to achieve. Having a site visit to discuss the application was really good as I think this is the best way for a funder to understand the project.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
To give more core funding rather than having funding streams all based on project funding
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Jul 5, 2023
Funded for greater amount - applied in 2023
Do research to find suitable suitable grant programme prior to completing a proposal
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Friendly
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 greater amount
What year was this experience?
2023
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
Good process and the zoom second stage assessment process was very useful
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
Really help you go through your organisation needs and are thorough with the assessment process. Also, really helped us access additional resources
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
May 10, 2022
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2019
Very honest and understanding
Pros
Gives more than money
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
Supports londoners from disadvantahed backgrounds
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Continue to support projects that make an impact to their local community.
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?
No
Reply from City Bridge Trust
Mar 22, 2023
Thank you very much for your feedback, we really appreciate it.