Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
We aim to improve our natural world, secure a fairer future and strengthen the bonds in communities in the UK. We make unrestricted, core and project grants for charitable work in the UK.
Overview
Total reviews: 13
Median 10 hours
Latest Reviews
Oct 9, 2019
applied in 2019
Even if you get through to 2nd stage you only have a 10% chance.
Pros
Understands nonprofits and issues
Cons
What is your relationship with the funder for this experience?
Applied and not funded
If you were funded tell us the outcome
What year was this experience?
2019
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Average
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Take less applications through to 2nd stage if still only 10% chance. Thought the vetting process to 1st stage and then to 2nd stage increased your chances more than this.
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 Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
Mar 22, 2023
Thanks for your response, and we're sorry to hear you got the impression that only 10% of 2nd stage applications are approved. Looking at the data, this isn't the case.
- So far this year we've declined 28 2nd stage applications (14.2%). In other words, we've approved 169 (85.8%) of 2nd stage applications.
- In 2018 we declined 52 2nd stage applications (17.2%) and approved 250 (82.2%).
We're committed to reducing wasted effort in grant applications, and are currently researching the clearest way to ask application questions as part of this work.
If you'd like to know more, please take a look at our Annual Report.
Sep 26, 2019
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2019
Be totally open about what you can do, what you can't predict, and what mitigation you have in place. Also be user-centred, show that you have involved service users in your idea - prove that is needed.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Culturally sensitive
Friendly
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
The first bit they're obviously going to be busy but once you get through rounds, they have more time, and then once you get a grant, they're on hand to listen and support for sure.
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
It's looking at how to fund needs of organisations properly - more funders need to do that!
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Hire in experts so they can vet applications better, especially anything around tech for good.
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
If you believe the contents of this review are inappropriate please contact us via email.
Aug 5, 2019
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2019
Really helpful grant advisor staff, with clear guidance.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Insightful
Friendly
Builds relationships
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
Good clear guidance, and very helpful grant advisor.
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 17, 2019
applied in 2019
Read the guidelines very carefully and only apply if you feel your idea truly matches their aims
Pros
Culturally sensitive
Insightful
Cons
What is your relationship with the funder for this experience?
Applied and not funded
If you were funded tell us the outcome
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
good website
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
If you believe the contents of this review are inappropriate please contact us via email.
Jun 30, 2019
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2017
Be clear and open about exactly what you want and any challenges you're facing.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Risk taker
Insightful
Builds relationships
Understands nonprofits and issues
Openminded
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?
2017
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
Having open and honest conversations about where things are going well and where challenges are. We don't feel any need to spin how things are going ( which we definitely do for some other funders)
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
I get the sense that the team have a high caseload of grantees to manage and I wonder if you should either have more staff or less grantees.
Also the grants+ program is amazing.
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 Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
Mar 22, 2023
Thank you for taking the time to write a review, and glad to hear you had a great experience with Grants Plus!
Oct 9, 2019
applied in 2019
Even if you get through to 2nd stage you only have a 10% chance.
Pros
Understands nonprofits and issues
Cons
Pros
Cons
What is your relationship with the funder for this experience?
Applied and not funded
If you were funded tell us the outcome
What year was this experience?
2019
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Average
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Take less applications through to 2nd stage if still only 10% chance. Thought the vetting process to 1st stage and then to 2nd stage increased your chances more than this.
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Reply from Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
Mar 22, 2023
Thanks for your response, and we're sorry to hear you got the impression that only 10% of 2nd stage applications are approved. Looking at the data, this isn't the case. - So far this year we've declined 28 2nd stage applications (14.2%). In other words, we've approved 169 (85.8%) of 2nd stage applications. - In 2018 we declined 52 2nd stage applications (17.2%) and approved 250 (82.2%). We're committed to reducing wasted effort in grant applications, and are currently researching the clearest way to ask application questions as part of this work. If you'd like to know more, please take a look at our Annual Report.
Sep 26, 2019
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2019
Be totally open about what you can do, what you can't predict, and what mitigation you have in place. Also be user-centred, show that you have involved service users in your idea - prove that is needed.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Culturally sensitive
Friendly
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
The first bit they're obviously going to be busy but once you get through rounds, they have more time, and then once you get a grant, they're on hand to listen and support for sure.
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
It's looking at how to fund needs of organisations properly - more funders need to do that!
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Hire in experts so they can vet applications better, especially anything around tech for good.
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Aug 5, 2019
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2019
Really helpful grant advisor staff, with clear guidance.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Insightful
Friendly
Builds relationships
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
Good clear guidance, and very helpful grant advisor.
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Jul 17, 2019
applied in 2019
Read the guidelines very carefully and only apply if you feel your idea truly matches their aims
Pros
Culturally sensitive
Insightful
Cons
Pros
Cons
What is your relationship with the funder for this experience?
Applied and not funded
If you were funded tell us the outcome
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
good website
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Jun 30, 2019
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2017
Be clear and open about exactly what you want and any challenges you're facing.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Risk taker
Insightful
Builds relationships
Understands nonprofits and issues
Openminded
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?
2017
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
Having open and honest conversations about where things are going well and where challenges are. We don't feel any need to spin how things are going ( which we definitely do for some other funders)
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
I get the sense that the team have a high caseload of grantees to manage and I wonder if you should either have more staff or less grantees. Also the grants+ program is amazing.
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Reply from Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
Mar 22, 2023
Thank you for taking the time to write a review, and glad to hear you had a great experience with Grants Plus!