IntroductionMore than 170 funders have joined the
Open and Trusting community and signed up to the
8 Open and Trusting commitments, dedicating to change how they work. But they can’t do that without hearing from you - the people on the receiving end of funding.
That’s why we’re running our biggest survey yet – to find out what it’s really like to receive funding in 2026.
Why take part?
Our last survey directly shaped the strategy and messaging behind Open and Trusting and identified “
10 actions that matter most to charities” - helping to shift both how we talk about funding, and how it’s done.
We want to understand what’s changed since our last survey in 2022, what it actually feels like to apply for and manage grants right now, and how funders need to change.
This survey will take 10-15 minutes to complete and will give you the opportunity to tell funders - and the wider world - about what’s helping, what’s getting in the way, and how things could be better.
This survey will close on 4th March 2026. Who’s the survey for?If you work or volunteer for a UK-registered charity, social enterprise or community organisation that applies for or receives grants, we want to hear from you.
Please tell us ONLY about your experience of applying for funding from independent grantmakers (e.g. your local Community Foundation, local and national trusts and foundations, the National Lottery Community Fund or TV appeals like BBC Children in Need) and NOT about what it’s like applying to public bodies like your local authority, health authority or central government.
If you would like to read the questions before you start the survey, please email
keeva@ivar.org.uk.
Prize DrawAll participants who complete the survey can opt-in to a prize draw to win one of 10 prizes of £100 for their organisation. You are eligible if your organisation is one of the following:
- Charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, OSCR or the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland
- Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
- An 'Exempt Charity'
- A Community Interest Company (limited by guarantee without share capital)
You can enter into the prize draw at the end of the survey.
Confidentiality and anonymity Your replies will be completely anonymous, so you can give honest feedback. We will not attribute any responses to individuals or organisations. NB. If you enter the prize draw, or you agree to be contacted at any point during the survey, we will ensure your details are collated separately from your survey answers.
The data you provide will be owned and analysed by IVAR (
The Institute for Voluntary Action Research). We will publish the results through multiple networks. We will use the findings to continue to influence funders and ensure they take on board your feedback.
