Our support
We collaborated closely with the Smiths Group Foundation to:
1. Define strategic priorities
We ran in-depth interviews with major stakeholders from the executive team and conducted a workshop with employees based in different countries and regions to establish the Foundation’s strategic priorities and drivers for change. Geographically
spread, the executive team also had varying views and priorities. So, our Advisory team acted as a critical friend to align these views across the global organisation.
At times, it was a complex process to shape and harmonise the wide range of opinions and ambitions into a single and unified strategy that could speak not only to the company’s purpose but also to the goals of its important stakeholders. However,
once the organisation was aligned, we were able to develop the Foundation’s Theory of Change and a wider strategic framework.
2. Design and deliver a global grant programme
Smiths Group Foundation wanted an impactful international grant programme that, alongside helping the company to realise its mission, would engage its global workforce and support the causes its people cared about. In response, our experts created a structured
and innovative grantmaking programme that gave Smiths Group’ employees the opportunity to nominate charities for grants.
The nomination process was just the first step. We then enabled nominated charities to apply for a grant, helping them to understand the programme’s priorities. Our team assessed the track record of the charities, and the potential impact of their
proposed use of grants, in a fair and transparent process. Finally, the decision process ensured that the Foundation’s highly engaged Committee – including a global cross-section of employees and senior employees – were able to review
a shortlist of the strongest applications against clear, impact-focused criteria. This allowed them to approve grants that most closely aligned with the priorities of the programme.
The Foundation appreciated the guidance and recommendations we gave it to do this and took on board our insights throughout this process. Our online application portal facilitated the process, and it is the guidance we provided that brought the most value.
Once the grants were approved, we verified and made payments to charities all around the world from Europe and the US to China, Mexico, Brazil, Costa Rica, India and parts of Africa. This ability to make global grants is a service offered
by CAF that is valued by Smiths and other corporate clients.
3. Measure impact
We used our structured impact measurement approach to analyse trends and gather insights on the new grant programme’s impact and effectiveness. We facilitated a learning session after the first round of nominations and grants. Based on the impact
data collected through the programme, and the lessons learnt, we refined the strategy and the process for the next round, illustrating our Design, Deliver, Learn model. Using data and insight to continually improve the work we deliver for clients
and maximising impact remains central to the programme.
In addition, the impact framework enables us to ask grant holders to report on the specific metrics and outcomes that are required, simplifying the process, and helping save the charities’ valuable time. This enables the Foundation to understand
the difference made by these grants in the communities it supports. By measuring impact against this framework, it can report back to employees and stakeholders in an empowering and transparent manner.
This includes providing grant -holder and employee reports together with stakeholder insights that will help the Smiths Group Foundation to continue to refine its programme in the years ahead.
