Steve Morgan Foundation
The Steve Morgan Foundation is passionately committed to changing lives for good, by working with partners that make a positive difference to those in need. Founded in 2001 by businessman and philanthropist, Steve Morgan CBE, we provide funding, support, expertise and best practice to the charities and organisations we support. By harnessing the power of working together, we address a range of areas including poverty, homelessness, health and wellbeing, and education and training, and have helped to improve the quality of life for more than 3 million people.
Overview
Total reviews: 19
Median 5 hours
Latest Reviews
Jul 11, 2023
Funded for greater amount - applied in 2020
SMF welcome open and honest dialogue, they wanted to know what impact their funding would have on the target cohort of beneficiaries.
They asked sensible questions and gave honest feedback.
Pros
Gives more than money
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?
2020
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
Open and approachable, keen to develop as funders and always looking to improve.
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
Communicates!
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?
SMF obviously have a set criteria and process but they have always been open to knew ideas and suggestions. They recognise potential grantees have knowledge in their respective fields and are keen to maximise that by funding work that has impact. It feels more of a partnership and not just a transactional relationship.
If you believe the contents of this review are inappropriate please contact us via email.
Jul 9, 2023
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2022
Email [the team] for a chat first - [they were] incredibly approachable and helpful
Pros
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
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
Up front and honest
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 9, 2023
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2022
be sure of your vision, the finer details can be worked out later but know why this funding is vital
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Risk taker
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
wonderful funders who can see outside the box appreciating that things change in the real world
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
they have been responsible for massive changes in peoples lives
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
celebrating the projects they fund
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
we often forget to send updates informally so check in meetings would be great
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 will sometimes adapt their funding based on need so speak to tthem
If you believe the contents of this review are inappropriate please contact us via email.
Jul 8, 2023
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2023
be relaxed as they are very approachable and friendly, they will want to listen to you and understand your idea or the work you do, explain everything in your own words, you dont need to use jargon, they have alot of expereince and understand communities and groups like ours.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Risk taker
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 amount requested
What year was this experience?
2023
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
SMF is probably the sbest funder to approch, we have worked with more than 15 funders, none have been so simple and straight foward. We really like that its not just an application form, but a process with conversations, questions and answers that we feel help us and our applications improve
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
SMF goes are clean and clear
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
Listens to you and explores your ideas
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
It can be difficult to write application forms and put down in words what smaller groups do well, we know it will be time consuming, but talking to us can help you and us to ensure our communities benefit
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 7, 2023
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2023
Have your plans clearly in place before making first approach. Although they have a very informal approachable style, they still want rigorously worked out budget and plans etc unpinning the application.
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?
2023
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Average
I think other funders who have a 'standard' form to complete online to apply for a grant, and then assessor talks to us afterwards is in many ways easier than having to go through conversations with someone (when you dont really know what you will be asked) and then having to fill out a detailed form afterwards, which SMF require.
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Average
Difficult for me to assess
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
Relationship with grantees after awarding grant
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Perhaps be more flexible about the type of things prepared to fund - eg capital as well as core funding in some circumstances.
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 11, 2023
Funded for greater amount - applied in 2020
SMF welcome open and honest dialogue, they wanted to know what impact their funding would have on the target cohort of beneficiaries.
They asked sensible questions and gave honest feedback.
Pros
Gives more than money
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?
2020
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
Open and approachable, keen to develop as funders and always looking to improve.
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
Communicates!
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?
SMF obviously have a set criteria and process but they have always been open to knew ideas and suggestions. They recognise potential grantees have knowledge in their respective fields and are keen to maximise that by funding work that has impact. It feels more of a partnership and not just a transactional relationship.
Jul 9, 2023
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2022
Email [the team] for a chat first - [they were] incredibly approachable and helpful
Pros
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
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
Up front and honest
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Jul 9, 2023
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2022
be sure of your vision, the finer details can be worked out later but know why this funding is vital
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Risk taker
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
wonderful funders who can see outside the box appreciating that things change in the real world
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
they have been responsible for massive changes in peoples lives
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
celebrating the projects they fund
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
we often forget to send updates informally so check in meetings would be great
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 will sometimes adapt their funding based on need so speak to tthem
Jul 8, 2023
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2023
be relaxed as they are very approachable and friendly, they will want to listen to you and understand your idea or the work you do, explain everything in your own words, you dont need to use jargon, they have alot of expereince and understand communities and groups like ours.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Risk taker
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 amount requested
What year was this experience?
2023
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
SMF is probably the sbest funder to approch, we have worked with more than 15 funders, none have been so simple and straight foward. We really like that its not just an application form, but a process with conversations, questions and answers that we feel help us and our applications improve
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
SMF goes are clean and clear
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
Listens to you and explores your ideas
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
It can be difficult to write application forms and put down in words what smaller groups do well, we know it will be time consuming, but talking to us can help you and us to ensure our communities benefit
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Jul 7, 2023
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2023
Have your plans clearly in place before making first approach. Although they have a very informal approachable style, they still want rigorously worked out budget and plans etc unpinning the application.
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?
2023
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Average
I think other funders who have a 'standard' form to complete online to apply for a grant, and then assessor talks to us afterwards is in many ways easier than having to go through conversations with someone (when you dont really know what you will be asked) and then having to fill out a detailed form afterwards, which SMF require.
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Average
Difficult for me to assess
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
Relationship with grantees after awarding grant
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Perhaps be more flexible about the type of things prepared to fund - eg capital as well as core funding in some circumstances.
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent