Bristol Older People's Funding Alliance (bopfa)

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £150,000+ (Transformation Fund allocation)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Varies by member organization; typically March decisions for February applications
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £50,000+ (depending on joint funding)
• Geographic Focus: Greater Bristol area

Contact Details

Alliance Chair: Roger Opie

BOPFA operates through its member organizations. Contact individual members for funding inquiries:

• St Monica Trust: https://www.stmonicatrust.org.uk/charitable-foundation
• The Anchor Society: https://www.anchorsociety.org.uk
• The Dolphin Society: https://dolphinsociety.org.uk
• The Grateful Society: https://gratefulsociety.org
• John James Bristol Foundation
• Quartet Community Foundation
• Society of Merchant Venturers
• Sovereign Network Group
• Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity

Overview

Established in 2016, the Bristol Older People's Funding Alliance (BOPFA) is a unique collaborative partnership of nine independent grant-making charities working together to coordinate and maximize funding for older people's services in Bristol. Rather than operating as a single charity, BOPFA functions as a strategic alliance where member organizations pool knowledge, coordinate funding decisions, and jointly fund significant projects that align with shared priorities. The alliance has facilitated joint funding packages exceeding £150,000 for transformational projects, while also coordinating smaller collaborative grants. BOPFA's innovative approach reduces barriers for voluntary and community sector organizations by enabling them to make single proposals that can be considered by multiple funders simultaneously, rather than submitting separate applications to each charity.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Joint Funding Programme: £5,000 - £50,000+ (coordinated funding from multiple member organizations)

• Organizations submit proposals to one member organization
• Suitable proposals are taken to BOPFA for joint consideration
• Multiple members may contribute to fund larger projects
• Examples include £48,911 for BME Elders Health and Well-being Project, £35,000 for Monday Club and Life Planning Coordinator

Transformation Fund: Up to £150,000 total allocation

• Designed to help organizations redevelop or improve services
• Supports sustainability initiatives
• Encourages innovation addressing quality of life issues for older people
• Available for larger-scale service transformation projects

Individual Member Grants: £1,000 - £10,000 (average £5,000)

• Direct grants from individual member organizations
• Can be coordinated through BOPFA for aligned projects
• Annual application windows (e.g., February applications through some members)

Priority Areas

BOPFA members collectively fund projects that:

• Improve quality of life for older people in Bristol
• Create sustainable services for older adults
• Support innovation in older people's services
• Address identified priority needs in the older people's sector
• Enhance volunteering and employment opportunities for older people
• Support BME and diverse older communities
• Reduce social isolation and loneliness
• Improve health and wellbeing outcomes
• Enable community participation and social activities

What They Don't Fund

As a collaborative alliance, exclusions vary by member organization. Generally:

• Projects outside the greater Bristol area
• Services not primarily benefiting older people
• Funding already covered by statutory services
• Retrospective funding
• General running costs without clear project outcomes

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Governance and Leadership

Alliance Chair: Roger Opie

BOPFA operates through a collaborative governance model where member organizations maintain their independent trustee boards and decision-making processes while coordinating through regular alliance meetings.

Member Organizations

1. St Monica Trust - Major housing and care provider with charitable foundation
2. The Anchor Society - Historic Bristol charity supporting older people in need
3. The Dolphin Society - Bristol-based charity for older people
4. The Grateful Society - Supporting older people in Bristol since 1836
5. John James Bristol Foundation - Grant-making foundation
6. Quartet Community Foundation - Regional community foundation
7. Society of Merchant Venturers - Historic Bristol philanthropic society
8. Sovereign Network Group - Housing association with charitable funding
9. Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity - NHS charity supporting local health services

The alliance meets regularly to share knowledge, coordinate local funding, discuss strategic priorities, and identify projects suitable for joint funding.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

BOPFA does not have a centralized application portal. Instead, organizations seeking funding should:

1. Identify the most appropriate member organization based on your project and their individual funding priorities
2. Submit your application directly to that member organization following their specific application process
3. The member organization will assess whether your project is suitable for joint BOPFA funding
4. If suitable for joint funding, the proposal will be taken to BOPFA meetings for consideration by multiple members
5. Multiple funders may contribute to create a larger joint funding package

