Guiding principles
Guiding principles
Guiding principles
Guiding principles
Thoughtful
We listen, learn, and are curious. We do our best to consider a wide range of perspectives, evidence and experiences before making decisions or acting. We are willing to evolve and admit mistakes.
Thoughtful
We listen, learn, and are curious. We do our best to consider a wide range of perspectives, evidence and experiences before making decisions or acting. We are willing to evolve and admit mistakes.
Thoughtful
We listen, learn, and are curious. We do our best to consider a wide range of perspectives, evidence and experiences before making decisions or acting. We are willing to evolve and admit mistakes.
Thoughtful
We listen, learn, and are curious. We do our best to consider a wide range of perspectives, evidence and experiences before making decisions or acting. We are willing to evolve and admit mistakes.
Caring
We extend kindness and compassion to everyone. We have the flexibility to use our resources to absorb risk for others.
Caring
We extend kindness and compassion to everyone. We have the flexibility to use our resources to absorb risk for others.
Caring
We extend kindness and compassion to everyone. We have the flexibility to use our resources to absorb risk for others.
Caring
We extend kindness and compassion to everyone. We have the flexibility to use our resources to absorb risk for others.
Pragmatic
We know that positive, lasting impact requires patience and flexibility, coupled with equal doses of optimism and realism. We know that impact may be non-linear and are unfazed by challenges - “course correcting” as needed.
Pragmatic
We know that positive, lasting impact requires patience and flexibility, coupled with equal doses of optimism and realism. We know that impact may be non-linear and are unfazed by challenges - “course correcting” as needed.
Pragmatic
We know that positive, lasting impact requires patience and flexibility, coupled with equal doses of optimism and realism. We know that impact may be non-linear and are unfazed by challenges - “course correcting” as needed.
Pragmatic
We know that positive, lasting impact requires patience and flexibility, coupled with equal doses of optimism and realism. We know that impact may be non-linear and are unfazed by challenges - “course correcting” as needed.
Collaborative
We look to work with others to enhance what we can achieve together. We bring healthy challenge and ideas; and appreciate the same from our partners. We look for solutions and have a bias for collective action and learning.
Collaborative
We look to work with others to enhance what we can achieve together. We bring healthy challenge and ideas; and appreciate the same from our partners. We look for solutions and have a bias for collective action and learning.
Collaborative
We look to work with others to enhance what we can achieve together. We bring healthy challenge and ideas; and appreciate the same from our partners. We look for solutions and have a bias for collective action and learning.
Collaborative
We look to work with others to enhance what we can achieve together. We bring healthy challenge and ideas; and appreciate the same from our partners. We look for solutions and have a bias for collective action and learning.
Humble
We care more about being effective than being right. We listen to our partners and seek to engage with them in a way which is relevant and meaningful to them. We prefer to champion from the side or in the background; but if needed, we can lead from the front (for a bit).
Humble
We care more about being effective than being right. We listen to our partners and seek to engage with them in a way which is relevant and meaningful to them. We prefer to champion from the side or in the background; but if needed, we can lead from the front (for a bit).
Humble
We care more about being effective than being right. We listen to our partners and seek to engage with them in a way which is relevant and meaningful to them. We prefer to champion from the side or in the background; but if needed, we can lead from the front (for a bit).
Humble
We care more about being effective than being right. We listen to our partners and seek to engage with them in a way which is relevant and meaningful to them. We prefer to champion from the side or in the background; but if needed, we can lead from the front (for a bit).
Responsive
We recognise contexts evolve and we are adaptable and supportive when they do. We strive to be agile and decisive, especially in moments of uncertainty.
Responsive
We recognise contexts evolve and we are adaptable and supportive when they do. We strive to be agile and decisive, especially in moments of uncertainty.
Responsive
We recognise contexts evolve and we are adaptable and supportive when they do. We strive to be agile and decisive, especially in moments of uncertainty.
Responsive
We recognise contexts evolve and we are adaptable and supportive when they do. We strive to be agile and decisive, especially in moments of uncertainty.
Together, our principles make us who we are
An organisation that strives to continuously learn, be highly effective, and considered a trusted partner
Our principles in practice
Grantmaking strategy
We work with others to build collective visions that are aspirational in nature, since we would rather make some progress towards an ambitious vision, than continuing to support failing systems through incremental changes.
We build strategies that are based on a wide range of evidence and listening to those with first-hand experience of the issues and diverse backgrounds.
We look to fund in ways that add to what is already happening in the sector so that our efforts become more than the sum of their parts.
We focus on opportunities with the potential to have a high impact – for example, infrastructure, capabilities and leadership development, hidden wiring, and local innovation.
