A York community foundation have launched a video series to showcase local projects they’ve funded.
The Fortus Foundation – a hub ‘supporting communities, driving social impact, and fostering positive change’ – have released their first episode for their new ‘Power of One’ series.
The new video series aims to be an example of tangible impact reporting – in what is traditionally left to grant recipients to handle themselves.
Take a look at the first episode below.
Matty Lewis, head of the Fortus Foundation said: “When a charity or community group are fortunate enough to receive a grant, they more often than not, need to complete an impact reporting document that is traditionally data heavy and time intensive.
“For a volunteer or staff member to pump hours of valuable time into these impact reports feels like a waste of resource when they could be focusing their time on running the organisation and doing what’s important; changing lives.”
Episode one focuses on the impact of the foundation’s funding at The Beehive, a children’s respite care centre in York. After receiving the Fortus Foundation grant, they were able to acquire an on-site defibrillator that they desperately needed.
“We want to get creative and be a platform for change when it comes to impact reporting,” said Matty.
“The Power of One series will shine a light on the amazing work of the grant recipients, allow our funders an asset which showcases the causes they’re supporting, and demonstrate to the world the impact our grants are having in a way that is easy to digest.”
After launching in September last year, the foundation has been going from strength to strength – and has already given away £10,000 in grants and created partnerships with York St John University and First Bus.
The foundation is funded by a group of what they call ‘one percenters’ – who are Yorkshire businesses that commit 1% of their profits to support causes they care about – while benefitting from the the organisation’s ability and expertise to cover the leg work.
“There’s such a need out there for Yorkshire charities and community groups, we can only say yes to more grants by bringing more one percenters on board, so we encourage businesses to get in touch, join the movement, and look out for more episodes in the series!”
To get in touch with The Fortus Foundation, please email matty.lewis@fortusfoundation.co.uk and follow along on Instagram.