Application Methods

• Individual Member Applications: Each member has their own application process, forms, and deadlines
• February Window: Some members (e.g., Grateful Society) accept applications during February for March trustee review
• Rolling Basis: Other members may accept applications year-round
• Pre-application Contact: Advisable to contact members before applying to discuss suitability for joint funding

Decision Timeline

• Individual Member Grants: Typically reviewed quarterly or at specific trustee meetings
• February Applications: Decisions made in March, with notifications shortly after
• Joint Funding Proposals: May take longer as multiple organizations coordinate decisions
• Funding Transfer: Successful applicants sign a Letter of Grant confirming terms before funds transfer

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly published. The alliance has funded numerous projects since 2016, including:

• £48,911 for Alive's BME Elders Health and Well-being Project (joint funding from 5 members)
• £35,000 over three years to Southmead Development Trust (joint funding)
• £24,000 to Bristol Somali Resource Centre (£8,000 each from 3 members)
• £80,000+ through Transformation Fund in earlier years
• £150,000 Transformation Fund allocation in 2019

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies vary by member organization. Generally, unsuccessful applicants can reapply in subsequent funding rounds. Organizations receiving funding may apply for continued support for new phases or expanded work.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Strategic Priorities

BOPFA explicitly states their goal is to “create more funding opportunities within the community and help organisations become sustainable, improve existing services or develop innovations that will have a positive effect on the quality of life for older people.”

Projects demonstrating sustainability, service improvement, or innovation are prioritized.

Collaborative Funding Indicators

Projects suitable for joint BOPFA funding typically:

• Require larger funding amounts (£15,000+) beyond a single member's typical grant range
• Address strategic priorities shared by multiple member organizations
• Serve diverse older communities (e.g., BME elders projects have received strong joint support)
• Demonstrate potential for significant impact or transformation
• Align with multiple members' individual funding criteria

Examples of Funded Projects

• Alive's BME Elders Health and Well-being Project: Jointly funded by 5 BOPFA members (£48,911 total), demonstrating strong support for diverse community projects
• Southmead Development Trust Monday Club: £35,000 over three years from multiple members, showing support for sustained community programming
• Bristol Somali Resource Centre Community Elders' Activities Programme: £24,000 from 3 members, indicating coordination on cultural community projects

Reducing Application Burden

BOPFA's stated goal is to “reduce barriers for VCSE organisations of all sizes to apply for funding.” This suggests:

• Smaller organizations are encouraged to apply
• Streamlined coordination reduces need for multiple separate applications
• Member organizations value efficient application processes

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Apply through individual members, but think collaborative: Submit your application to the most appropriate member organization, but structure it to appeal to multiple funders' priorities if seeking larger amounts
• Larger grants benefit from joint approach: Projects requiring £15,000+ are more likely to be considered for joint BOPFA funding rather than single-member grants
• Emphasize sustainability and innovation: BOPFA's strategic focus is on helping organizations become sustainable and develop innovative approaches
• BME and diverse communities: Strong track record of joint funding for projects serving BME elders and diverse older communities
• Multi-year support available: Examples show funding for 1-3 year projects, not just one-off grants
• February timing for some members: At least one member (Grateful Society) has a February application window with March decisions
• Build relationships with members: Since there's no central application, understanding individual member priorities helps identify the right entry point for your proposal

References

• St Monica Trust - Bristol Older Peoples Funders Alliance (BOPFA): https://www.stmonicatrust.org.uk/charitable-foundation/charitable-giving/bristol-older-peoples-funders-alliance
• St Monica Trust - Case Study: Bristol Older People's Funding Alliance: https://www.stmonicatrust.org.uk/charitable-foundation/charitable-giving/funding-in-our-community/case-study-bristol-older-peoples-funding-alliance
• The Grateful Society - Seeking Funding: https://gratefulsociety.org/seeking-funding/
• The Anchor Society - Organisational Grants for Older People in Need: https://www.anchorsociety.org.uk/organisational-grants
• The Dolphin Society - Working alongside the other Bristol Societies as part of BOPFA: https://dolphinsociety.org.uk/working-alongside-the-other-bristol-societies-anchor-and-grateful-as-part-of-the-bristol-older-peoples-funding-alliance-bopfa/