# Report highlights structural advantages of smaller foundations

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2021/11/29/report-highlights-structural-advantages-of-smaller-foundations/
- Published: 2021-11-29T11:18:55+00:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Smaller foundations may be constrained by limited resource, capacity, and time,
but their agility in decision making and connections to local communities can provide
an advantage in pursuing ambitious and effective practice, according to a Association
of Charitable Foundations (ACF) report.**

Other advantages held by smaller foundations can include leaner bureaucracy, and
being able to ‘stick or twist’ with their objectives more flexibly, ACF found.

Its report, _[10 Pillars of Stronger Practice for Smaller Foundations](https://www.acf.org.uk/common/Uploaded%20files/Research%20and%20resources/Stronger%20foundations/Ten%20Pillars%20of%20Stronger%20Practice%20for%20Smaller%20Foundations%20FINAL.pdf)_,
is part of its Stronger Foundations initiative, which aims to help foundations improve
practices to increase effectiveness. It highlights 10 ‘pillars of practice’ that
it believes smaller foundations are particularly well placed to pursue, regardless
of remit, level of resource, or operating model.

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**The 10 pillars of stronger practice for smaller foundations:**
1.Understands its
mission and the impact it is seeking to achieve2.Thinks collaboratively to pursue
impact and advance its learning3.Identifies and selects funding practices that are
most likely to fulfil its mission and designs its processes in accordance with its
values4.Seeks to achieve positive impact beyond a financial contribution5.Is aware
of the external context and its role in the wider ecosystem6.Continually strengthens
its governance, including its diversity7.Invests time and resources in understanding
and defining diversity, equity, and inclusion8.Makes itself accountable to those
it serves and supports9.Understands that responsibility for its investments sits
with each and every member of the trustee board10.Understands the importance of 
transparency and engagement, and articulates its approach

The pillars were selected with input from ACF’s smaller funders network of nearly
150 foundation staff and trustee representatives. The report also includes examples
of how smaller foundations are pursuing ambitious practice related to these pillars.

ACF has also created a [bespoke self-assessment tool](https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/BKGHP7R)
to accompany this report and help members to consider actions relating to each pillar,
reflect on performance, summarise planned actions and track progress.

ACF CEO, Carol Mack OBE, said: 

> “Smaller foundations are the lifeblood of our sector – their commitment and creativity
> is truly inspiring. As this report brings out so clearly, it is a complete myth
> that foundations need lots of staff and resources to make a difference to the 
> communities and causes that they care about. I’d like to thank the ACF Smaller
> funders network for their insights which made it possible for us to develop this
> resource, and hope that the result is a source of both support and inspiration
> for the many smaller foundations we are proud to serve as members of ACF.”

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