FSC is a unique network for philanthropic funders where you can share, learn, and access support from experts and peers alike. We believe funders have a unique potential to make organisations safer through their grant-making. We walk alongside funders on their safeguarding journey, helping them to implement practices that make their organisation and the organisations they fund, safer.
When I say something about safeguarding now, I know that it isn’t just my opinion – I have the backup of the collaborative. That’s so important.
FSC member
Member benefits
Membership with FSC enables funders to access information, knowledge, spaces and support services grounded in research and evidence generated through the collaborative. Our members have access to:
Resource library
To help funders achieve a positive social impact, FSC is building a robust evidence base to improve funder practices. Members have access to a curated online library of safeguarding resources, including essential guides, and defined good practice in the form of podcasts, written briefings, and presentations.
Technical support & training
We provide support that is tailored to your organisation but builds on FSC’s growing base of knowledge from working with funders across the sector. We aim to help you embed a safeguarding culture based on a deep understanding of your organisational and geographical context.
Online community
Our network is hosted on a closed platform that enables connecting and sharing and we have worked to ensure it is a place of trust and safety where you can find support from others who are in a similar position in their safeguarding journey.
Peer learning circles
A safe space for Safeguarding Leads in funder organisations to share learning and explore the practical challenges of championing keeping people safe within their own organisations and in the organisations they fund.
Webinars and online learning
Learn about different aspects of keeping people safe in a way that is specifically designed to address the needs of grant-making organisations.
FSC events
Find a safe space to meet with peer-funders to discuss safeguarding and better understand the impact of your approaches to keeping people safe within the organisations that you fund.
Knowledge generation
There is a lack of safeguarding knowledge and best practice guidance for grant-making organisations specifically. Over the coming years, we will be building a more robust evidence base for safeguarding in grant-making organisations globally.
Below you can find examples of resources that our team have produced. Full access to the entire resource library is available to members in our CONNECT and SUPPORT tiers only.
FSC landscape analysis USA 2024
In 2024 FSC carried out a brief landscape analysis on the state of safeguarding in the USA. The document gives an overview of the current legal and regulatory framework surrounding safeguarding in the United States. It also identifies relevant actors and explores the role of FSC in supporting and enhancing safeguarding efforts across the philanthropic ecosystem in the States.
Safeguarding & Participatory Grant-making: An essential guide for funders
This guide is designed to help funders embed safeguarding in participatory grant-making. It includes guidance on how to consider safeguarding in the planning, delivery, and review of participatory grant-making processes.
This framework was written in partnership with ACF and is designed to help funders consider their own internal practices and integrate safeguarding within their funding cycle by posing questions that prompt discussion.
Safeguarding in Practice: ‘What Works’ to support Non-Governmental Organisations in Tanzania to respond to child abuse
This research was conducted by Dr Karen Walker-Simpson, one of FSC’s directors, during her doctorate. The findings include important implications for the way policy makers, donors and international NGOs approach safeguarding with NGOs in Tanzania, and across the region of East Africa.
As a US-based organization, we were initially unfamiliar with Safeguarding practices. Over the past few years, FSC has become more of a strategic home where we can discuss emerging questions and work the practical edges to radically transform how we keep each other safe.
Nicole Pittman Executive Director Just Beginnings Collaborative
We wanted to ensure that the safeguarding practices and processes we were applying as an organisation were appropriate. We wanted reassurance that what we had in place was effective and using the resources, learning and expertise of FSC we were able to do this.
Lisa Metcalf Head of People Youth Futures Foundation
Believing that someone could cause harm to adults at risk and children in a sector where good intentions are key is something complex to digest and consider in the daily operations of our organisations. When Laudes Foundation joined FSC, I discovered many peers were facing the same challenge. The learning circles and community conversations with colleagues from other foundations as well as direct support received from FSC were key to reinforce the belief we were on the correct track, yet a complex one! FSC has been successful in filling in a large gap in the philanthropic ecosystem for which I will be forever grateful.
Stephen Birtwistle Programme Manager, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Laudes Foundation
Take the next step on your safeguarding journey and join the only safeguarding network for funders.
We’d be happy to hear from you and answer any questions you may have about our network. Please email us at fsc_info@fundersafeguardingcollaborative.org and a member of the team will get back to you as soon as they can.
Just to clarify, we are not a grant-making organisation and cannot help with funding applications.
FSC is a unique network for philanthropic funders where you can share, learn, and access support from experts and peers alike. We believe funders have a unique potential to make organisations safer through their grant-making. We walk alongside funders on their safeguarding journey, helping them to implement practices that make their organisation and the organisations they fund, safer.
