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: 29
Median 27.5 hours
Latest Reviews
Nov 28, 2019
Funded for lesser amount - applied in 2017
it's difficult if you are small and independent organisation. It often feels that PHF grant officers and the organisations they have been funding for a long time are very cliquey.
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?
2017
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Bad
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Average
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Bad
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 feedback. We are sorry to hear that you did not feel well supported - we aim to develop good relationships with the people and organisations we fund, and we will share your thoughts with the team.
Nov 26, 2019
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2014
Do you research, there is lots of information on their website. They were very supportive of innovative ideas and once we got past round one the discussion we had with the grant officers was really useful even though it was part of the decision making process. They really listened to us and understood our work, rather than trying to force their objectives onto us we were able to deliver the project that we knew was needed which made a refreshing change.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Risk taker
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?
2014
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
Very accessible, we got great communication throughout. We really miss their support now that the grant has ended.
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
They go above and beyond. We were able to access training and meet other organisations through the grant too which was incredibly useful.
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
Invests in their grantees by providing additional training.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Keep on doing what you do! It would be great if there was still a relationship with you even if just an annual catch up evaluation form so you can see how much we have developed as a result of your grant.
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
Many thanks for sharing your experience with us – glad to know that you felt so supported by the grants team and that the training and convening opportunities proved valuable.
Oct 17, 2019
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2018
Read the strategy documents and blogs about their work - it's full of what they're trying to achieve so you can position your work in relation to that.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Risk taker
Insightful
Friendly
Builds relationships
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?
2018
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
Incredibly strategic and focused funder.
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
open about their aims and work
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
Thanks for your review – so pleased that the blogs and publications on the site helped you during the application process.
Jul 12, 2019
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2017
PHF are very interested to know how the funding will benefit the whole organisation, to enable growth and how young people will be involved throughout the process.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Risk taker
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?
2017
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
I found the funding application very accessible. The guidelines were thorough and their was additional support available if you needed it. After the initial application, they came back with further questions which enabled us to further explain our goals which was helpful.
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
PHF
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
Supporting grantees to come together to meet collective goals, providing additional support and training, encouraging grantees and the wider sector to think about asset based approaches and advocate for the needs of young people at a national level.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
It would be great to see young people acting as grant makers on the Youth Fund. This would really enable them to put young people at the heart of decision making.
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
Really glad to hear that you have found convening opportunities to be helpful and feel supported. Thanks so much for your feedback.
Jul 8, 2019
Funded for greater amount - applied in 2013
PHF are a very relationship focused funder that welcomes and encourages an open dialogue.
Ours is a unique relationship as we are one of very few recipients of an endowment fund that has been in place for over 7 years so it would possibly be a different process for grant recipients.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Risk taker
Culturally sensitive
Insightful
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 greater amount
What year was this experience?
2013
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
They are a responsive funder that is always keen to hear about our work, they often attend our key donor events and attend our flagship productions. We feel valued and supported by PHF and they are an integral partner of the Roundhouse.
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
The partnership with the Roundhouse strongly aligns with their key objectives outlined in their 2015 strategy. Their support enables us to ensure a large number of young people from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds are able to participate in the arts, which enables them to learn new skills and support their wider development.
Furthermore the endowment has had significant impact on us as an organisation, to grow, be ambitious and entrepreneurial in order to contribute to positive change for young people in today's society.
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
They are a funder that supports and respects our organisational strategy and the trusts the organisation to deliver. We report to them on an annual basis both a formal written report and via a face to face presentation with key staff members. The latter is a particularly useful dialogue where we can share in more detail the outcomes and impact of the work that they fund but also hear from them how this connects with their other partnerships, key priorities and wider policy.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
We were encouraged to hear how they had recruited two young people onto one of their decision making boards. Our advice would be to continue to embed further in other areas of the organisation if possible and share their learnings as to how this has informed their practice with other funders.
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?
They are a strategic partner that listens and understands the needs and challenges of the arts and charity sector. They are often committed to developing long term partnerships to ensure the best possible outcomes can be achieved.
If you believe the contents of this review are inappropriate please contact us via email.
Reply from Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Mar 22, 2023
It’s great to know that you feel so supported by the Foundation, thank you for sharing your experience.
