Transparency around reporting requirements for grant holders is part of the Foundation Practice Rating assessment. FPR Funders Group member, John Ellerman Foundation, has just published a blog post introducing their new reporting process for grant holders. Find out more:

Introducing our new approach to reporting from grant-holders

Author: Sufina Ahmad

ellerman.org.uk

Interested in the Foundation Practice Rating assessment of diversity, accountability and transparency in grantmaking practices? You can opt in to guarantee your foundation’s inclusion in Year Six. Find out more: buff.ly/7qSykUJ #FPR #Foundations #Diversity #Accountability #Transparency

Opt in to the FPR - Foundation Practice Rating

Find out how you can opt in to the Foundation Practice Rating assessment.

foundationpracticerating.org.uk

Year Six of the Foundation Practice Rating is underway. You can find out about how we draw the cohort of 100 foundations in a new document from @carolinefiennes.bsky.social, Director of Giving Evidence - the independent research organisation that undertakes the assessment.

Caroline Fiennes@carolinefiennes.bsky.social · 2w ago

We're doing the Foundation Practice Rating again this year! - Year Six. We've just determined which fdns to assess this year: this👇explains how we select. (Sharing this detailed method for transparency). We'll soon share the list of who's in. If you're in, you'll hear from us privately first.

The latest episode of the Philanthropisms Podcast is an interesting conversation with Jen Ford Reedy from the Bush Foundation. Jen talks about philanthropy’s “ability to understand and explain itself and the impact it’s having.” Listen here:

Jen Ford Reedy: What does it mean to be good at philanthropy? - Philanthropisms

On this episode we talk to Jen Ford Reedy, President of the Bush Foundation, about her new book "Please Be Good At Philanthropy" and why it is important for grantmakers to turn good intentions into…

philanthropisms.com

Is your foundation working towards stronger diversity, accountability and transparency practices? Guarantee your inclusion in Year Six of the Foundation Practice Rating by opting in for a fee of £1,200. Find out more: buff.ly/vDuX2W4 #FPR #Foundations #Diversity #Accountability #Transparency

Opt in to the FPR - Foundation Practice Rating

Find out how you can opt in to the Foundation Practice Rating assessment.

foundationpracticerating.org.uk

UKGrantmaking 2026 is now live. This annual publication on grant funding in the UK contains data and insights on over 14,000 UK grantmakers. As we move into Year Six of the FPR, we'll be using this dataset to select the foundations that will form the Year Six cohort. www.ukgrantmaking.org

UKGrantmaking

UKGrantmaking is the definitive annual publication on grant funding in the UK. It provides a comprehensive overview of who makes grants across all funding sectors – Government, Trusts and Foundations…

ukgrantmaking.org

A new podcast, Inside Grantmaking, launched today. The first episode features an interview with Jim McCormick from our Funders Group member, @therobertsontrust.bsky.social. Listen to find out more about The Robertson Trust’s application process and approach:

Grantmaking at The Robertson Trust in Scotland, with Jim McCormick

Jim McCormick, CEO of the Robertson Trust, on how grant decisions are made, the shift to unrestricted funding, and trends shaping Scottish philanthropy.

kedaconsulting.co.uk

We’ll soon be starting Year Six of the Foundation Practice Rating. In the coming weeks, we’ll be selecting and contacting the cohort. Find out more about the selection process in the short video on our website: foundationpracticerating.org.uk/methods/ #Diversity #Accountability #Transparency

Methods - Foundation Practice Rating

How we select the cohort and the method behind the Foundation Practice Rating.

foundationpracticerating.org.uk

Inspired by other foundations to use the Foundation Practice Rating criteria to do your own review of your practices in diversity, accountability and transparency? To help with that you can see all the criteria on our website:

Criteria - Foundation Practice Rating

This table lists each of the questions used by Foundation Practice Rating researchers when assessing a foundation.

foundationpracticerating.org.uk

Thank you to everyone who attended the evaluation tender briefing session earlier this week. The slides used and responses to the questions asked are available online: foundationpracticerating.org.uk/evaluation-t... The deadline for the evaluation tender is 5pm, 10 June 2026.

