A Grantmaking Masterclass from a Specialist Funder, with Alex Jacobs, Director of the Joffe Trust

Alex Jacobs, Director of the Joffe Trust, joins Alex Blake for a close look at how a small, specialist funder actually makes grantmaking decisions. Alex walks through the Trust's two-stage process, from a simple four-paragraph inquiry through to a full application, and the one question, "who do you want to do what?", that does more to separate strong proposals from weak ones than anything else they ask. He explains how the staff team assesses applications before they reach the board, why the board overturns staff recommendations roughly 10-20% of the time, and what that says about good governance. The conversation also covers the Trust's approach to grantee relationships, including a commitment to substantial feedback on every report within a month, and how the Trust uses convening to bring funders, civil society, and government into the same conversation. This episode is a useful listen for anyone wanting a practical look at how a specialist funder structures its process, assesses applications, and builds long-term relationships with the organisations it funds.