Research on grant making from nfpSynergy 'Taking Nothing for Granted' (see what they did there?) has produced some interesting results. They talked to 21 grant making trusts about their experiences. Each trust reported a fall in the number of applications they have received since the start of the economic downturn.

The trusts say that charities are more likely to receive grants if they put in fewer applications but make more effort with them, if they research the organisations to which they are applying, and if they are honest and flag up problems early in the process.

It also makes a series of recommendations for grant makers:

• develop clear, up-to-date processes, such as two-stage applications, to minimise the amount of time wasted on applications that are not successfully funded
• think about whether to offer core funding, particularly to small charities
• spend more time on feedback for charities they fund

The report is on the nfpSynergy website:

nfpsynergy.net/charities-and-grant-makers-need-joint-code-good-practice-and-discussion-forum