About the role
Philanthropy is the common thread that links The Mercers’ Company’s past, present and future. Like our historical benefactors, we believe in creating positive change so that everyone has the chance to lead a fulfilling life. Today, we coordinate our Philanthropy Framework, collaborating with the Charities of which we are trustee1, to help people facing disadvantage to reach their potential.
Approximately £10 million is distributed each year across our grant making programmes to charitable causes - focused on relieving disadvantage in London, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, and North East England. We expect to support 180 individual charities annually to improve people's lives, strengthen organisations and contribute to societal change. Over the past five years we have awarded £48.8 million to over 400 organisations across our people-focused programmes and priority funding areas.
In order to improve our grant making service, be more transparent and follow best practice we are seeking an independent provider to survey our grantees and applicants regarding their perceptions of us. This is to include perceptions of our funding approach, our priorities, and the way we work. We would like this survey to be considered within the context of our diversity, equity and inclusion work. We would also like to understand what conclusions could be drawn and how we could improve our work, in relation to the survey results.
The Mercers’ Company requires a suitably qualified and experienced provider to survey all of our current grantees (circa 400), and a proportion of our past applicants, regarding their perceptions of Mercers’ philanthropic approach; and produce a report, outlining the survey findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
We would like to work with a provider to ascertain the best approach to achieving this. However, we envisage that the survey and report will enable us to understand our strengths and areas for development as a funder, as well as to compare ourselves with other funders. The survey and report will also need to be delivered in the context and awareness of our work and that of our learning partners, who survey and seek information about grantee perception.
We expect a clear, concise, and accurate report to be produced. The primary audience of this report is the Mercers’ Company but it should be accessible to a variety of audiences and the final reports will be published on our website for the benefit of the wider funding and charitable sector.
How to apply
The deadline for submitting a proposal is 12:00 (Noon) on 20 September 2024. Submissions should be sent to grants@mercers.co.uk by this deadline.
If you have any queries about this contract or the tender process, or if you would like to speak to us about it, please email grants@mercers.co.uk with your request for the attention of Matt Roche, Head Grants Programme Manager/Ciara Molloy, Operations and Impact Manager.
You can view the full ad and brief here.