Every year, we reflect on feedback collected from grant applicants and partners to understand what we’re doing well and where we can improve in our grantmaking. Reflecting on feedback is an important part of the grants process as it helps us ensure our grantmaking processes are equitable, proportionate and supportive. By sharing our feedback publicly, we’re also able to hold ourselves to account in listening to and acting on feedback we’ve received.
This blog will provide an overview of the feedback received from applicants and partners in 2025. The key takeaways can be found at the beginning of the blog. The feedback summary, and a full report of the feedback can be found at the end.
The key takeaways
- Partner experience remains positive across the grant cycle, with most scores being above 4 out of 5.
- Partners highly value support beyond funding, including: flexible and responsive emergency funding (grant uplifts), wellbeing grants, convening spaces (events) and consultancy support.
- Increasing visibility and recognition for partners’ work with other funders and changemakers remains the most popular request from partners for how we can improve our offer to them.
- Variations in scores between grant programmes are minimal, reflecting a consistent grantmaking approach across programmes, even where processes differ.
- Our response rate has been below our historic average in recent years, which limits insight. Increasing participation is an area we’re exploring.
- Word‑of‑mouth and existing relationships remain the main way people hear about Blagrave, reflecting the strength of our informal networks and reputation.
About our feedback surveys
Although evaluation is an ongoing process, our feedback surveys allow us to receive specific feedback at key points in the grant process and relationship. These surveys are anonymous, which helps to facilitate honest feedback.
In 2025, we sent out four types of surveys to applicants and partners:
- Outline proposal survey: sent to applicants whose applications for funding were unsuccessful.
- Grant agreement survey: sent to partners after a grant offer has been made and accepted.
- Grant monitoring survey: sent to partners after grant instalment in a multi-year funding relationship.
- End of grant survey: sent to partners at the conclusion of a three-year funding relationship.
16% of those sent feedback surveys responded in 2025, with the lowest response rate seen for surveys sent to unsuccessful applicants (7%).
An overview of the feedback
Overall, the feedback received in 2025 was positive, with improvement in feedback scores compared to 2024’s scores seen across most metrics in our surveys. Most scores were above a 4 out of 5 (with 5 being a positive qualifier), demonstrating a consistently positive experience for applicants and partners in 2025. Scores were also largely consistent across grant programmes, reflecting a consistent approach to grantmaking, even where processes differ.
Some consistent themes emerged from partners’ feedback across the different surveys. Partners highlighted their positive experiences with staff, with appreciation for the clarity and care provided by the team. Scores for “our staff team” average a 5 out of 5 across survey types (with 5 meaning our staff were “respectful, helpful and capable”). Many partners shared that they felt Blagrave understood and took an interest in their work, valuing more than just the practical parts of a grant relationship. Additionally, there was appreciation for proportionate reporting, which strengthened trust in the grant relationship and reduced burden on partners.
We don’t ask unsuccessful applicants if they’re happy with the decision for their application, but we do ask them if they are satisfied with the explanation for it. For unsuccessful applicants, while a few felt rejection reasons could be clearer, satisfaction with these explanations improved compared to 2024. This is particularly notable as we had an increased number of rejections following two grant making rounds, demonstrating that our process remained consistent, or even somewhat improved, when there is an increased volume of applications.
Plans for 2026
We want to see the youth-led climate justice movement continue to grow and thrive in 2026. We will not be running another funding round in 2026 but will be using the year to work more deeply with our inaugural cohort of changemakers and infrastructure organisations. We are hoping that by 2027 we’ll have gathered enough learning to better understand how the combination of all our approaches – funding individuals, movements, and infrastructure – works to strengthen the ecosystem of changemaking in the climate justice space for young people.
In Autumn, we are planning to recruit 5 young people to act as our advisers. Our Roots & Routes advisers will shape a new round of funding we are planning for 2027.
Another focus for 2026 is fundraising. We believe that funding youth-led climate justice movements enables us to meet both our social justice and climate commitments. Expanding funding for these organisations will ensure the climate justice leaders of the future are supported in their work and protected against burnout. If you’re a funder that’s interested in joining the Roots & Routes Fund, please get in touch with Marie@Blagravetrust.org for details of how you can get involved.
What we’re doing in response
We’re using our feedback to strengthen what we’re doing well and to improve where applicants and partners have indicated we need to grow.
Based on the positive feedback we’ve received from applicants and partners, we will continue to offer …
- Proportionate, flexible reporting for partners which respects their time and isn’t a barrier to them doing their work.
- Support beyond grants: including wellbeing grants, flexible and responsive emergency funding (grant uplifts), convening spaces (events) and consultancy support where applicable.
- Clarity and care from staff engaging with partners — feedback shows that partners feel valued and respected as a result.
Based on the insight and constructive feedback received, we’ve identified some key areas where we have room to grow. We’re committed to improving in the following areas:
What we’re doing in response
A big thank you to everyone who took the time to share feedback in 2025! Your experience and insight help shape how we work and support us in strengthening our processes so they’re clearer, more supportive and better aligned with the needs of young changemakers, youth-led groups and youth organisations.
The likelihood of partners at the end of their grant in 2025 recommending Blagrave as a funder was “highly likely” (5 out of 5). We hope to continue being a funder that our partners would recommend to others by remaining open to learning how we can do better and acting on what we hear.