Joffe Charitable Trust
We are a specialist grant-maker. We mainly support work to strengthen financial integrity in the UK and tackle the UK’s dirty money problem. We have a history of supporting high potential UK non-profits which make a difference in low income countries. We take an engaged approach, as a proactive funder.
Overview
Total reviews: 148
Median 12 hours
Latest Reviews
Aug 28, 2023
Other - applied in 2023
Speak to the trust in advance of applying as they provide very helpful guidance.
Pros
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?
2023
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
Very clear guidelines and they offer quick responses to any queries. The application itself is not overly burdensome and quite straight forward.
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
They fund work that not many funders support which is very refreshing.
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
Great communication and very good follow up advice and suggestions.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
To keep on supporting the work that it does and offering core funding as this is so difficult to secure.
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 Michael Pitchford
Sep 19, 2023
Great to hear how positive it has been, thanks
Aug 21, 2023
Other - applied in 2023
If you are applying for the potential non-profits grant, then the exercise of applying is really great. First, the four paragraphs of inquiry really force you to distill what you want to receive, and secondly, if you make it to the next round, the grant requirements will help you understand your own project in terms of impact and outcomes. Even if you don't get funded, it will help you understand the bigger picture of what you plan on doing.
Pros
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
Other
What year was this experience?
2023
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
This funder is very helpful throughout the application process, and give you the feeling that they want you to succeed.
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
This funder is really helpful in providing advice on how to put forward an application. That means that even throughout the application process, they are helping you understand what a good application looks like, and how to describe your organisation
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
They are very helpful and open to communication.
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 Michael Pitchford
Sep 19, 2023
Many thanks for your review, great to hear its been a good experience
Aug 21, 2023
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2022
Joffe are very open about their strategic goals on their website, and generally focus on investment in organisations at a transitional or early stage. Highly recommend arranging a meeting with one of the programme officers, before making any pitch to understand potential alignment/relevance.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
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?
2022
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
The Trust have a very clear and relatively straightforward application process, which does not take a huge amount of time or require extensive documentation. They are also open about their strategic interests, which helps prepare the application, and have always been open to conversations and have at time gone out of their way to hear our needs and challenges.
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
For the organisational development work, their support has really been instrumental in strengthening our organisation - and they have also offered other things such as fundraising sessions and workshops for grantees, that help to create a community in this space. I would say they are successful in meeting their overall goals to support organisations develop during critical periods.
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
Listen and advise grantees - they have offered to have open conversations, read through strategic plans and offer really helpful advice on our strategic direction, which feels very much tailored to our needs.
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 M
Sep 19, 2023
Thanks so much for your review
May 22, 2023
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2022
The trust have quite focused guidelines, but these are clear and help give you a strong sense of what they will and won't fund. The 2 stage process is helpful and a good use of time, though it can be hard sometimes to distill your project into just a few paragraphs (however it's a really good opportunity to work on and hone this!). The trust appear really open and transparent about their interests and process. They also provides some useful free training for grantees and a chance to connect with other grantees so this was a bonus. Reporting is proportionate and they were a supportive and engaged funder. If you work really aligns with their objectives, this is a really great funder (though they are also planning to spend out over the next ten years or so.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Insightful
Builds relationships
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?
2022
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
A two stage process is a good way to check you are aligned with their work.
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 and openness with grantees and grant seekers.
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?
Really spend time confirming your work aligns, and then go for it if you think it does. A really supportive and engaged funder.
If you believe the contents of this review are inappropriate please contact us via email.
Reply from Michael Pitchford
Sep 19, 2023
Thanks so much for this positive feedback on our application process, much appreciated. Yes, it's tough to distil proposals into a few paragraphs & it requires real clarity in the case being made. Hyperlinks to reports/evidence are also okay & perhaps we can make more of this in our guidance.
May 5, 2023
Funded for lesser amount - applied in 2023
Make sure you speak to them in advance!
Pros
Friendly
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 lesser amount
What year was this experience?
2023
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Average
Easy to get hold of but unclear of the rationale for offering less.
