# 1 in 8 charities spending 3 working days a week on grant applications

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/10/13/1-in-8-charities-spending-3-working-days-week-grant-applications/
- Published: 2020-10-13T09:40:18+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**One in eight charities have reported spending three working days a week or more
on grant applications since March this year, according to research by funding platform
Brevio.**

This, it says, equates to over £20,350 a year in potential staff time per charity
and a collective cost of £442 million annually for the sector.

Despite this, over half (51%) of those who responded to [Brevio](https://brevio.org/)’
s online poll of 1,002 third sector organisations, have seen a decrease in their
success rate compared with last year. Potential reasons include an increase in competition
for grants (stated by 23%) and fewer human resources to complete grant application
forms (12%).

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Of those who responded, over three quarters believe that the grant making system
needs to be modernised, with 80% saying they do not believe the current grant application
system is operated on a level playing field.

Many believe the current grant application process works in favour of well-established
charities (57%), those with well-connected people on their boards, and those in 
large cities.

In addition, one in eight (12%) feel the grant making process discriminates against
organisations led by people from ethnic minority backgrounds; and 13% also feel 
it discriminates against organisations that focus on issues/ causes that concern
smaller parts of the population.

Of those who answered, nearly half of respondents (44%) believe there should be 
a simplified and centralised application system, similar to UCAS for university 
applications, to avoid having to repeat and gather similar details for every application.

Commenting on the findings Marcelle Speller OBE, founder of Brevio, said:

> “The pandemic has brought into sharp relief what funders and charities have known
> for years: the current grant model soaks up too much valuable time, energy, and
> ironically, money. With many charities now battling for their very existence, 
> it’s clear we need to grasp the nettle and begin to create a level playing field
> that will help brilliant organisations across Britain do what they do best in 
> their communities and beyond.”

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