West Midlands Small Funders Explore ‘Open and Trusting’ Principles

On 25 September 2025, the West Midlands Funders Network (WMFN) partnered with the Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR) to host an online lunchtime session for smaller funders, focusing on the Open and Trusting initiative.

Ben Cairns, Chief Executive of IVAR, introduced the eight commitments of the initiative and outlined the benefits for both funders and charities. He highlighted how funders could adopt more open and flexible practices that reflect the realities facing voluntary organisations, and encouraged attendees to join the growing Community of Practice. A copy of the slides is available here.

Elaine Wilson, Head of Learning and Development at the Corra Foundation, shared Corra’s experience as a founding member of the Open and Trusting Group. She described how the foundation has embedded the commitments into its grant-making and now publishes an annual report on progress. Attendees were particularly engaged in the discussion about organisational culture, approaches to risk, and the importance of trust – both in applicants and between trustees and staff – when shaping funding processes.

IVAR also shared a practical tool for assessing risk appetite, helping funders reflect on their own practice. Case studies, such as Camden’s introduction of ten unrestricted grants using Open and Trusting principles, illustrated how smaller funders can make a significant difference.

The session linked participants to wider sector debates, including NPC’s Opening Up Impact work led by Tris Lumley, which explores how funders and charities can be more transparent and collaborative when demonstrating outcomes.

For small funders in the West Midlands, the event offered both inspiration and practical steps to consider how adopting Open and Trusting principles could lead to stronger relationships with charities and, ultimately, better outcomes for communities.

Photo by Aarón Blanco Tejedor on Unsplash