Evaluation tender - Foundation Practice Rating

We are inviting proposals from evaluators or evaluation teams to undertake a comprehensive review of the impact, influence, and value of the Foundation Practice Rating from 2020-2026.

foundationpracticerating.org.uk

Can you help us evaluate the FPR’s operation and possible impact to date to inform how the FPR develops to better support philanthropy in UK? The deadline for proposals is approaching: - 5pm on 10 June 2026 You can find all the details online:

Evaluation tender - Foundation Practice Rating

We are inviting proposals from evaluators or evaluation teams to undertake a comprehensive review of the impact, influence, and value of the Foundation Practice Rating from 2020-2026.

foundationpracticerating.org.uk

If you’re interested in submitting a proposal for our evaluation tender, we’re holding an online briefing: - Date: 1 June 2026 - Time: 12:30pm - No need to book – the Zoom link is online with the tender information:

Evaluation tender - Foundation Practice Rating

We are inviting proposals from evaluators or evaluation teams to undertake a comprehensive review of the impact, influence, and value of the Foundation Practice Rating from 2020-2026.

foundationpracticerating.org.uk

Over the first five years of the Foundation Practice Rating, we've generated a unique dataset and influenced practice across the UK foundation sector. We now want to undertake an independent evaluation to inform future developments. Find out more:

Evaluation tender - Foundation Practice Rating

We are inviting proposals from evaluators or evaluation teams to undertake a comprehensive review of the impact, influence, and value of the Foundation Practice Rating from 2020-2026.

foundationpracticerating.org.uk

Modern Grantmaking recently published a collection of short articles packed with practical advice for grantmakers. Topics include grantmaking fundamentals, governance and leadership, and learning and reflection. You can download Modern Grantmaking Writes for free:

Over the last five years, we’ve seen the pay-out rate of the FPR cohorts increase. In Year Five, the average pay-out rate was 6.1%, which exceeds the level of 5% that some in the sector have called for. Read the full blog post from Caroline Fiennes:

Average pay-out rate of FPR foundations rises, exceeding 5% - Foundation Practice Rating

The pay-out rate of the Foundation Practice Rating cohorts has increased every year. In this most recent year, the average pay-out rate was 6.1%, which exceeds the level of 5% which some in the…

foundationpracticerating.org.uk

Transparency is one of the domains we assess. But when we’re in a time of volatility and uncertainty there’s a real dilemma between transparency and safety. Read this insightful blog post from Sufina Ahmad MBE & Asif Afridi that explores this debate: foundationpracticerating.org.uk/transparency...

Transparency in a time of tumult - Foundation Practice Rating

In times of attack against our work and people, what is a funder to do? There are no easy answers. But there are some critical points we must engage with when making these decisions.

foundationpracticerating.org.uk

Missed the launch of the Foundation Practice Rating Year Five report? Don’t worry – there's an opportunity to catch up with the recording from the online event: foundationpracticerating.org.uk/cohort-2024-... #FoundationPracticeRating #FPR #Foundations #Diversity #Accountability #Transparency

Foundation Practice Rating Year Five report launch - Foundation Practice Rating

The Foundation Practice Rating Year Five report launch presentation from Friends Provident Foundation and Giving Evidence.

foundationpracticerating.org.uk

When funders and the charities they support come under attack in the media and have false information shared about them, what should they do? This blog post from two Funders Group members explores some critical points we must engage with: foundationpracticerating.org.uk/transparency...

Transparency in a time of tumult - Foundation Practice Rating

In times of attack against our work and people, what is a funder to do? There are no easy answers. But there are some critical points we must engage with when making these decisions.

foundationpracticerating.org.uk

The Year Five results show foundations scoring A overall are diverse in size & structure. They include very large, mid-sized & very small. They include endowed and community foundations, one founded over 800 years ago & a much younger one. Read more: foundationpracticerating.org.uk/cohort-resul...

