Small Change measuring the impact of small grant funding

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Small Change? measuring the impact of small
grant funding
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Measuring the impact of small grant funding

• How small is small?
• What to measure?
• How to measure?
• Keeping it appropriate.

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At the beginning..

• Through effective investment of grants the
  Voluntary Action Fund supports voluntary
  organisations in programmes and actions which
  empower people to make a difference in their own
  lives and in the lives of others and unlock the
  energies and talents in Scotlands communities.

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The Funding Programmes
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The Funding Programmes
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Relationship between funding policy

Initiative Department/Agency Volunteering
Strategy (VsGs, UVAF Go4Vol) Voluntary Issues
Unit Voluntary Sector Development Support
(all) Voluntary Issues Unit Social Inclusion
(UVAF, EMGS, VsGs) Social Inclusion Unit/
CS Community Regeneration (UVAF, EMGS,
VsGs) Communities Scotland Equality Racial,
Disability (all with emphasis on EMGS) Equality
Unit
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The VAF view of Success

• Levels of Change
• Did what said on tin project achieved
  objectives set out in original application
• Project sustained other funding,
  mainstreaming of funding or service etc.
• Positive legacy in organisation capacity of
  organisation increased, improved practices,
  strong networks across stakeholders etc
• Inclusion and/or Equality boundaries pushed
  what has the change been with the client group
  and communities in the immediate and longer term?
• Significant change to policy, design of services
  or service delivery

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What we look for at the start

• Taking forward change - key factors
• An appetite for success and making it happen
• Shared appreciation of what success should look
  like
• A willingness to learn
• An honest and trusting relationship

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The VAF approach to encouraging change

• Beyond Grant Making investing in organisations
  and success
• Dedicated grant management support
• Dedicated monitoring and evaluation support
• Facilitated networking training
• Outcome monitoring pilot
• Development of learning culture

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Methods of measurement of change

• End of grant monitoring form
• Bespoke reports
• Telephone call follow up
• Visit(s)to the organisation
• Anecdotal evidence from partner organisations
• Peer led evaluation
• Further grant application

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The impact of a small grant.
ETHNIC ENABLE

• Capacity Building Grant 2002 2,000
• To go towards the costs of management committee
  training for a user-le disability organisation to
  help them to improve their management and
  planning skills and increase their ability to
  work effectively with mainstream service
  providers
• EMGS Main Grant Programme 2003
• Three year grant to allow them to establish a
  project base and act as a frontline contact
  between Ethnic Enable, mainstream organisations
  and the community in dealing with disability
  issues within EM communities.
• Volunteering Scotland Grant 2005
• Three year grant to allow them to recruit young
  volunteers from black and ethnic minority
  communities to support people with disabilities
  from their own communities.

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Whats in a form?

• 1. What core information do we need to gather to
  measure change ( following the public
  purse?)
• 2. How do we encourage recording and reporting of
  change i.e. outcomes?