SGM Event: Alternative Approaches to Grant Administration

On Monday 27 March 2023 Scottish Grantmakers hosted a hybrid event for members on alternative approaches to grant administration.

Over 20 colleagues tuned in online and gathered in person at the Mound in Edinburgh for an engaging morning of learning and discourse. During the event members participated in lively discussion on alternative approaches to traditional methodology around grantmaking.

The session focused on innovation in grant administration with two thought leaders in the field.

Marcelle Speller OBE, philanthropist, founder and chairman of Brevio, started the event by sharing Brevio’s mission, as a social enterprise and philanthropic project, to simplify grant research and applications, reduce administration and increase impact.  Key to Marcelle’s theory was the value of high quality digital data and how it can be best collected and used to save time and improve efficiencies.

Marcelle was joined by Lynn Hendry of the Hunter Foundation. Lynn provided her insights on the pioneering relational approach taken by the STV Children’s Appeal, directed by Lynn over the last decade, which now sits at the centre of the Appeal’s work with donors, charities and partners. Lynn reflected on long term funder experiences at the Hunter Foundation, the nature of an investment approach in charity leaders and social causes, and the learning and knowledge acquired along the way.

Throughout the event, speakers and delegates considered the various needs and wants of charities and funders following shared reflections on grant administration processes and it was recognised that one size does not fit all.

As panellists presented on alternative approaches and the session progressed the complementarity of grant application platforms and paperless approaches soon became clear and there are synergies to draw on.

Scottish Grantmakers are pleased to have delivered an event that offered an open discussion on such forward-looking and distinct approaches towards grant administration. If you were unable to attend please contact scottishgrantmakers@wssociety.co.uk for copy materials.

Overall, it was a fantastic event to continue a year of learning and Scottish Grantmakers look forward to future discussions.  

With many thanks to the Bank of Scotland Foundation for kindly hosting this meeting at their historic headquarters on the Mound in Edinburgh.