The National Lottery Community Fund - Digital Fund
The National Lottery Community Fund distributes over £600m a year to communities across the UK, raised by players of The National Lottery.
Overview
Total reviews: 10
Median 38.5 hours
Latest Reviews
Oct 18, 2019
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2019
Hands down one of the most responsible funders I've ever come across. Often funders set strategic priorities that are off-base from what the sector really needs but with the launch of the Digital Fund, National Lottery looked to the future and said what do we need to do now to uplift the sector and help it to thrive.
It's also been a very responsible application process - light touch at the beginning, tangibly building understanding among applicants on the thinking that's underpinned each strand so that they are more empowered to look at their digital transformation journey, irrespective of whether they got through to the next stage. And now, for those of us that have gotten through they are proactively reshaping the reporting process to give us trusted control over how we put the resource they've given us to good use.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Risk taker
Insightful
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?
2019
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
The National Lottery is treading ground that most other funders are pushing over to intermediary organisations to do.
It's brilliant to have organisation's like Catalyst, Shift and CAST out there who have a tremendous mission ahead of them to future-proof the social sector but the fact that the National Lottery is funding them and still providing core funding to breakout digital organisations who face a grant funding void for anything over £45k during their first few years is extraordinary.
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
Built the story of the goals they have for the fund (through Medium blogs and workshops with applicants/grantees), secured buy-in from grantees on the shared mission we all have and empowered everyone involve to jump into the sandbox and build some great things.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
We really appreciate that they've put themselves through their own accelerator process to get grant-making in the digital sphere right, but the overall timeline from initial expression of interest through to finding out that we'd won the award to when we'll actually get the cash is a hard one for a young start-up likes our to bare.
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?
Firstly, the quality of organisations that they've picked for our cohort is just great and there's lots of scope for collaboration and cross-pollination because of that. Secondly, they are taking lots of great steps to ensure that we're not hamstrung by an outdated M&E cycle. They're working really hard to build a better reporting experience that matches the spirit of good design process and iterative delivery.
If you believe the contents of this review are inappropriate please contact us via email.
Reply from The National Lottery Community Fund - Digital Fund
Mar 22, 2023
Such a pleasure to read this. Thanks for taking the time.
Oct 15, 2019
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2019
They seem to apply a bog standard approach to all of their grant programmes - without acknowledging the different grants will require different approaches, different monitoring requirements and different methods of engagement. Be aware that because their programmes are oversubscribed, it might take a while for them to get back to you, so be patient.
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?
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 think they are changing and building better habits, such as understanding what it is like to be on the other side of the coin having to jump through multiple and sometimes pointless hoops.
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
They put a lot of money into the charity sector and have sustained many a great programme or service to vulnerable people throughout the years.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Ensure that every programme is unique to what you're trying to build - from the criteria, to the application process, to the monitoring. Try to engage with applicants and grantees on a personal level - and help us to succeeed.
If you believe the contents of this review are inappropriate please contact us via email.
Aug 15, 2019
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2019
Ensure you have thought through all aspects of your proposal and have done your research in advance. Be open minded.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Risk taker
Friendly
Builds relationships
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?
2019
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
Funds innovation and looks at changing how funding works and responds to societal change and needs.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Keep doing it please
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?
It's more of a relationship than with traditional funders so you get to work with them on your application which is a great approach to funding charities.
If you believe the contents of this review are inappropriate please contact us via email.
Jul 18, 2019
Funded for lesser amount - applied in 2018
Think in the long term - outcomes that will outlive the grant and which are as sustainable as possible. Decision to fund can take longer than anticipated so plan accordingly.
Pros
Insightful
Friendly
Builds relationships
Likes site visits
Understands nonprofits and issues
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?
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
Supportive, interested, understands the issues we seek to address and the methodologies we use.
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
Responding to questions, showing interest in and supporting the work.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Ask me again in a year! So far, it's been a very positive experience.
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?
Evaluation of the work is non arduous, they focus on achieving aims and improving service rather than tickboxing which is refreshing.
If you believe the contents of this review are inappropriate please contact us via email.
Oct 18, 2019
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2019
Hands down one of the most responsible funders I've ever come across. Often funders set strategic priorities that are off-base from what the sector really needs but with the launch of the Digital Fund, National Lottery looked to the future and said what do we need to do now to uplift the sector and help it to thrive.
It's also been a very responsible application process - light touch at the beginning, tangibly building understanding among applicants on the thinking that's underpinned each strand so that they are more empowered to look at their digital transformation journey, irrespective of whether they got through to the next stage. And now, for those of us that have gotten through they are proactively reshaping the reporting process to give us trusted control over how we put the resource they've given us to good use.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Risk taker
Insightful
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?
2019
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
The National Lottery is treading ground that most other funders are pushing over to intermediary organisations to do. It's brilliant to have organisation's like Catalyst, Shift and CAST out there who have a tremendous mission ahead of them to future-proof the social sector but the fact that the National Lottery is funding them and still providing core funding to breakout digital organisations who face a grant funding void for anything over £45k during their first few years is extraordinary.
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
Built the story of the goals they have for the fund (through Medium blogs and workshops with applicants/grantees), secured buy-in from grantees on the shared mission we all have and empowered everyone involve to jump into the sandbox and build some great things.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
We really appreciate that they've put themselves through their own accelerator process to get grant-making in the digital sphere right, but the overall timeline from initial expression of interest through to finding out that we'd won the award to when we'll actually get the cash is a hard one for a young start-up likes our to bare.
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?
Firstly, the quality of organisations that they've picked for our cohort is just great and there's lots of scope for collaboration and cross-pollination because of that. Secondly, they are taking lots of great steps to ensure that we're not hamstrung by an outdated M&E cycle. They're working really hard to build a better reporting experience that matches the spirit of good design process and iterative delivery.
Reply from The National Lottery Community Fund - Digital Fund
Mar 22, 2023
Such a pleasure to read this. Thanks for taking the time.
Oct 15, 2019
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2019
They seem to apply a bog standard approach to all of their grant programmes - without acknowledging the different grants will require different approaches, different monitoring requirements and different methods of engagement. Be aware that because their programmes are oversubscribed, it might take a while for them to get back to you, so be patient.
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?
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 think they are changing and building better habits, such as understanding what it is like to be on the other side of the coin having to jump through multiple and sometimes pointless hoops.
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
They put a lot of money into the charity sector and have sustained many a great programme or service to vulnerable people throughout the years.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Ensure that every programme is unique to what you're trying to build - from the criteria, to the application process, to the monitoring. Try to engage with applicants and grantees on a personal level - and help us to succeeed.
Aug 15, 2019
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2019
Ensure you have thought through all aspects of your proposal and have done your research in advance. Be open minded.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Risk taker
Friendly
Builds relationships
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?
2019
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
Funds innovation and looks at changing how funding works and responds to societal change and needs.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Keep doing it please
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?
It's more of a relationship than with traditional funders so you get to work with them on your application which is a great approach to funding charities.
Jul 18, 2019
Funded for lesser amount - applied in 2018
Think in the long term - outcomes that will outlive the grant and which are as sustainable as possible. Decision to fund can take longer than anticipated so plan accordingly.
Pros
Insightful
Friendly
Builds relationships
Likes site visits
Understands nonprofits and issues
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?
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
Supportive, interested, understands the issues we seek to address and the methodologies we use.
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
Responding to questions, showing interest in and supporting the work.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Ask me again in a year! So far, it's been a very positive experience.
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?
Evaluation of the work is non arduous, they focus on achieving aims and improving service rather than tickboxing which is refreshing.