Transatlantic
Grantmaking
Exchange
Plinth is bringing a small group of US grants professionals to London to visit UK grantmakers, swap ideas, and experience the city. Flights, accommodation, meals, everything — on us.
Spend a Few Days With
UK Grantmakers
The UK is known for its long-running traditions — centuries-old institutions, historic trusts, and a deep-rooted culture of philanthropy. But when it comes to how grantmaking actually gets done, UK funders are surprisingly far ahead. They've been early adopters of AI-assisted workflows — using it for application triage, due diligence, impact analysis, and reporting — and they approach things like participatory grantmaking and place-based funding in ways that are genuinely different to the US.
We're bringing a small group over to visit real organisations, sit with the people doing the work, and see how they handle the same challenges you face at home. Mixed in with all that, you'll get to enjoy London properly: Borough Market, the British Museum, a Thames river cruise, afternoon tea, and plenty of time to explore.
We'd especially love to welcome members of the PEAK Grantmaking community — people who care deeply about how grantmaking is done and are always looking for ways to do it better.
We'll Sort Everything
Flights, accommodation, food, travel between visits — it's all taken care of. Just bring yourself.
Return Flights
Booked and paid for from your nearest major airport.
Accommodation
Three nights in central London — hotel or Airbnb, your preference.
All Meals & Drinks
Every meal from the full English to the farewell dinner.
All Transfers
Airport pickups, drop-offs, and transport between visits.
Grantmaker Visits
Spend time with UK foundations, funders, and charities doing brilliant work.
Tours & Experiences
Borough Market, the British Museum, a Thames cruise, afternoon tea, and more.
The Best of Both
Grantmaker visits and London exploration, woven together across the trip.
Tower Bridge at sunset
The Itinerary
Here's roughly what the trip looks like. We'll shape the final details around the group.
Arrive & Settle In
Welcome to London
Arrive in London
Touch down at Heathrow. A private transfer takes you to your accommodation in central London.
Borough Market
Explore one of London's oldest food markets. Sample artisan British cheeses, fresh oysters, scotch eggs, and world-class street food beneath the Victorian iron arches.
Southbank & Westminster Walk
A relaxed stroll along the Thames taking in the London Eye, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey.
Welcome Dinner at the Pub
Meet your fellow guests over fish & chips, pie & mash, and a pint. Get to know each other before the visits begin.
Grantmakers & the City
Your first visit, then exploring London
Full English Breakfast
Start the day the British way — bacon, eggs, sausages, baked beans, grilled tomatoes, toast, and a strong cup of tea.
Visit: Community Foundation
Spend the morning with a UK community foundation. See how they run their grantmaking — from AI-assisted application reviews to impact reporting — and meet the team behind it.
Lunch & Debrief
A relaxed lunch to talk through what you've seen, compare notes with how things work at home, and share ideas.
The British Museum
A guided highlights tour — the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies, the Parthenon sculptures. Free entry, like all major UK national museums.
Afternoon Tea
Finger sandwiches, warm scones with clotted cream and jam, and a selection of pastries with your choice of fine teas. As British as it gets.
Thames River Cruise & Dinner
A sunset cruise along the Thames with dinner. Tower Bridge, the Shard, St Paul's Cathedral — all lit up from the water.
More Visits, More London
Two grantmakers and Covent Garden
Visit: Local Authority Funder
See how a UK local authority distributes community grants — from council-level strategy down to the grassroots organisations they fund. A model of public grantmaking that barely exists in the US.
Pub Lunch in Covent Garden
A pub in the heart of London, followed by time to wander the piazza, watch the street performers, and explore the shops.
Visit: National Charity
Spend time with a UK-wide charity that both gives and receives grants. See how they manage funding alongside frontline delivery — and how they think about the relationship between the two.
Farewell Dinner & Your Pick
Dinner at a great London restaurant, then whatever you're into — a football match, a gig, a comedy club, or just a really good pub. We'll sort it.
Explore & Depart
One last adventure before heading home
Cambridge Day Trip or More London
Option A: Train to Cambridge — punt along the Cam, walk through the historic colleges, and grab lunch in the market square. Option B: Stay in London for Buckingham Palace, the Changing of the Guard, and a wander through Camden or Notting Hill. Your call.
Airport Transfer & Departure
Private transfer to the airport. Head home full of ideas, new connections, and memories of a brilliant few days.
We'll Shape It Around You
With only 3–4 people, we can tailor the trip to what you're actually interested in. Here are some of the things we can build in.
Football
We can get tickets to a match — maybe not the Premier League, but London has dozens of clubs across the Football League and non-league. The atmosphere's just as good.
Cricket
If the timing works, we'll take you to a match at Lord's or the Oval. If not, a village cricket green with a pub next door is arguably more fun.
Live Music
London has some of the best live music venues in the world — from tiny jazz clubs to legendary rooms like the Roundhouse and the 100 Club.
Cambridge Day Trip
An hour from London by train. Punt along the River Cam, walk through the colleges, and visit one of the oldest universities in the world.
Who Is This For?
If you work in grantmaking and you'd get something out of seeing how it's done on the other side of the Atlantic, we'd love to hear from you.
Grants Managers
You deal with applications, reviews, payments, and reporting every day. You'll see how UK organisations handle the same work — what's similar, what's different, and what you might take home.
Programme Officers
You design and run funding programmes. You'll see UK approaches to place-based funding, community investment, and how they think about the relationship between funder and grantee.
Impact & Strategy Leads
You care about what's actually working. You'll see how UK grantmakers measure outcomes, use technology, and make decisions about where to put their money.
Sound Good?
We've only got room for 3–4 people, so tell us a bit about yourself and what you'd get out of the trip.
Questions You Might Have
Yes. Flights, accommodation, all meals, transfers, tours, and the full programme are covered by Plinth. There's no cost to you.
This is an intentionally small trip — just 3–4 guests. We want it to feel personal, not like a conference. You'll have genuine face time with UK grantmakers and with each other.
We're looking for grants professionals — foundation staff, programme officers, grants managers, impact leads. PEAK Grantmaking members are especially welcome, but membership isn't a requirement.
We're finalising dates and will confirm with selected guests. We'll work with you to find a time that works — likely autumn 2026.
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 3–4 day programme, but you're welcome to add extra days in London at your own expense.
Plinth is a proud supporter of the PEAK Grantmaking community and the work they do to transform philanthropy. This trip is our way of building bridges between US and UK grantmakers — inspired by PEAK's mission, organised independently by Plinth.