Aims and activities
Aims and questions
Aims and activities
The Funder Safeguarding Collaborative (FSC) is a global network of grant-making organisations driving action to create safer organizational practices and cultures. As the only philanthropic support organisation dedicated to safeguarding, we offer high quality, specialist support that is tailored to the needs of our members. All the knowledge and income generated by our work is reinvested in the network, helping us to transform grant-making for the better.
FSC aims to strengthen safeguarding practices through three mutually reinforcing strategies. We generate knowledge about safeguarding in grant-making organisations to improve the evidence base in this area. We then raise awareness of the role of funders in safeguarding by sharing this knowledge and creating spaces for dialogue, reflection and learning. Finally, we turn awareness into action by providing technical support to help funders implement practices that build a culture of safeguarding, in their own organisations and the organisations they fund.
Membership benefits include:
- In-person and online Peer Learning Circles where you can meet with and learn from safeguarding leads in other trusts and foundations
- Webinars and other online discussion forums covering all aspects of safeguarding in grant-making organisations
- Access to a closed online community where you can post questions and receive sector updates
- Access to FSC’s online resource library containing curated manuals, research and guidance on safeguarding, as well as good practice examples of funder policies and frameworks
- Regular newsletters about FSC events, safeguarding resources and sector updates
- Access to FSC technical support, tailored to the needs of individual funders
- Priority access to FSC’s paid training courses.
“We are immensely proud of the positive contribution our members are making to keeping people safe. Safeguarding is essential for all organisations, including trusts and foundations. We can see that simply creating a space for funders to share, learn and access tailored support helps to build confidence and drive practical change.” Karen Walker-Simpson, Technical Director, Funder Safeguarding Collaborative
“FSC provides invaluable advice and support for all our safeguarding needs. They bring impressive knowledge and experience of safeguarding, including current state of play, practical guidance and an impressive network. They have helped us to demystify safeguarding and embed it within day-to-day activities, while always remaining available to provide practical guidance when needed.” FSC Member
How to get involved
FSC offers three membership levels to suit the needs of different grant-making organisations and philanthropic networks. We also offer investment opportunities for organisations with ambitions to strengthen the field of safeguarding more broadly.
Membership is open to:
- Trusts and foundations who have grant-making as a core component of the organisational mission
- Intermediary funders (fiscal sponsors, grant-making public charities, community foundations, and philanthropy advisors) who dedicate at least 50% of their budget to grant-making and/or providing capacity building support to grantees
- Funder networks and grant-making affinity groups.
Members are not required to have safeguarding policies in place at the time of joining. However, in line with FSC’s commitment to promoting best practice, FSC does expect members to take steps to implement safeguarding measures within their organisation.
To join, simply email us and FSC will arrange a meeting so to find out more about your organisation and explain the support FSC offers and the membership levels.
Who's involved
Who was involved
Who was involved
The FSC was founded by Comic Relief, Global Fund for Children, The National Lottery Community Fund, Oak Foundation and Porticus, which came together with a shared commitment to creating a safer world. It is now a thriving network of over 85 funders from around the world.
The collaborative is housed within Global Fund for Children who provide administrative support and expertise to help develop and grow the collaborative.
Learning and Resources
Funder approaches to safeguarding: full report / executive summary (2021)
Safeguarding framework for foundations (in partnership with the Association of Charitable Foundations)
Safeguarding and participatory grant-making: an essential guide for funders (2023)
