Making Grant making More Equitable: How Funded Partners Are Reaching the Most Underserved Communities

In our first article in the series, we explored organisations that describe themselves as ​“led by and for” the communities they serve. We saw the real impact this approach has. But we also noticed that this language could exclude organisations doing similar work who may not use these terms to describe themselves. 

Terms like ​“led by and for” are often used by funders and do not always align with the language frontline organisations use to describe themselves or fully capture the work they do. As a result, we might miss seeing the excellent work some organisations are doing to reach and engage underserved communities in order to design and deliver much needed services. 

Looking beyond language to action 

As a funder on our own EDI journey, we have been learning what good practice looks like at the frontline and how we can support our funded partners, keeping in mind that organisations are all at various stages of this work. 

One of the most helpful shifts we have made is moving beyond language to look at what organisations are actually doing. We take time to understand how they reach their clients, how they spot gaps in who they are serving, and the innovative ways in which they are extending their reach. 

We are also working to build mutual trust with our funded partners so that we can have honest conversations about this work and develop an understanding of what it means to them and the communities, people and places they serve. 

What Good Practice Looks Like 

Most of our funded partners are actively working out who is and isn’t using their services. They are collecting data, asking questions, and figuring out why some people aren’t reaching them. Then they are doing something about it. 

Here’s what some of that work looks like in practice: 

• Place-based outreach. Organisations aren’t waiting for clients to find them. North Yorkshire Citizens Advice and Law Centre are bringing free legal advice into underserved communities through advice vans and buses. North West London Law Centres has opened new advice hubs in Brent and are co-locating with community partners to improve access for people, Citizens Advice Central Dorset is partnering with mental health services to support clients, and FISCUS has embedded advisers in food banks. 

• Making services accessible and culturally appropriate. This means offering multilingual support, being flexible in how services are delivered, and co-designing outreach with the communities themselves. 

• Creating pathways for people with lived experience. Organisations are training, supporting, and employing people from the communities they serve. Anti-Trafficking and Labour Exploitation Unit (ATLEU) co-designed an apprenticeship to support survivors of trafficking into paid legal advice roles. This builds genuinely representative services and creates meaningful opportunities for participation. 

• Using trauma-informed approaches. Organisations such as Manuel Bravo Project are being thoughtful about how they work with staff and clients who have lived experience, building trust and making sure relationships are supportive rather than transactional while avoiding re-traumatization. 

We are committed to working in mutual trust and deepening our understanding of the work our funded partners do and the different innovative ways they are making sure no one gets left behind. 

Keep an eye on our website and social media for more learning and insights on our journey to become a more equitable grant maker.