Volunteer role description
Volunteer title: LGBT+ Futures: Faith Fund Grants Panel Member
Time commitment: Up to 8 hours of time (Grants system training, reviewing applications and a Grants Panel meeting). Will be dependent on number of applications received
Remuneration: Volunteer position, with Honorarium of £75 paid
Deadline: Sunday 19th February 2023
Location: Panels members need to be based in the UK
Consortium has been a specialist funder for just over 4 years and has distributed nearly £1.5m in onward grants.
Analysis of our own grants data has highlighted low number of faith-led organisations having received funding. We also consulted our faith-based member organisations to better understand where the capacity needs are for these organisations. Consortium has used its LGBT+ Futures: Intersections Fund over the last couple of years to include faith-led organisations but recognise we need to do more.
Consortium is proud to be working a private Donor, who has provided the monies for this Fund, and has established a £20,000 fund so small grants of between £500-£2,000 can be made to a diverse range of LGBT+ faith-led and for organisations.
In line with our funding approach this fund will be participative in nature, with LGBT+ people of faith making the decisions about faith focused work. We are seeking to appoint up to 5 people, from as diverse a geographical and intersectional focus as is possible, who will join representatives from Consortium and the Donor in making decisions on the applications received when the Fund opens in 2023.
The Fund will be a fixed period fund, with applications having to be submitted by a certain day and time. This will allow Consortium’s grants team to undertake due diligence on the applications received and give time for our Community Panellists to review applications before we hold a Grants Panel meeting to decide on who to award.
It is our intention to keep both the application and decision-making process as simple as possible. We don’t want to add any additional pressure to faith-led organisations, and we want to make Panel time as efficient as possible. The processes will be supported by our Grants Team who will provide everything the Grants Panel needs.
We intend for the Grants Panel to make decisions through a virtual panel meeting. Consortium will process applications and provide the Panel with a summary of the request via our online grants portal (training will be provided). Panel Members will have secure access to the full applications and will be able to give their comments and decision through our new Grants Management System. Consortium will collate Panel view and decisions on allocating funds will then be made by majority at the Panel meeting.
Whilst dependent on the number of applications received, we don’t anticipate this voluntary role being a time burden for our Grants Panel. It will involve a bit of time reviewing the short applications and providing a decision on whether to fund or not. We estimate this will require no more than 8 hours in total and we will ensure you have plenty of time to do this so it can be completed at a time convenient to you.
Who are we looking for?
Our Grants Panel for this Fund will consist of 7 people. 5 of these places will be reserved for community panellists, recruited through this process. The other three places will consist of a Consortium rep (likely a Trustee) and a representative of the Donor (this person will have an active interest in LGBT+ faith-led work). The Grants Panel will also be supported by Consortium’s Grants Team to provide advice and guidance.
We actively recognise the diversity and intersectionality of our communities. We are keen to hear from LGBT+ people from both broad geographical areas and those with a range of lived experiences and faith identities. Applications to the Panel will be considered by Consortium’s Grants Team and the Donor’s representative.
Applications
To apply for this volunteer role, please provide some simple details using the form below, and a cover letter (up to one side of A4) outlining why you would like to take on this role. Please also feel free to provide your CV, although this isn’t required.
Deadline for applications is Sunday 19th February 2023.
Informal discussions with shortlisted candidates will take place via a virtual video conference platform during w/c 27th February. Access needs will be met for these.
If you have any questions about this opportunity please contact Paul, Consortium’s Chief Executive on [email protected].