---
description: >-
  Find out how funders can use open working to be transparent about grant-making
  decisions.
---

# Why funders should work in the open

### 💡Summary: <a href="#understand-funding-decisions" id="understand-funding-decisions"></a>

* Organisations like 360 Giving, the Institute for Voluntary Action Research and the Open Research Funders Group encourage funders to work in the open
* When funders work in the open, third sector organisations can better understand how to frame their grant applications.

### Understand Funding Decisions <a href="#understand-funding-decisions" id="understand-funding-decisions"></a>

It's not just charities who can take part in open working, funders do too! By understanding the process behind funding decisions, third sector employees can make informed decisions about funding applications.

**👉 360 Giving**

​[360 Giving](https://www.threesixtygiving.org/) is a charity with a vision for grant-making in the UK to be more informed, effective and strategic. They help organisations [openly publish grants data](https://www.threesixtygiving.org/support/why-publish-grants-data/), and help people use it to improve charitable giving.

> "Funders of all shapes and sizes share information and out who, what and where they fund using the 360 giving data standard."

It’s used by funders to co-ordinate with other funders, by charities to get to know funders better, and to get a better picture of what’s being funded across the UK. It’s free to use their online tools and support is available.🔗 [Visit the 360 Giving website](https://www.threesixtygiving.org/)​

**👉 The Institute for Voluntary Action Research**

​[The Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR)](https://www.ivar.org.uk/flexible-funders/) is calling for funders to adopt more open and trusting practices that make life easier for those they fund, in light of the ongoing uncertainty caused by the cost of living crisis.Their ambition is to see these commitments extend beyond the crisis to become standard practice in the sector. The IVAR pledge asks funders to adopt simpler, more flexible practices that make life easier for those they fund.🔗 [Visit the IVAR website](https://www.ivar.org.uk/flexible-funders/)​

**👉 The Open Research Funders Group**

​[The Open Research Funders Group](https://www.orfg.org/) is a partnership of philanthropic organisations committed to the open sharing of research outputs in the US. It showcases a wealth of scholarly research and real-world case studies that demonstrate the myriad ways in which open access and open data benefit researchers and society alike.

### Working in the open is "about modelling better ways of working"

Cassie Robinson, Deputy Director Funding Strategy at National Lottery Community Fund, sums up why working in the open is a good idea:

{% embed url="https://cassierobinson.medium.com/visibility-of-the-work-and-its-possibilities-a644c76199cc" %}
