City Bridge Foundation
We provide grants and use our resources to help communities foster connections, become more resilient and build a more equal London.
Overview
Total reviews: 13
Median 20 hours
Latest Reviews
Sep 7, 2020
Other - applied in 2019
The Funding Manager was a breath of fresh air compared to other funders. Throughout the process, she open and transparent, and in the assessment call in particular, she did not put us under any pressure with tricky questions to catch us out. It was more like a conversation than an interview. She showed genuine interest in out cause and achievements, and was sympathetic to our weaknesses and needs, with helpful recommendations on how the funder can support us even if we are not successful with this funding application.
Throughout the application process she has been responsive to email queries (even when on annual leave!). We came away with the impression that the funder wants us to succeed, with or without them, and they wanted to create a relationship with us.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Risk taker
Culturally sensitive
Insightful
Friendly
Builds relationships
Understands nonprofits and issues
Openminded
Responsive
Cons
What is your relationship with the funder for this experience?
Grant currently pending
If you were funded tell us the outcome
Other
What year was this experience?
2019
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
Transparency on what they are looking for and creating long term relationships.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Carry on doing what you are doing!
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Is there anything else that's be useful for others to know to understand this funder?
Talk to them about your ideas. They are very good listeners.
If you believe the contents of this review are inappropriate please contact us via email.
Reply from City Bridge Trust
Mar 22, 2023
Thank you for your positive feedback and for taking the time to write this review. We are pleased to hear that you have found it such a good experience and that you could have an open dialogue with the Funding Manager.
Aug 31, 2020
applied in 2019
That the decision making process is 6 months and there was radio silence between acknowledgement (Feb) of the application and receiving a reference no. (July).
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Builds relationships
Understands nonprofits and issues
Openminded
Cons
What is your relationship with the funder for this experience?
Grant currently pending
If you were funded tell us the outcome
What year was this experience?
2019
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Average
Once my application was being reviewed they were accessible but during the 6-7 months prior to that there was no named person to speak to just the general enquiries email and no response.
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
I think they have clear criteria for what they will fund.
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
I get the impression that they will advise small charities on resilience and governance issues as well as provide funding.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
To be more responsive in the early months to reassure applicants that they're not forgotten or lost in the system.
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
If you believe the contents of this review are inappropriate please contact us via email.
Reply from City Bridge Trust
Mar 22, 2023
Thank you for taking the time to submit your feedback, which we will be sharing with the team for discussion so that we can ensure that we are always communicating in the best way possible with those who are awaiting a decision.
Aug 30, 2020
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2017
They are a great funder, the website is brilliant and the information provided is easy to follow. The grant application process is not complicated nor is the form.
The visit by the Grant Officer was very helpful, helped us to identify some gaps which the Grant officer was helpful in advising us how to complete them. The Grant Officer also provided other helpoful advice where we could strengthen our bid, areas where we could strengthen our organisation's work. The grant officer didn't penalise us for that.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Insightful
Friendly
Builds relationships
Openminded
Responsive
Cons
What is your relationship with the funder for this experience?
Current or former grantee
If you were funded tell us the outcome
Funded for amount requested
What year was this experience?
2017
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
Great Website
Grant officer very helpful
Monitoring Process not overwhelming
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Cannot thing of one
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
If you believe the contents of this review are inappropriate please contact us via email.
Reply from City Bridge Trust
Mar 22, 2023
Thank you for taking the time to write this review and for your positive feedback. We are pleased to hear that you found our visit and advice helpful and the application process easy to follow.
Jul 21, 2020
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2019
Great funder - long application process with interview- very thorough questions- lots of finance info required
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Builds relationships
Cons
What is your relationship with the funder for this experience?
Current or former grantee
If you were funded tell us the outcome
Funded for amount requested
What year was this experience?
2019
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Average
Not so great maybe for more grass roots charities
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
its really well involved and you feel supported
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
If you believe the contents of this review are inappropriate please contact us via email.
Reply from City Bridge Trust
Mar 22, 2023
Thank you for this response and positive feedback. We note the point about being less accessible to grass roots organisations, but we are delighted that you feel supported by CBT.
May 30, 2020
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2016
Be well prepared. You will need a very precise application and all the supporting information.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Builds relationships
Responsive
Cons
What is your relationship with the funder for this experience?
Current or former grantee
If you were funded tell us the outcome
Funded for amount requested
What year was this experience?
2016
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
Always punctual and professional.
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
Because of its rigour in assessment and research on results I would expect this funder to have a very good idea about its success rate.
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
Answering your questions.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Some explanatory notes on the application and reporting would be nice.
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Is there anything else that's be useful for others to know to understand this funder?
It supports its grant holders with consultancy and advisory services via Cranfield Trust.
If you believe the contents of this review are inappropriate please contact us via email.