Results 2025 / 2026 - Foundation Practice Rating

Download the results for Year Five of the Foundation Practice Rating (2025/2026).

foundationpracticerating.org.uk

Congratulations!

Mission 44@mission44.bsky.social · 5mo ago

We’re delighted to have been awarded an AAA grade by the Foundation Practice Rating - highlighting the progress we've made to become an organisation truly accountable to the young people we serve. Discover more about our work to drive change so that every young people can thrive: mission44.org

Congratulations to three foundations who achieved an A in each domain (diversity, accountability, transparency) and an A overall: bsky.app/profile/miss..., Cheshire Community Foundation, and Wiltshire and Swindon Community Foundation. Read the report:

Results 2025 / 2026 - Foundation Practice Rating

Download the results for Year Five of the Foundation Practice Rating (2025/2026).

foundationpracticerating.org.uk

Thanks to everyone who attended the Year Five launch today. Special thanks to Caroline Fiennes, Dr Shalu Jain, Danielle Walker, Sacha Rose (City Bridge Foundation) & Hannah Brown (bsky.app/profile/miss...) for their expertise & insights. See the report

Results 2025 / 2026 - Foundation Practice Rating

Download the results for Year Five of the Foundation Practice Rating (2025/2026).

foundationpracticerating.org.uk

The Year Five results are now live: foundationpracticerating.org.uk/cohort-resul.... We've seen statistically significant improvements since the FPR began five years ago and the results are the strongest in our five‑year history. #Diversity #Accountability #Transparency

If you’re joining our launch event tomorrow and haven't attended one of our events before, you can find out all about the method behind the Foundation Practice Rating assessment in this short video, edited from a previous event: vimeo.com/1171782301?f...

Foundation Practice Rating - overview of the FPR method

An overview of the Foundation Practice Rating's method, filmed in November 2025.

vimeo.com

As part of the Foundation Practice Rating, the top five foundations (by giving budget) are always included in the cohort for assessment. You might be surprised how much change there is among the top five. Read for more detail: foundationpracticerating.org.uk/surprising-c...

Surprising churn in the top UK foundations - Foundation Practice Rating

How much churn is there amongst the largest UK grant-making foundations (by giving budget)? You might expect very little, but we find that there is a surprisingly high amount of churn.

foundationpracticerating.org.uk

Have your say on what it’s like to apply for, receive and manage grants from independent foundations. IVAR, home of the Open and Trusting community of 170+ funders, is running its biggest ever funding experience survey:

Funding Experience Survey 2026

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

surveymonkey.com

One for your diary – 18 March 2026 (14:00 to 15:30) is the online launch of the Year Five Foundation Practice Rating (FPR) report. Book your free place today:

Foundation Practice Rating Year Five Report Launch

Join us for the online launch of the Foundation Practice Rating Year Five Report on 18 March 2026 at 14:00 via Zoom

eventbrite.co.uk

Join us for the online launch of the Year Five Foundation Practice Rating (FPR) report: - 18 March 2026 - 14:00-15:30 on Zoom Register to attend: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/foundation...

Foundation Practice Rating Year Five Report Launch

Join us for the online launch of the Foundation Practice Rating Year Five Report on 18 March 2026 at 14:00 via Zoom

eventbrite.co.uk

As 2025 draws to a close, we wish you a restful festive season. March 2026 brings the launch of the Year Five report. This will be an opportunity to look at the Year Five results and also reflect on five years of assessing foundations’ practices on diversity, accessibility and transparency.

What do our researchers do with comments foundations send us about their draft data? In short, we consider them all. We look at every document, statement and policy that foundations cite. Find out more in our latest blog post:

What we do with comments by foundations about the draft data on them - Foundation Practice Rating

Each of the foundations in the cohort are sent the draft data about them and invited to check it. This article explains what we do with their comments.

foundationpracticerating.org.uk