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Average
Don't know how to answer this
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
Open & responsive to queries
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Be clear about why you offeer the amounts you do...why some grantees get more & others less...
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Average
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 Michael Pitchford
Sep 19, 2023
Thanks for your review!
Aug 28, 2023
Other - applied in 2023
Speak to the trust in advance of applying as they provide very helpful guidance.
Pros
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?
2023
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
Very clear guidelines and they offer quick responses to any queries. The application itself is not overly burdensome and quite straight forward.
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
They fund work that not many funders support which is very refreshing.
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
Great communication and very good follow up advice and suggestions.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
To keep on supporting the work that it does and offering core funding as this is so difficult to secure.
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Reply from Michael Pitchford
Sep 19, 2023
Great to hear how positive it has been, thanks
Aug 21, 2023
Other - applied in 2023
If you are applying for the potential non-profits grant, then the exercise of applying is really great. First, the four paragraphs of inquiry really force you to distill what you want to receive, and secondly, if you make it to the next round, the grant requirements will help you understand your own project in terms of impact and outcomes. Even if you don't get funded, it will help you understand the bigger picture of what you plan on doing.
Pros
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
Other
What year was this experience?
2023
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
This funder is very helpful throughout the application process, and give you the feeling that they want you to succeed.
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
This funder is really helpful in providing advice on how to put forward an application. That means that even throughout the application process, they are helping you understand what a good application looks like, and how to describe your organisation
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
They are very helpful and open to communication.
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Reply from Michael Pitchford
Sep 19, 2023
Many thanks for your review, great to hear its been a good experience
Aug 21, 2023
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2022
Joffe are very open about their strategic goals on their website, and generally focus on investment in organisations at a transitional or early stage. Highly recommend arranging a meeting with one of the programme officers, before making any pitch to understand potential alignment/relevance.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
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?
2022
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
The Trust have a very clear and relatively straightforward application process, which does not take a huge amount of time or require extensive documentation. They are also open about their strategic interests, which helps prepare the application, and have always been open to conversations and have at time gone out of their way to hear our needs and challenges.
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
For the organisational development work, their support has really been instrumental in strengthening our organisation - and they have also offered other things such as fundraising sessions and workshops for grantees, that help to create a community in this space. I would say they are successful in meeting their overall goals to support organisations develop during critical periods.
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
Listen and advise grantees - they have offered to have open conversations, read through strategic plans and offer really helpful advice on our strategic direction, which feels very much tailored to our needs.
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Reply from M
Sep 19, 2023
Thanks so much for your review
May 22, 2023
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2022
The trust have quite focused guidelines, but these are clear and help give you a strong sense of what they will and won't fund. The 2 stage process is helpful and a good use of time, though it can be hard sometimes to distill your project into just a few paragraphs (however it's a really good opportunity to work on and hone this!). The trust appear really open and transparent about their interests and process. They also provides some useful free training for grantees and a chance to connect with other grantees so this was a bonus. Reporting is proportionate and they were a supportive and engaged funder. If you work really aligns with their objectives, this is a really great funder (though they are also planning to spend out over the next ten years or so.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Insightful
Builds relationships
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?
2022
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
A two stage process is a good way to check you are aligned with their work.
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 and openness with grantees and grant seekers.
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?
Really spend time confirming your work aligns, and then go for it if you think it does. A really supportive and engaged funder.
Reply from Michael Pitchford
Sep 19, 2023
Thanks so much for this positive feedback on our application process, much appreciated. Yes, it's tough to distil proposals into a few paragraphs & it requires real clarity in the case being made. Hyperlinks to reports/evidence are also okay & perhaps we can make more of this in our guidance.
May 5, 2023
Funded for lesser amount - applied in 2023
Make sure you speak to them in advance!
Pros
Friendly
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 lesser amount
What year was this experience?
2023
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Average
Easy to get hold of but unclear of the rationale for offering less.
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Average
Don't know how to answer this
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
Open & responsive to queries
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Be clear about why you offeer the amounts you do...why some grantees get more & others less...
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Average
Is there anything else that's be useful for others to know to understand this funder?
No
Reply from Michael Pitchford
Sep 19, 2023
Thanks for your review!