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Criteria

 

The criteria for assessing foundations are outlined here. Our aim is to be as consistent as possible year on year, subject to suggestions made in our annual consultation of stakeholders.

 

Diversity

CriterionUsed in other ratings/rankings/self-assessment tools/guidance?
The foundation presents information about eligibility, funding priorities etc. in a variety of different formats, such as videos, PDFs to reach a wider audience.Web accessibility in Mind, UK Government
The foundation accepts proposals for funding in a range of different formats (online, video, by post, etc.)UK government guidance on accessible formats
The foundation makes it possible to submit funding proposals in a range of different formats.No
The foundation publishes a breakdown of the diversity of its staff (with respect to gender, ethnicity and disability only).GlassPockets / Racial Equality Index
The foundation publishes a plan with targets improve the diversity of its staff.Racial Equality Index
The foundation publishes a breakdown of the diversity of its trustees (with respect to gender, ethnicity and disability only).GlassPockets / Racial Equality Index
The foundation publishes a plan with targets improve the diversity of its trustees.Racial Equality Index
The foundation publishes information on any pay gaps (gender, ethnicity, disability).Racial Equality Index
The foundation has made a public commitment to be a Living Wage Employer.No
The foundation has made a public commitment to be a Living Wage Funder.No
The foundation publishes its recruitment policy for board members.No
The foundation publishes its recruitment policy for staff.No
The foundation publishes its information in a Welsh language format if it funds in Wales.UK government: Welsh language standards
The foundation publishes data about the diversity of its grantees or applicants.

Accountability

CriterionUsed in other ratings/rankings/ self-assessment tools/guidance?
The foundation publishes information on who its staff are, including their biographies, on its website.GlassPockets
The foundation publishes information on who its trustees/board members are, including their biographies, on its website.GlassPockets
The foundation cites the criteria on which its funding decisions are made.No
The foundation says who makes the funding decisions in its organisation.No
The foundation offers accessible ways to get in contact (e.g., text relay, BSL or other).No
The foundation provides a mechanism for comments, complaints (feedback).BBB Wise Giving Alliance, Standards for Charity Accountability
The foundation publishes any feedback it receives from grant seekers and/or grantees.GlassPockets
The foundation publishes any actions it will take to address this feedback.No
The foundation provides a mechanism to report malpractice concerns (whistleblowing).GlassPockets
The foundation publishes any analysis of its own effectiveness.GlassPockets / BBB Wise Giving Alliance, Standards for Charity Accountability
The foundation publishes some information of what it is doing differently as a consequence of this analysis.No
The foundation cites any evidence that it has consulted the communities it seeks to support in determining its funding priorities.No
The foundation publishes its investment policy.GlassPockets & ACF Transparency & Engagement
The foundation provides any comment/explanation about their payout rates.No

Transparency

CriterionUsed in other ratings/rankings/self-assessment tools/guidance?
The foundation publishes any information about a time frame for funding decisions. This must be explicit dates, not statements like ‘twice a year’.No
The foundation states how to apply for funding.No
The foundation publishes any information about its funding priorities.GlassPockets & ACF Transparency & Engagement
The foundation is explicit about what it will not fund.No
The foundation provides explicit mechanisms to ask questions about funding.GlassPockets & ACF Transparency & Engagement
The foundation publishes any eligibility criteria for what it funds.GlassPockets & ACF Transparency & Engagement
The foundation cites a time frame in which it will disburse funds to a successful applicant.No
The foundation publishes any information on who or what it funded.GlassPockets
The foundation provides its data on awarded grants in a download-able (open) format that doesn’t require payment to access (.xlsx, .csv. .jstor, or .txt)No
The foundation publishes success rates for its funding.No
The foundation publishes information about any grant reporting requirements for its grantees.No
The foundation publishes information about branding requirements for its grantees.No
The foundation provides contact information on its website.No

Changes to criteria

We publish our criteria each year before the research works starts. This is so that everybody can know where the goal posts are. We also change the criteria as little as possible. This is to avoid moving the goal posts. However, where we have changed them, this is to:
  • tighten up something where we have realised that wording is ambiguous or unclear; or
  • make something fairer e.g., in Year Five, we specified that foundations which fund globally are exempt from publishing their materials in Welsh; or
  • respond to external changes e.g., in Year Four, we had to change the criteria around investment policies to reflect new guidance from the regulator.
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