# Modern Grantmaking

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/books/modern-grantmaking/
- Published: 2021-06-14T16:44:38+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**Modern Grantmaking is a practical guide for all professional grantmakers, whether
they work for a private foundation, a government funder, or a corporate donor.**

Authors Gemma Bull and Tom Steinberg share advice on real-world grantmaking questions,
based on long-standing knowledge, but also updated to cover current challenges and
issues.
Key questions for funders that it covers include:

 * How do I know if I’m getting the basics right?
 * How do I formulate a funding strategy?
 * How should I use research?
 * How can I improve the experience of grantseekers and grantees?
 * How to manage both upwards and downwards?
 * How should I deal with power and privilege?

**Gemma Bull** was England Director and Funding Strategy Director for the UK’s largest
community funder, The National Lottery Community Fund.

**Tom Steinberg** founded civic tech pioneers mySociety and developed data and technology
policy for the UK government. An Ashoka Fellow, he is also the co-founder of an 
open access education project run out of the Harvard Kennedy School.

![Modern Grantmaking, book cover from a side angle](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.
cloud/2021/06/modern-grantmaking-book-side-view-782x1024.png)

Modern Grantmaking

There is [more from the authors](http://moderngrantmaking.com/) on a supporting 
website, including a summary of the contents of each chapter, how to order the paperback,
Kindle and hardback editions, and details of their consultancy and speaking services
on the topics of the book.

## Gemma Bull introduces the book

Read Gemma Bull’s Twitter thread on why and how the book came to be written.

> Hello!
> I’ve got some exciting news – I’ve written a book along with my friend 
> [@steiny](https://twitter.com/steiny?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)It’s for anyone who does
> grantmaking for a living, and who wants to help reform the profession and improve
> their skills at the same time.[https://t.co/NaspxmYAZS](https://t.co/NaspxmYAZS)
> Thread 1/7
> — Gemma (@GemmaCBull) [February 26, 2021](https://twitter.com/GemmaCBull/status/1365320215945490433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> “What an absolute triumph of a book! I blew through it cover to cover, and enjoyed
> every moment. Reading it has given me the bandwidth I needed to unlock a way forward
> on a few things I have been grappling with at my foundation.”
> **Sufina Ahmad MBE, Director, John Ellerman Foundation**

## Listen to the authors

Listen to Rhodri Davies talk with the authors Gemma Bull & Tom Steinberg in this
episode of Charities Aid Foundation’s Give Thought Podcast.