Organisation type: 
Corporate Social Responsibility

Develop multiyear funder-nonprofit partnerships

• Due to its long-term outlook and commitment to social development, Forbes Marshall CSR commits funding for a minimum of three years and up to 10 years, with grants renewed on an annual basis. The annual grant-review process supports learning for both Forbes Marshall CSR and its nonprofit partners as they reflect on progress and identify areas where adjusting the strategy may be warranted.
• Some partnerships have continued for more than a decade, with a focus on creating sustainable change.

Pay a fair share of core costs

• Forbes Marshall CSR determines core-cost support based on discussions with nonprofits about programme budgets and cost structures rather than by prescribing a set rate.
• It provides nonprofits with the flexibility to reallocate funds based on their needs, helping build trust and supporting transparency around true costs.
• During the initial grant phase, Forbes Marshall CSR provides one-on-one guidance to nonprofits that have difficulty allocating costs across budget categories. The foundation also conducts internal audits of its projects to ensure that the true costs of delivering the projects are allocated appropriately by the nonprofit partners.

Invest in organisational development

• Forbes Marshall CSR engages with nonprofits to identify specific organisational development (OD) needs during the grant-application stage. It provides financial support through a combination of earmarked funding within programme grants and often engages with intermediaries to provide OD support.
• It also provides separate funding for nonprofit leaders to attend OD courses conducted by leading intermediaries and funds ecosystem-level initiatives and collaboratives on OD to help advance the field.
• For community-based nonprofits operating near Forbes Marshall factories, company employees may volunteer to share their expertise in areas such as HR policy, regulations, and accounting.

Embed diversity, equity, and inclusion in grantmaking

• From the start, Forbes Marshall CSR has integrated diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into its activities by deeply engaging with communities and nonprofit partners.
  • Forbes Marshall CSR has helped conceive and fund programmes focusing on women and girls as well as LGBTQ+ communities.
  • It ensures that programmes are designed in an inclusive manner and support people from Dalit, Bahujan, and Adivasi communities and other historically underserved communities. These interventions are co-designed with community-based nonprofits and seek community input at each stage.
• In specific cases, Forbes Marshall CSR supports niche inclusion efforts, such as a legal fellowship programme for students from an underserved community.