News for August, 2009
Latest News
August 3rd, 2009
On this page you will find news of how we have restructured the Foundation’s grant-making process – the Next Steps Review – and a list of the most recent awards.
Foundation Review – Next Steps
In late 2007 the Trustees initiated a year-long strategic review of its structure, programmes and processes under the title Next Steps.
The object of the review was to identify the most appropriate form that the Foundation should adopt from 2010 when the last children of Founders’ generation are due to retire as Trustees. Underpinning the review was a determination to develop an organisation that reflected the growing involvement in the Foundation’s grant making of members of the third and fourth generations of the Wates Family. Many of these live outside geographical area that the Foundation has benefited since 2000 and the expressed a wish to support causes in their own localities.
The review included consultation with up to twenty other Family-based trusts and foundations, a series of Wates Family working meetings considering options papers that offered different structure models, a forum facilitated by an external consultant, a round of one-to-one meetings between the Foundation’s Director and Family members and Family branch councils.
The restructuring process was completed by November 2008 when the Trustees approved a new structure of three grants committees representing the Norman, Ronald and Allan Wates branches of the Family. Membership of the Family committees is drawn from a broader representation of the younger generations of the Wates Family than was previously represented on the higher level Grants Committee, but includes in each case the two Family branch trustees. Each committee has elected its own chairman and agreed its own way of working.
All governance arrangements of the new committees have been endorsed by the Trustees. The Trustees have delegated powers to these committees to make awards within an agreed allocation of new annual spend. The Trustees have also delegated powers to make small awards (not greater than £5,000) to the committee chairmen with oversight and endorsement by the respective committees. Minutes of Family Grants Committees are circulated to the chairmen of the other committees for information.
The Trustees believe that the new structure provides a strong and dynamic opportunity for members of the rising generations to develop their own philanthropic style and interests, to be able to sponsor issues that excite them and take ownership both of the grant making process and the decision making.
