Across the funding sector, funders are showing a growing interest in collaborative, equitable and system-focused approaches. However, how such ambitions can be implemented is unclear, particularly when funders with differing mandates, constraints and interpretations of systems change work together. Bridging the gap between intent and implementation remains a challenge with important implications for the effectiveness of funding in addressing long-standing structural inequalities. 

Propel is a long-term collaboration bringing together funders, equity partners and organisations led by and for London’s communities. A big part of Propel is trying to understand what it really means to fund differently; not just in theory, but in practice. So, as well as supporting work that aims to shift systems, Propel is also exploring what funders themselves might need to change:  how they work in partnership, share power and support change over time. It does not provide a blueprint. But it does offer some useful and usable lessons.

Read the Report here