We work with foundations of all sizes, on arrangements that fit your requirements — not ours.
Whether you need help managing a peak in applications, ongoing capacity throughout the year, or a place in your assessor pool, we can help.
Commission us to assess a single application, a batch, or a complete funding round. No minimum commitment — just clear, agreed fees per assessment or per day, delivered to your timescales. The right option if you have a current backlog, a one-off programme, or simply want to test the service before committing to anything longer term.
For foundations needing regular assessment support throughout the year. We provide a consistent, reliable presence in your assessment process — in effect, becoming a trusted extension of your grants team. Works particularly well for foundations with rolling or quarterly application deadlines, or those managing multiple programme strands simultaneously.
If your team is suddenly under pressure — a surge in applications, a staff absence, or a backlog following a programme pause — we can mobilise quickly. We familiarise ourselves with your requirements fast and deliver to your standards, with minimal disruption to your normal process.
We are happy to be added to your pool of approved freelance assessors, available to be called upon when application volumes require. No retainer, no regular commitment — just a reliable, professional resource you can draw on when you need it.
One of the most consistent failings in UK grantmaking is the absence of meaningful feedback to unsuccessful applicants. IVAR's Open and Trusting Grant-making framework identifies this explicitly as an area where foundations can do better.
The consequences of this gap are real. Applicants with no feedback continue submitting to funders who will never fund them. They cannot improve their applications, redirect their efforts to better-matched funders, or plan their finances with any accuracy — because their pipeline is full of decisions that have not yet been made, on bids that are unlikely to succeed. This creates avoidable pressure on applicants and generates additional workload for foundations in the form of repeat applications and chasing correspondence.
As an optional addition to our assessment service, Vantage can provide bespoke, written feedback to unsuccessful applicants on behalf of your foundation. This is not a standard letter — it is specific, considered and useful. It explains clearly why the application was not recommended for funding, identifies the principal concerns, and where relevant, suggests what the applicant could consider doing differently — whether that means strengthening a future application to your foundation, or redirecting to a funder whose priorities are a better match.
Providing quality feedback to declined applicants is good for your foundation's reputation, reduces repeat applications, and reflects a genuine commitment to the organisations you serve — even when you cannot fund them.
Our fees are agreed on a per-assessment or day-rate basis at the start of every engagement. We are transparent about our charges before any work begins — there are no hidden fees, no open-ended invoices, and no charges for time that hasn't been agreed.
We are not VAT registered, which means our fees are not subject to VAT — a straightforward saving for foundations, which are typically unable to reclaim it.
Please get in touch to discuss your requirements and we will provide a clear, written proposal — usually within 48 hours of our initial conversation.
Just get in touch and describe what you need. We'll recommend the right approach and be upfront if we're not the right fit.
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