Home Grant Advisor UK
UK

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: 3


What was the overall relationship with the funder?
66.0
33.0
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
66.0
33.0
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
66.0
33.0
How many hours did your grant application take?

Median 12 hours

Top descriptors for this funder
84 Builds relationships
78 Friendly
72 Responsive
67 Insightful
67 Openminded
65 Understands nonprofits and issues

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!