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 more hands-on funder–grantee relationships — in practice, not in theory.
Plinth works closely with UK foundations, local authorities, and charities. We're opening the door for a handful of US peers to spend time with these teams, see how they actually work, and compare notes over long lunches and good London dinners.
For senior grants managers, programme directors, and strategy leads at US foundations and major grantmakers.
Why UK Grantmaking
Is Worth Studying
The UK is doing things differently in a few specific areas that are worth seeing up close. Many funders have been giving flexible, unrestricted grants for years — not as aspiration but as standard practice. Public and philanthropic money routinely blend in the same programmes. Community foundations act as genuine local intermediaries, not just donor-advised fund vehicles. And initiatives like 360Giving have built open grants data infrastructure that has no US equivalent at scale.
None of this translates well over Zoom. You need to sit with the teams, see the workflows, ask the awkward questions, and understand the context. That's what this programme is for — 3–4 participants, real peer exchange, not conference-style Q&A.
What's Covered
Flights, accommodation, meals, transport between visits — all covered. 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
You'll see 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.
Arrive & Orientation
Meet the group and set the context
Arrive in London
Touch down at Heathrow. A private transfer takes you to your accommodation in central London.
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.
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.
Trust-Based Funding & Proportionate Practice
How a community foundation makes it work
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 — not donor-advised fund vehicles.
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?
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.
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.
Statutory Blending & Open Data
Public money, philanthropic money, and how they fit together
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.
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?
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.
Farewell Dinner
A final dinner to compare notes properly and make sense of what you've seen before heading home.
Synthesis & Departure
Wrap up and head home
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.
Airport Transfer & Departure
Private transfer to the airport. Home with new connections, practical ideas, and — if nothing else — strong opinions about scones.
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
The UK is further along the trust-based philanthropy curve in practice, not just rhetoric. Many UK foundations and community foundations have been giving flexible, unrestricted grants for years. What works, what the failure modes are, and how to maintain accountability without micromanagement.
Statutory-Philanthropic Blending
The UK has decades of experience blending public money — local authority, NHS, lottery — with philanthropic funding in the same programmes. Different reporting requirements, political cycles, matched funding models. Hard-won knowledge the US is only starting to need.
Place-Based & Community-Led Approaches
Big Local, the National Lottery Community Fund, community foundations as genuine local intermediaries — not donor-advised fund vehicles. The UK model of place-based funding is more developed and structurally different from most US equivalents.
Proportionate Reporting & Right-Sized Due Diligence
Some UK community foundations do grants under £10k with a one-page form and a phone call. The US system tends to impose disproportionate compliance burden even on small grants. What can you safely strip away without losing accountability?
Open Grants Data & Cross-Sector Coordination
360Giving — open grants data, standardised formats, the GrantNav tool — has no real US equivalent at scale. How do funders coordinate, avoid duplication, and see the whole funding landscape? The UK is genuinely ahead here.
Lived Experience & Co-Design
UK funders have been putting grant applicants and beneficiaries into decision-making roles — panels, co-design processes, participatory grantmaking. More institutional experience of making it work at scale within traditional funding bodies, plus early AI adoption in operations.
What You'll Take Home
This isn't just a visit. We want you to leave with something useful.
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?
This is designed for experienced practitioners — people 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
Yes. Flights, accommodation, all meals, transfers, and the full programme are covered by Plinth. There is no cost to you or your organisation.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Summer 2026 — exact dates TBC. We'll confirm with selected participants and work around your availability as much as we can.
It depends on your nationality. We'll help successful applicants understand visa requirements and provide any supporting documentation needed.
Of course. The funded part covers the 4-day programme, but you're welcome to add extra days in London at your own expense.