Reply from City Bridge Trust
Mar 22, 2023
Thank you for taking the time to review CBT. We are very pleased that you feel we are punctual and professional as well as available for questions. We are always looking at how we can improve the application and reporting processes and have added more explanatory notes recently. Thank you again!
Sep 7, 2020
Other - applied in 2019
The Funding Manager was a breath of fresh air compared to other funders. Throughout the process, she open and transparent, and in the assessment call in particular, she did not put us under any pressure with tricky questions to catch us out. It was more like a conversation than an interview. She showed genuine interest in out cause and achievements, and was sympathetic to our weaknesses and needs, with helpful recommendations on how the funder can support us even if we are not successful with this funding application.
Throughout the application process she has been responsive to email queries (even when on annual leave!). We came away with the impression that the funder wants us to succeed, with or without them, and they wanted to create a relationship with us.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Risk taker
Culturally sensitive
Insightful
Friendly
Builds relationships
Understands nonprofits and issues
Openminded
Responsive
Cons
Pros
Cons
What is your relationship with the funder for this experience?
Grant currently pending
If you were funded tell us the outcome
Other
What year was this experience?
2019
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
Transparency on what they are looking for and creating long term relationships.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Carry on doing what you are doing!
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Is there anything else that's be useful for others to know to understand this funder?
Talk to them about your ideas. They are very good listeners.
Reply from City Bridge Trust
Mar 22, 2023
Thank you for your positive feedback and for taking the time to write this review. We are pleased to hear that you have found it such a good experience and that you could have an open dialogue with the Funding Manager.
Aug 31, 2020
applied in 2019
That the decision making process is 6 months and there was radio silence between acknowledgement (Feb) of the application and receiving a reference no. (July).
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Builds relationships
Understands nonprofits and issues
Openminded
Cons
Pros
Cons
What is your relationship with the funder for this experience?
Grant currently pending
If you were funded tell us the outcome
What year was this experience?
2019
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Average
Once my application was being reviewed they were accessible but during the 6-7 months prior to that there was no named person to speak to just the general enquiries email and no response.
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
I think they have clear criteria for what they will fund.
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
I get the impression that they will advise small charities on resilience and governance issues as well as provide funding.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
To be more responsive in the early months to reassure applicants that they're not forgotten or lost in the system.
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Reply from City Bridge Trust
Mar 22, 2023
Thank you for taking the time to submit your feedback, which we will be sharing with the team for discussion so that we can ensure that we are always communicating in the best way possible with those who are awaiting a decision.
Aug 30, 2020
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2017
They are a great funder, the website is brilliant and the information provided is easy to follow. The grant application process is not complicated nor is the form.
The visit by the Grant Officer was very helpful, helped us to identify some gaps which the Grant officer was helpful in advising us how to complete them. The Grant Officer also provided other helpoful advice where we could strengthen our bid, areas where we could strengthen our organisation's work. The grant officer didn't penalise us for that.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Insightful
Friendly
Builds relationships
Openminded
Responsive
Cons
Pros
Cons
What is your relationship with the funder for this experience?
Current or former grantee
If you were funded tell us the outcome
Funded for amount requested
What year was this experience?
2017
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
Great Website Grant officer very helpful Monitoring Process not overwhelming
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Cannot thing of one
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Reply from City Bridge Trust
Mar 22, 2023
Thank you for taking the time to write this review and for your positive feedback. We are pleased to hear that you found our visit and advice helpful and the application process easy to follow.
Jul 21, 2020
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2019
Great funder - long application process with interview- very thorough questions- lots of finance info required
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Builds relationships
Cons
Pros
Cons
What is your relationship with the funder for this experience?
Current or former grantee
If you were funded tell us the outcome
Funded for amount requested
What year was this experience?
2019
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Average
Not so great maybe for more grass roots charities
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
its really well involved and you feel supported
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Reply from City Bridge Trust
Mar 22, 2023
Thank you for this response and positive feedback. We note the point about being less accessible to grass roots organisations, but we are delighted that you feel supported by CBT.
May 30, 2020
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2016
Be well prepared. You will need a very precise application and all the supporting information.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Builds relationships
Responsive
Cons
Pros
Cons
What is your relationship with the funder for this experience?
Current or former grantee
If you were funded tell us the outcome
Funded for amount requested
What year was this experience?
2016
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
Always punctual and professional.
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
Because of its rigour in assessment and research on results I would expect this funder to have a very good idea about its success rate.
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
Answering your questions.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Some explanatory notes on the application and reporting would be nice.
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Is there anything else that's be useful for others to know to understand this funder?
It supports its grant holders with consultancy and advisory services via Cranfield Trust.
Reply from City Bridge Trust
Mar 22, 2023
Thank you for taking the time to review CBT. We are very pleased that you feel we are punctual and professional as well as available for questions. We are always looking at how we can improve the application and reporting processes and have added more explanatory notes recently. Thank you again!