The Giving Department

Clarify purpose and priorities

Useful when

Your giving has grown without a clear focus, or you are starting out and want to get it right.

  • Landscape and benchmark research
  • Stakeholder and Trustee interviews
  • Facilitated workshops
  • Agreeing focus areas and the outcomes you want

The outcome

A shared, written sense of purpose and priorities.

See the Liontrust story →

Develop a giving or foundation strategy

Useful when

You need a strategy the board can stand behind, are setting up a foundation, or your organisation has changed.

  • Strategy frameworks
  • Setting up a foundation, coordinating the steps with your legal and financial advisers
  • Governance and Trustee recruitment
  • Reviewing and refreshing an existing strategy

The outcome

A clear strategy and the right structure to deliver it.

See the LSEG story →

Design and operationalise grantmaking

Useful when

You want grants that are fair for applicants, proportionate and manageable to run.

  • Grant programme design
  • Building a pipeline of strong applicants
  • Application and selection processes
  • Ongoing grant management

The outcome

A grantmaking process that is fair for applicants and manageable for you.

See the City & Guilds Foundation story →

Independent assessment and due diligence

Useful when

You are looking for partners in new places, or need an objective view before a major decision.

  • Partner research and shortlisting, including in new countries
  • Proportionate due diligence on governance, finances, safeguarding and reputation
  • Organisational health checks
  • Site visits

The outcome

Decisions made with confidence.

See an example →

Community, charity partner and employee engagement

Useful when

You want your people, partners and communities to be part of your giving.

  • Community engagement strategy
  • Skills-based and employee programmes
  • Bringing charity partners together

The outcome

Engaged colleagues and stronger partnerships.

See the Sainsbury's story →

Ongoing and flexible support

Useful when

You have ambitious plans but no dedicated in-house team.

  • Embedded support as part of your team
  • Trustee meetings and board papers
  • Impact reporting
  • Programme administration

The outcome

An expert giving team, without permanent headcount.

See the ICG story →

Support that fits the way you work

Focused projects

For example a strategy review, a partner search or a due diligence report.

Ongoing support

Monthly or quarterly, flexing with your needs.

Part of your team

We work as an extension of your team, for as long as you need us.

Many clients start with a project and move to ongoing support.

We draw on a trusted network of associates for specialist sector insight, local knowledge and extra capacity.

We work with companies, foundations and philanthropists, and alongside your legal, tax and financial advisers where they are needed.

Not sure which kind of support you need?

That is often where the most useful conversations start.