The Funding Committee of the City Bridge Foundation Board met on Wednesday 16 September 2026 to discuss a range of financial and strategic matters. Key agenda items included a review of the budget monitoring report for CBF funding activities, an update on grant funding activity, and a detailed look at the Funder Plus Business Plan for 2026-2035.

Governance and Strategy

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on outstanding actions from the Town Clerk. A significant item for information was the Chief Funding Director's Update Report, which provided an overview of key areas of activity. This report highlighted discussions at a House of Lords dinner concerning disability inclusion within the impact economy and noted the Charity Commission's published guidance for grant-making charities, indicating that the City Bridge Foundation (CBF) is largely aligned with its recommendations. The report also detailed progress on the Impact and Learning team's activities, including benchmarking against the Institute of Voluntary Action Research (IVAR) report, updates on the Equity Partners forum, and the internal learning programme which has covered topics such as data analysis, neurodiversity awareness, community organising, and racial justice. Learning visits and the development of the Standing with Londoners reporting approach were also mentioned.

Finance

A Budget Monitoring Report for CBF Funding Activities, covering the period ended 30 June 2026, was presented. This report provided a financial update and an updated forecast for the financial year ending 31 March 2027. The report indicated that CBF Funding's approved expenditure budget was £39.8m, with £35.8m allocated to grant commitments. A revised grants commitments forecast for the year was £32.05m, largely due to a reprofiling of spend to later years of the Standing with Londoners grant strategy.

Bridging Divides - Funding Applications

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on Grant Funding Activity for the period ended 31 July 2026. This report detailed funds approved and rejected under delegated authority, the remaining grants budget for 2026/27, and grants spend to date. It also outlined any grant variations that had been approved under delegated authority.

Funder Plus Business Plan 2026-2035

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the Funder Plus Business Plan 2026-2035. This plan outlines a strategic direction for CBF's Funder Plus offer, aiming to integrate it more closely with the charity's Standing with Londoners funding policy and its relational funding and Impact and Learning approach. The proposed model includes a Core Offer, Special Projects, and an open-access digital Resource Hub. The plan detailed a phased implementation approach, with existing provision continuing during the transition period. The report also included a financial modelling section and a risk and mitigation register. Consultation with Equity Partners and findings from external research were also presented, highlighting common issues with Funder Plus provision in the grantmaking sector and offering recommendations for improvement.

Other Business

The committee was also scheduled to address questions on matters relating to the work of the committee and any other urgent business that the Chair considered appropriate. A motion was to be considered for the exclusion of the public for the discussion of non-public agenda items.

The following documents were made available to attendees:

• Public reports pack 16th-Sep-2026 10.00 Funding Committee of the City Bridge Foundation Board
• Agenda frontsheet 16th-Sep-2026 10.00 Funding Committee of the City Bridge Foundation Board