The William Grant Foundation
“We have a research and referral process, where conversations with other funders help guide our network of contacts. Managing these relationships and capturing those insights was essential for our mission,”
The William Grant Foundation, a Scottish family foundation established by William Grant & Sons Ltd. in 2014, is dedicated to creating positive and lasting change. With a mission that reflects family values, the Foundation supports over 130 charities each year across a wide range of causes in Scotland, including the arts, youth development, environmental sustainability, social equity, and health.
From supporting local projects like Speyside Youth, a local youth project in the company’s home town of Dufftown in Moray to Project Seagrass, a collaboration with Scotland’s Botanic Gardens focused on Scotland-wide marine conservation, the Foundation’s work is both wide-reaching and deeply rooted in the needs of the communities it serves.
To streamline their operations and future-proof their grant-making processes, the William Grant Foundation selected Salesforce and implementation partner Hyphen8 to develop a comprehensive system that supports their expanding mission.
Why They Needed a New System
In its first few years, the William Grant Foundation relied on multiple systems and spreadsheets to manage various aspects of their work, from people and relationships to grant tracking and reporting. As the Foundation grew, they required a centralised platform that could integrate all these elements, allowing them to take a proactive approach to relationship management, engage with grantees, track follow-ups, and manage reports seamlessly.
The Foundation’s unique approach goes beyond traditional grant-making; they also cultivate a network of contacts through family connections, events, and collaborations with other funders to find the right projects to support.
“It was essential to have a future-proof system that could evolve with our work,” explained Nick Addington, CEO of the Foundation. “We wanted a platform that didn’t just manage grants, but also helped us build and maintain a network of relationships within our areas of interest.”
Challenges and Pain Points
The William Grant Foundation encountered a few challenges that made a new system necessary. Here were some of the specific pain points they faced:
Managing Relationships: With grantees, funders, and a proactive approach to finding partners, the Foundation needed a single platform to track contacts and interactions, making it easier to follow up on reports, manage grant reviews, and stay connected.
Data Collection and Tracking: Their former use of spreadsheets and separate systems made it difficult to consolidate learnings, especially for new areas like Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Climate Change. They needed a way to track their impact in these areas in relation to each grant.
Building a Knowledge Network: The Foundation wanted a way to aggregate insights from family connections, event attendance, and recommendations from other funders to inform their funding choices, allowing for a more dynamic and informed grant-making process.
The Power Industry Knowledge
"The Hyphen8 team has such deep grantmaking and foundational knowledge that they were able to ensure that we got the best advice possible for our solution needs.
We were able to work with them, and draw on the benefits from their team when making decisions.
Their knowledge was so helpful to us, and has meant our solution fit our needs."
The Impact of Salesforce
Since implementing Salesforce, the William Grant Foundation has transformed its grant management and relationship-building processes. Here are some areas where Salesforce has been particularly impactful:
- Centralised Relationship Management: Salesforce now acts as a single, secure repository where the Foundation tracks grantee interactions, funder relationships, and contacts within their network, enabling a streamlined process for follow-ups and check-ins.
- Customisable Grant Tracking: Grant Flex offers a flexible framework, allowing the Foundation to track data fields related to DEI and Climate Change, aligning their funding approach with their mission and values in these areas.
- Proactive Network Building: The system supports the Foundation’s proactive approach by capturing information from referrals, event participation, and family contacts, creating a comprehensive view of potential partnerships.
- Foundation Dashboard and Family Access: Hyphen8 developed a read-only portal for family members, providing access to real-time data on the charity portfolio. Custom dashboards enable them to view timelines of relationships and track the status of active projects, such as Project Seagrass, in a clear, accessible way.
- Expectations and Reflections: The foundation is able to use Salesforce’s free text boxes to make notes on the expectations of the ways their grants will help charities to keep notes in one place. When reports or conversations share updates, the team is able to create a ‘Refections’ note which updates the grant record with information to capture areas shared with the foundation.
Tracking contacts and relationships
“We have a research and referral process, where conversations with other funders help guide our network of contacts.
Managing these relationships and capturing those insights was essential for our mission,” Nick shared.
Creating Stronger Partnerships and Future-Proofing the Mission
With Salesforce and Hyphen8, the William Grant Foundation has built a system that supports both day-to-day grant management and long-term network building.
By consolidating data, tracking impact, and facilitating informed decision-making, Salesforce has enabled the Foundation to serve as more than a grant-maker; it has allowed them to become an integral partner in the communities they support.
Nick shares how this transformation has impacted the team:
“Our aim was to not only manage grant relationships but also cultivate a network.With Salesforce, we’re mapping our connections to a wider field, helping us identify the right partners and learn from what others are doing in areas that align with our mission.”
Looking forward for the Foundation
So far, Salesforce has allowed the William Grant Foundation to capture over 1000 contacts to power their organisation's grant making, connections and collaborative approach. In the last 5 years they have supported over 310 charities with grants.
The Foundation’s investment in Salesforce and Hyphen8 has not only streamlined current operations but also positioned them for future growth. As they continue to build relationships, explore emerging focus areas, and adapt to changing needs, the platform provides a flexible and dynamic foundation to support their work.
“Salesforce has allowed us to track everything from grant commitments to our footprint in areas like DEI and climate.” Nick concluded.
“It’s not just a system; it’s a resource that helps us become better stewards of the resources we manage and more connected with our mission.”
With a robust, future-proofed system in place, the William Grant Foundation is now better equipped to drive meaningful change, foster strong partnerships, and support communities across Scotland.
