Transatlantic Grantmaking Exchange
A small, fully funded study visit for senior US grantmaking leaders to see how UK funders handle trust-based funding, place-based practice, AI in grantmaking operations and hands-on funder–grantee relationships in practice.
3–4 places · London · Summer 2026 · Fully funded. For senior grants managers, programme directors, and strategy leads at US foundations and major grantmakers.
Why the UK
Why UK grantmaking is worth studying
Plinth works closely with UK foundations, local authorities and charities, and we're opening the door for a handful of US peers to see how these teams actually work. None of it translates well over Zoom, so this is 3–4 participants and real peer exchange rather than conference-style Q&A.
- Flexible, unrestricted grants as standard practice for years
- Public and philanthropic money blended in the same programmes
- Community foundations as local intermediaries
- 360Giving's open grants data, with no US equivalent at scale
What you'll investigate
Each visit is built around a theme. We'll shape the final programme around the group, but these are the areas we'll dig into.
Unrestricted & trust-based funding
Many UK foundations and community foundations have given flexible, unrestricted grants for years. What works, the failure modes, and how to keep accountability without micromanagement.
Statutory-philanthropic blending
Decades of blending public money (local authority, NHS, lottery) with philanthropy in the same programmes: different reporting requirements, political cycles and matched funding models.
Place-based & community-led approaches
Big Local, the National Lottery Community Fund, and community foundations acting as local intermediaries rather than donor-advised fund vehicles.
Proportionate reporting & right-sized due diligence
Some UK community foundations do grants under £10k with a one-page form and a phone call. What can you safely strip away without losing accountability?
Open grants data & cross-sector coordination
360Giving's open grants data, standardised formats and GrantNav tool have no real US equivalent at scale. How funders coordinate, avoid duplication and see the whole landscape.
Lived experience & co-design
Applicants and beneficiaries in decision-making roles through panels, co-design and participatory grantmaking, inside traditional funding bodies, plus early AI adoption in operations.
What's covered
Flights, accommodation, meals and transport between visits are all covered, so just bring yourself. This is a learning programme hosted by Plinth: there is no obligation to buy anything, and we're happy to support any internal approvals your organisation requires.
Return flights
Booked and paid for from your nearest major airport.
Accommodation
Three nights in central London, hotel or Airbnb, your preference.
Meals & local transport
Covered throughout the programme.
All transfers
Airport pickups, drop-offs, and transport between visits.
Host visits & sessions
All meetings, discussions, and group sessions with UK grantmakers.
A bit of London
Enough to enjoy being here, without distracting from the purpose of the trip.
The programme
Three different lenses on the same problems: a foundation, a public-sector funder, and a major delivery organisation. We'll shape the final details around the group.
Day 1
Arrive & Orientation
Meet the group and set the context
Morning
Arrive in London
Touch down at Heathrow. A private transfer takes you to your accommodation in central London.
Afternoon
Southbank Walk & Informal Conversation
A walk along the Thames (Tate Modern, Millennium Bridge, Westminster in the distance) to get oriented and start the conversation before the visits begin.
Evening
Welcome Dinner
A proper dinner at a good neighbourhood restaurant. Introductions, what you're each hoping to learn, and a chance to set the agenda for the visits ahead. Probably a decent bottle of wine.
Day 2
Trust-Based Funding & Proportionate Practice
How a community foundation makes it work
10:00 AM
Visit: Community Foundation
A morning with a UK community foundation. How they give unrestricted grants in practice, what their processes actually look like (some do grants under £10k with a one-page form and a phone call), and how they act as local intermediaries rather than donor-advised fund vehicles.
Lunchtime
Debrief & Discussion
A working lunch to unpack what you've seen. What could you safely strip from your own processes? Where does proportionate reporting break down? What would your board need to hear?
Afternoon
Breathing Room
The British Museum, Borough Market, or a walk through Covent Garden. Time to explore, follow up on conversations from the morning, or just think. We'll have suggestions.
Evening
Dinner on the Thames
A river-side dinner somewhere good. Tower Bridge lit up, the Shard in the background, and a chance to compare notes properly after a full day.
Day 3
Statutory Blending & Open Data
Public money, philanthropic money, and how they fit together
Morning
Visit: Local Authority Funder
How a UK local authority blends public and philanthropic funding in the same programmes. Different reporting requirements, political cycles, matched funding models, and how place-based strategy gets devolved to the community level.
Lunchtime
Working Lunch
Discussion over lunch: what surprised you? How does statutory-philanthropic blending compare to US government-philanthropy partnerships? What questions do you want to take into the afternoon?
Afternoon
Visit: National Charity
A UK-wide charity that both gives and receives grants. Lived experience panels, co-design in grantmaking, and how they use 360Giving open data to coordinate with other funders and avoid duplication.
Evening
Farewell Dinner
A final dinner to compare notes properly and make sense of what you've seen before heading home.
Day 4
Synthesis & Departure
Wrap up and head home
Morning
Closing Roundtable
A structured peer discussion: key takeaways, what you'll try when you get home, and what questions remain. This session feeds into the written summary shared with all participants afterward.
Afternoon
Airport Transfer & Departure
Private transfer to the airport. Home with new connections, practical ideas and, if nothing else, strong opinions about scones.
Afterwards
What you'll take home
Private Roundtable Summary
A written memo capturing the key themes, comparisons, and ideas from the visit sessions, shared only with participants.
Post-Trip Peer Discussion
A virtual follow-up session a few weeks after the trip to reflect on what stuck, what you've tried, and what questions remain.
Team Briefing Pack
An optional summary you can share with colleagues back home: key observations, frameworks, and practical takeaways from the UK model.
Who is this for?
Experienced practitioners who run programmes, manage grants operations, or lead strategy at US foundations and major grantmakers. PEAK Grantmaking members are especially welcome.
This only works if the cohort is excellent, so we're being selective: we choose participants based on role, seniority, and what they'd bring to the group.
We're at PEAK Grantmaking 2026. Come find us.
Apply for a place
We've only got room for 3–4 people. Tell us a bit about your role and what you'd want to get out of the programme.
A short application form. We'll reply within 48 hours.
Questions you might have
Is this really fully funded?
Yes. Flights, accommodation, all meals, transfers, and the full programme are covered by Plinth. There is no cost to you or your organisation.
Why is Plinth paying for this?
We work with UK grantmakers every day and we think the US and UK grantmaking communities have a lot to learn from each other. This is a relationship-building and learning programme, not a sales engagement. There is no obligation to buy anything, and we're happy to support any internal approvals or ethics policies your organisation requires.
How many people are you taking?
Just 3–4. We're keeping it small deliberately so there's real depth to the conversations, both with the UK hosts and between participants.
Who can apply?
We're looking for senior grants professionals: programme directors, grants managers, strategy and learning leads at foundations and major grantmakers. PEAK Grantmaking members are especially welcome, but membership isn't a requirement.
How do you select participants?
Based on role, seniority, and what you'd bring to the group. We want a cohort that will engage seriously with the programme and contribute their own experience. We'll respond to every application within 48 hours.
When is the programme?
Summer 2026, exact dates TBC. We'll confirm with selected participants and work around your availability as much as we can.
Do I need a visa to visit the UK?
It depends on your nationality. We'll help successful applicants understand visa requirements and provide any supporting documentation needed.
Can I extend my stay?
Of course. The funded part covers the 4-day programme, but you're welcome to add extra days in London at your own expense.
Four days in London, fully funded.
3–4 places for senior US grants professionals. We'll reply to every application within 48 hours.