Nov 28, 2019
Funded for lesser amount - applied in 2017
it's difficult if you are small and independent organisation. It often feels that PHF grant officers and the organisations they have been funding for a long time are very cliquey.
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?
2017
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Bad
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Average
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Bad
Reply from Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Mar 22, 2023
Thank you for your feedback. We are sorry to hear that you did not feel well supported - we aim to develop good relationships with the people and organisations we fund, and we will share your thoughts with the team.
Nov 26, 2019
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2014
Do you research, there is lots of information on their website. They were very supportive of innovative ideas and once we got past round one the discussion we had with the grant officers was really useful even though it was part of the decision making process. They really listened to us and understood our work, rather than trying to force their objectives onto us we were able to deliver the project that we knew was needed which made a refreshing change.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Risk taker
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?
2014
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
Very accessible, we got great communication throughout. We really miss their support now that the grant has ended.
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
They go above and beyond. We were able to access training and meet other organisations through the grant too which was incredibly useful.
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
Invests in their grantees by providing additional training.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Keep on doing what you do! It would be great if there was still a relationship with you even if just an annual catch up evaluation form so you can see how much we have developed as a result of your grant.
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Reply from Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Mar 22, 2023
Many thanks for sharing your experience with us – glad to know that you felt so supported by the grants team and that the training and convening opportunities proved valuable.
Oct 17, 2019
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2018
Read the strategy documents and blogs about their work - it's full of what they're trying to achieve so you can position your work in relation to that.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Risk taker
Insightful
Friendly
Builds relationships
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?
2018
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
Incredibly strategic and focused funder.
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
open about their aims and work
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Reply from Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Mar 22, 2023
Thanks for your review – so pleased that the blogs and publications on the site helped you during the application process.
Jul 12, 2019
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2017
PHF are very interested to know how the funding will benefit the whole organisation, to enable growth and how young people will be involved throughout the process.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Risk taker
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?
2017
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
I found the funding application very accessible. The guidelines were thorough and their was additional support available if you needed it. After the initial application, they came back with further questions which enabled us to further explain our goals which was helpful.
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
PHF
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
Supporting grantees to come together to meet collective goals, providing additional support and training, encouraging grantees and the wider sector to think about asset based approaches and advocate for the needs of young people at a national level.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
It would be great to see young people acting as grant makers on the Youth Fund. This would really enable them to put young people at the heart of decision making.
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Reply from Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Mar 22, 2023
Really glad to hear that you have found convening opportunities to be helpful and feel supported. Thanks so much for your feedback.
Jul 8, 2019
Funded for greater amount - applied in 2013
PHF are a very relationship focused funder that welcomes and encourages an open dialogue.
Ours is a unique relationship as we are one of very few recipients of an endowment fund that has been in place for over 7 years so it would possibly be a different process for grant recipients.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Risk taker
Culturally sensitive
Insightful
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 greater amount
What year was this experience?
2013
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
They are a responsive funder that is always keen to hear about our work, they often attend our key donor events and attend our flagship productions. We feel valued and supported by PHF and they are an integral partner of the Roundhouse.
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
The partnership with the Roundhouse strongly aligns with their key objectives outlined in their 2015 strategy. Their support enables us to ensure a large number of young people from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds are able to participate in the arts, which enables them to learn new skills and support their wider development. Furthermore the endowment has had significant impact on us as an organisation, to grow, be ambitious and entrepreneurial in order to contribute to positive change for young people in today's society.
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
They are a funder that supports and respects our organisational strategy and the trusts the organisation to deliver. We report to them on an annual basis both a formal written report and via a face to face presentation with key staff members. The latter is a particularly useful dialogue where we can share in more detail the outcomes and impact of the work that they fund but also hear from them how this connects with their other partnerships, key priorities and wider policy.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
We were encouraged to hear how they had recruited two young people onto one of their decision making boards. Our advice would be to continue to embed further in other areas of the organisation if possible and share their learnings as to how this has informed their practice with other funders.
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?
They are a strategic partner that listens and understands the needs and challenges of the arts and charity sector. They are often committed to developing long term partnerships to ensure the best possible outcomes can be achieved.
Reply from Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Mar 22, 2023
It’s great to know that you feel so supported by the Foundation, thank you for sharing your experience.