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: 82
Median 10 hours
Latest Reviews
Jan 5, 2022
Funded for lesser amount - applied in 2018
You should follow their funding guideline very closely to be successful. Most probably they will cut the budget you are asking for a little but they are flexible in ways you're spending it until it's for the project.
Pros
Friendly
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 lesser amount
What year was this experience?
2018
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
Being flexible
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
To indicate why the budget was cut
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 reviewing us and letting others know what applying with us is like.
Dec 23, 2021
Funded for greater amount - applied in 2018
I would advise them to read the guidlines properly, talk to the grant officer and have clear ToC and monitoring framework.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Culturally sensitive
Friendly
Understands nonprofits and issues
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 greater amount
What year was this experience?
2018
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
Listens and responds to changing needs.
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 review us, this is really helpful.
Dec 13, 2021
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2018
The grant staff at City Bridge Trust could not be more helpful. I would recommend contacting them to discuss your proposal and developing a relationship with them.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Friendly
Builds relationships
Understands nonprofits and issues
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?
2018
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
We have loved being part of one of the first pan-London Learning Networks. We think City Bridge Trust is forward thinking and uses its experience to influence other funders.
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
They understand that things can change and that outcomes and outputs might need reviewing sometimes mid-grant. They led the way in making funding more flexible during Covid and also reduced the detail in the monitoring requirements to take pressure off grantees who were trying to adapt to the changing environment.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Nil - keep doing what you do
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
Many thanks for your feedback, we always welcome discussions!
Nov 19, 2021
Funded for lesser amount - applied in 2019
That they need to devote a lot of time to the application process, work out a lot of the details, and try not to repeat themselves although some of the questions are quite similar, in order to give maximum information.
Pros
Friendly
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 lesser amount
What year was this experience?
2019
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Average
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Average
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
To revisit the rules with regard to volunteer expenses which we found to be way too stringent
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 your feedback, we are currently reviewing our processes so will feed this into our team.
Oct 31, 2021
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2019
Take a lot of time to get the bid right. Be honest about difficulties and/or new opportunities. It's worth it.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Risk taker
Insightful
Friendly
Builds relationships
Understands nonprofits and issues
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?
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
City Bridge showed exceptional flexibility in the light of Covid and of us wanting to expand the project when we secured additional funding.
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
They really grilled us re our long term financial plan, which made us think hard about important issues and led to a 5 year funding commitment, (two years more than the "industry norm"
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Can the web portal be adapted so it is easier to produce printed or PDF copies of the grant details, so we can share them with colleagues without giving full access to the portal by supplying our passwords.
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?
NA
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 review and your advice to let us know what is happening, we really appreciate it.
Jan 5, 2022
Funded for lesser amount - applied in 2018
You should follow their funding guideline very closely to be successful. Most probably they will cut the budget you are asking for a little but they are flexible in ways you're spending it until it's for the project.
Pros
Friendly
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 lesser amount
What year was this experience?
2018
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
Being flexible
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
To indicate why the budget was cut
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Reply from City Bridge Trust
Mar 22, 2023
Thank you for reviewing us and letting others know what applying with us is like.
Dec 23, 2021
Funded for greater amount - applied in 2018
I would advise them to read the guidlines properly, talk to the grant officer and have clear ToC and monitoring framework.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Culturally sensitive
Friendly
Understands nonprofits and issues
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 greater amount
What year was this experience?
2018
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
Listens and responds to changing needs.
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Reply from City Bridge Trust
Mar 22, 2023
Thank you for taking the time to review us, this is really helpful.
Dec 13, 2021
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2018
The grant staff at City Bridge Trust could not be more helpful. I would recommend contacting them to discuss your proposal and developing a relationship with them.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Gives more than money
Friendly
Builds relationships
Understands nonprofits and issues
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?
2018
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Excellent
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Excellent
We have loved being part of one of the first pan-London Learning Networks. We think City Bridge Trust is forward thinking and uses its experience to influence other funders.
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
They understand that things can change and that outcomes and outputs might need reviewing sometimes mid-grant. They led the way in making funding more flexible during Covid and also reduced the detail in the monitoring requirements to take pressure off grantees who were trying to adapt to the changing environment.
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Nil - keep doing what you do
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Reply from City Bridge Trust
Mar 22, 2023
Many thanks for your feedback, we always welcome discussions!
Nov 19, 2021
Funded for lesser amount - applied in 2019
That they need to devote a lot of time to the application process, work out a lot of the details, and try not to repeat themselves although some of the questions are quite similar, in order to give maximum information.
Pros
Friendly
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 lesser amount
What year was this experience?
2019
How would you rate this funder's accessibility?
Average
How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its goals as a funder?
Average
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
To revisit the rules with regard to volunteer expenses which we found to be way too stringent
How was your relationship overall with the funder?
Excellent
Reply from City Bridge Trust
Mar 22, 2023
Thank you for your feedback, we are currently reviewing our processes so will feed this into our team.
Oct 31, 2021
Funded for amount requested - applied in 2019
Take a lot of time to get the bid right. Be honest about difficulties and/or new opportunities. It's worth it.
Pros
Positive leader in the field
Risk taker
Insightful
Friendly
Builds relationships
Understands nonprofits and issues
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?
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
City Bridge showed exceptional flexibility in the light of Covid and of us wanting to expand the project when we secured additional funding.
Tell us one thing that this funder does really well
They really grilled us re our long term financial plan, which made us think hard about important issues and led to a 5 year funding commitment, (two years more than the "industry norm"
If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?
Can the web portal be adapted so it is easier to produce printed or PDF copies of the grant details, so we can share them with colleagues without giving full access to the portal by supplying our passwords.
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?
NA
Reply from City Bridge Trust
Mar 22, 2023
Thank you for your review and your advice to let us know what is happening, we really appreciate it.