Because we’re looking to fund and support long-term systems change at all levels in the system, we fund a wide range of approaches.
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Grantmaking strategy
We work with others to build collective visions that are aspirational in nature, since we would rather make some progress towards an ambitious vision, than continuing to support failing systems through incremental changes.
We build strategies that are based on a wide range of evidence and listening to those with first-hand experience of the issues and diverse backgrounds.
We look to fund in ways that add to what is already happening in the sector so that our efforts become more than the sum of their parts.
We focus on opportunities with the potential to have a high impact – for example, infrastructure, capabilities and leadership development, hidden wiring, and local innovation.
Because we’re looking to fund and support long-term systems change at all levels in the system, we fund a wide range of approaches.
Close section
Grantmaking strategy
We work with others to build collective visions that are aspirational in nature, since we would rather make some progress towards an ambitious vision, than continuing to support failing systems through incremental changes.
We build strategies that are based on a wide range of evidence and listening to those with first-hand experience of the issues and diverse backgrounds.
We look to fund in ways that add to what is already happening in the sector so that our efforts become more than the sum of their parts.
We focus on opportunities with the potential to have a high impact – for example, infrastructure, capabilities and leadership development, hidden wiring, and local innovation.
Because we’re looking to fund and support long-term systems change at all levels in the system, we fund a wide range of approaches.
Close section
Application and due diligence
We don’t do open calls – we engage directly with organisations to build meaningful partnerships.
Our application processes are light touch, and we use existing materials from partners wherever possible. The Collective Futures team do the writing and preparation for decision making.
Our due diligence is pragmatic. We don’t expect small organisations to have advanced systems, and we meet partners where they are.
If we need a longer process to develop the relationship, we can fund prospective partners to facilitate that time.
Close section
Application and due diligence
We don’t do open calls – we engage directly with organisations to build meaningful partnerships.
Our application processes are light touch, and we use existing materials from partners wherever possible. The Collective Futures team do the writing and preparation for decision making.
Our due diligence is pragmatic. We don’t expect small organisations to have advanced systems, and we meet partners where they are.
If we need a longer process to develop the relationship, we can fund prospective partners to facilitate that time.
Close section
Grantmaking decisions
We can make grant decisions on a rolling basis. We aim to make grantmaking decisions quickly and transparently, valuing and preserving the organisation’s time.
We give constructive, actionable feedback to those we don’t fund (and those we do).
We are flexible in our grantmaking capacity; we can make single, rolling, or multi-year grants depending on the needs of our partners.
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Grantmaking decisions
We can make grant decisions on a rolling basis. We aim to make grantmaking decisions quickly and transparently, valuing and preserving the organisation’s time.
We give constructive, actionable feedback to those we don’t fund (and those we do).
We are flexible in our grantmaking capacity; we can make single, rolling, or multi-year grants depending on the needs of our partners.
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Partnership
We normally provide unrestricted funding, trusting partners to respond to the world around them as it evolves.
We don’t fund with tapered grants, which force partners into increased financial stress as their work progresses.
If a partner’s circumstances change, we respond quickly, identifying where we can help and offering to bear additional risk ourselves, if appropriate.
We can provide ‘funding plus’, to support organisational and leadership development and to allow us to respond flexibly to partners’ needs.
When genuinely value-adding and helpful to our partners, we can offer pro-bono support and access to our wider networks.
We are here to help and want our support to be as impactful as possible.
Close section
Partnership
We normally provide unrestricted funding, trusting partners to respond to the world around them as it evolves.
We don’t fund with tapered grants, which force partners into increased financial stress as their work progresses.
If a partner’s circumstances change, we respond quickly, identifying where we can help and offering to bear additional risk ourselves, if appropriate.
We can provide ‘funding plus’, to support organisational and leadership development and to allow us to respond flexibly to partners’ needs.
When genuinely value-adding and helpful to our partners, we can offer pro-bono support and access to our wider networks.
We are here to help and want our support to be as impactful as possible.
Close section
Evaluation and learning
We seek feedback to ensure that we are embodying our guiding principles. We expect to evolve our behaviours and practices when we see opportunities for improvement.
We are partner-led in how we learn. We prioritise learning over measurement alone and are flexible in supporting a learning approach that is led by our partners and advances their work.
Close section
Evaluation and learning
We seek feedback to ensure that we are embodying our guiding principles. We expect to evolve our behaviours and practices when we see opportunities for improvement.
We are partner-led in how we learn. We prioritise learning over measurement alone and are flexible in supporting a learning approach that is led by our partners and advances their work.
Close section