Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Paul Hamlyn Foundation is one of the largest independent grant-makers in the UK. Our vision is a just society in which everyone, especially young people, can realise their full potential and enjoy fulfilling and creative lives. Our mission is to be an effective and independent funder, using all our resources to create opportunities and support social change. We partner with inspiring organisations and individuals to make sure that people facing disadvantage are at the heart of leading change and designing solutions to overcome inequality.
Overview
Total reviews: 2
Median 57.5 hours
Latest Reviews
Feb 11, 2021
applied in 2019
I was glad I applied, although felt that it was hard to get across my idea in the limited characters per box, plus although I answered the questions to the best of my ability, I didn't feel that I could really share the heart of my project. I'm still new to grant writing, so I'm sure it's just a learning curve. Definitely worthwhile, but time-consuming!
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Friendly
Builds relationships
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?
Average
My idea was not seen as radical enough compared with other ideas, but it's hard to really understand what radical means.
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
Have lots of great opportunities to apply for grants. Seems very dedicated to growth of individuals and organizations and it appears that if you get funding once, you can develop a longer-term relationship with them as a funder.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Just go for it. This is my 3rd grant attempt now and although I wasn't successful, it's helped me to organise my thoughts!
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
If you believe the contents of this review are inappropriate please contact us via email.
Mar 26, 2020
applied in 2019
There are a lot of funds -however, a lot of time should be spent to estimate which fund to apply.
Pros
Responsive
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
They have funded a lot of great ideas and projects
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?
NA
If you believe the contents of this review are inappropriate please contact us via email.
Feb 27, 2020
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2017
PHF are a good place to go if you want to create conditions for change - but you should understand the priorities of the funder and ensure you have the right fund. Be clear about what you are trying to do and evidence your ideas backed up by the reality of the contact you are in,
Don't expect much contact during your grant funded period - it is quite difficult to talk to anyone (I tried a few times but was directed to email).
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Risk taker
Culturally sensitive
Insightful
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?
Average
The website is clear and the online process also clear. I would have loved to talk to staff - particularly towards the end of the funded period to understand the process for follow on funding, but I was told that they were extremely busy and slightly understaffed so was directed to email.
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
Allow organisations and individuales to take risks
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Be more available to talk
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 Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Mar 22, 2023
Thank you for your review – we're sorry to hear that you were unable to set up a call with us. We’ll feed this back to our teams and consider what we can do to improve our processes.
Jan 29, 2020
applied in 2019
Make sure you read all the guidelines and information and weigh up the time needed to complete all the requirements versus likelihood of funding.
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?
Average
I feel they could be missing out on great opportunities as it's difficult to access advisors to ask questions and therefore people choose not to apply and waste time on applications they're unsure are appropriate.
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Bad
If you believe the contents of this review are inappropriate please contact us via email.
Jan 22, 2020
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2019
Shut yourself away for a week or two with a solid project and get writing.
Pros
Openminded
Responsive
Cons
What is your relationship with the funder for this experience?
Applied and not funded
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?
Average
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Average
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
Website
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Try a Stage 1 application with less detail. We are a small team who work part-time and this application took 3 staff members (included our CEO) a long time. I know we cant get every application - but after spending so much time working on it means that the rejection feels greater.
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 Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Mar 22, 2023
We appreciate the significant amount of work that goes into making an application - as we receive over 1000 applications each year, unfortunately there are many projects that won’t receive funding. Thank you for your constructive suggestion, we will log this with our teams and consider how we can address this going forwards.
Feb 11, 2021
applied in 2019
I was glad I applied, although felt that it was hard to get across my idea in the limited characters per box, plus although I answered the questions to the best of my ability, I didn't feel that I could really share the heart of my project. I'm still new to grant writing, so I'm sure it's just a learning curve. Definitely worthwhile, but time-consuming!
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Friendly
Builds relationships
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?
Average
My idea was not seen as radical enough compared with other ideas, but it's hard to really understand what radical means.
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
Have lots of great opportunities to apply for grants. Seems very dedicated to growth of individuals and organizations and it appears that if you get funding once, you can develop a longer-term relationship with them as a funder.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Just go for it. This is my 3rd grant attempt now and although I wasn't successful, it's helped me to organise my thoughts!
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Mar 26, 2020
applied in 2019
There are a lot of funds -however, a lot of time should be spent to estimate which fund to apply.
Pros
Responsive
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
They have funded a lot of great ideas and projects
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?
NA
Feb 27, 2020
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2017
PHF are a good place to go if you want to create conditions for change - but you should understand the priorities of the funder and ensure you have the right fund. Be clear about what you are trying to do and evidence your ideas backed up by the reality of the contact you are in,
Don't expect much contact during your grant funded period - it is quite difficult to talk to anyone (I tried a few times but was directed to email).
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Risk taker
Culturally sensitive
Insightful
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?
Average
The website is clear and the online process also clear. I would have loved to talk to staff - particularly towards the end of the funded period to understand the process for follow on funding, but I was told that they were extremely busy and slightly understaffed so was directed to email.
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
Allow organisations and individuales to take risks
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Be more available to talk
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Reply from Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Mar 22, 2023
Thank you for your review – we're sorry to hear that you were unable to set up a call with us. We’ll feed this back to our teams and consider what we can do to improve our processes.
Jan 29, 2020
applied in 2019
Make sure you read all the guidelines and information and weigh up the time needed to complete all the requirements versus likelihood of funding.
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?
Average
I feel they could be missing out on great opportunities as it's difficult to access advisors to ask questions and therefore people choose not to apply and waste time on applications they're unsure are appropriate.
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Bad
Jan 22, 2020
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2019
Shut yourself away for a week or two with a solid project and get writing.
Pros
Openminded
Responsive
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
Funded for amount requested
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?
Average
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
Website
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Try a Stage 1 application with less detail. We are a small team who work part-time and this application took 3 staff members (included our CEO) a long time. I know we cant get every application - but after spending so much time working on it means that the rejection feels greater.
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Reply from Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Mar 22, 2023
We appreciate the significant amount of work that goes into making an application - as we receive over 1000 applications each year, unfortunately there are many projects that won’t receive funding. Thank you for your constructive suggestion, we will log this with our teams and consider how we can address this going forwards.