Acting on feedback: what we’ve done in 2025

The survey found that most unsuccessful applicants aren’t finding our feedback helpful and want to know the specifics of why they were turned down. In response, we have been looking at how we can improve the feedback we give as well as the guidance we provide organisations before they spend time applying to us.

• We have made how we make decisions clearer on our website – including what we look for at each stage of the application process. We’ve reviewed and updated our application guidance for our funding priorities – particularly where there is high demand. We have also shared more case studies of work we have funded in response to feedback that this helps people understand the types of work we’re interested in.
• We reviewed and updated the feedback we give to expressions of interest so that it better reflects how we make decisions. We have also provided training and support for funding managers on giving feedback after more detailed assessments.
• For our Youth-led Creativity fund, we shared feedback with examples of what made shortlisted applications a strong fit to the criteria.

Unfortunately, we don’t have the capacity to give bespoke feedback for every Expression of Interest we receive. However, we will continue to review our guidance and host pre-application Q&A webinars so people have the opportunity to ask us questions.

In our 2024 survey, we asked a new question about our approach to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). Around two-thirds of the organisations we fund, and half of unsuccessful applicants are aware of what we’re doing and wanted us to keep sharing updates.

• In early 2025, we shared an update on key actions we took in 2024 to make progress towards our commitment to DEI.
• Earlier this year, we commissioned a review of the DEI support organisations we fund have accessed through Funding Plus support, and held a webinar to discuss the findings.
• Following a listening exercise with organisations we fund who are led by communities experiencing racial inequity, we shared a new report by Chrisann Jarrett reviewing our approach to racial justice. We also shared our initial reflections and actions we plan to take.
• Together with Peer Power Youth and Place Matters, we published a report, Supporting Employees with Lived Experience, sharing learning from 24 social impact organisations.
• After research we commissioned identified the need for more senior leadership support to address the lack of diversity in the environment sector, we have been working with Common Purpose and Makani Cambridge to co-design and pilot a new senior leadership programme ‘Reimagining Leadership' for people of colour in the sector.
• Since 2024, we have proactively offered 38 wellbeing awards totalling £244,470 in response to challenging events that affect migrants and refugees, trans and non-binary people, and communities experiencing racial inequity. Last month, we shared how this funding was used, and what else we and other funders could do to support wellbeing.

Early next year, we will publish an update on our progress in 2025. We will also be sharing more learning from our New Connections programme.

There was an increase in the percentage of unsuccessful applicants who felt they had experienced barriers applying to us. One of the main reasons given, was that applicants felt the door to our network was shut without an existing connection to Esmée. In response, we are trying to be clearer about our approach to inviting applications and how we learn about work we haven’t funded before.

• We are being more open about the number of applications we receive through our website, and those we have proactively invited.
• We are sharing more about how work gets ‘on our radar’ during our pre-application webinars, including how we seek out organisations we don’t already have a relationship with, and how organisations can tell us about their work via our open application process.
• In 2024, 39% of the grants we made were awarded to organisations that we hadn't previously funded, and half of these came in through the website. So, the best way for organisations to get their work on our radar is still to put in an expression of interest.
• For our New Connections fund, we shared how we identified organisations from the different sectors we fund, including the criteria we used.

To keep expanding our networks, we will continue to attend sector and community events, carry out research into areas we work in, and take recommendations from people we work with and those we fund. We will also look at how we can be more open about our plans and give organisations more points of access.