sUPPORTING FUNDERS AND GRANTMAKING ORGaNISATIONS GLOBALLY

indePENDeNT DUE DILIGENCE & aDVISORY

I provide independent advisory support to help funders and grant-making organisations undertake thoughtful, proportionate and context-aware due diligence.

Due diligence should not be a standalone exercise. My approach translates findings into practical recommendations for risk management and ongoing monitoring.

my approach

Holistic

I assess financial, governance, operational, compliance and safeguarding systems to provide a complete view of an organisation.

Proposal-Informed

Understanding organisations in their operating reality. I review organisational systems in the context of the work being funded, ensuring that due diligence reflects real delivery conditions.

Respectful

Due diligence should support organisations, not create unnecessary barriers. My approach is collaborative and proportionate.

End-to-End Thinking

I connect due diligence findings with how grants are managed over time, ensuring risks are not only identified but effectively monitored.

Practical

My work focuses on clear, actionable recommendations that can be implemented in practice.

Every engagement is different. I take a risk-based, proportionate approach, the level of due diligence reflects the nature of the funding and the risks involved, rather than a one-size-fits-all checklist. These are the areas I most commonly support funders with, but I tailor my approach to your specific needs. Get in touch to discuss what would work for you.

services

Due Diligence Advisory

Comprehensive assessment to support informed funding decisions.

  • Financial due diligence

  • Governance and organisational structure review

  • Operational capacity assessment

  • Proposal-informed analysis

Enhanced Due Diligence

Deeper assessment for higher-risk funding, complex structures, and sensitive contexts.

  • Higher-risk jurisdictions and complex operating environments

  • In-depth sanctions, financial crime and reputational screening

  • Layered funding structures, including regranting and fiscal sponsorship

  • Safeguarding capability and counter-fraud assessment

Advisory for Grantmakers

Strengthening your due diligence processes and risk management approaches.

  • Designing due diligence frameworks

  • Reviewing and strengthening risk processes

  • Supporting funding decisions with clear insights

Monitoring Recommendations

Translating due diligence into ongoing risk management and grant oversight.

  • Practical recommendations for ongoing risk management

  • Guidance on proportionate monitoring approaches

  • Supporting funders in translating due diligence into action

who I work with

I work with all types of funders and grant-making organisations, including but not limited to:

  • Private Foundations : Family foundations, independent grant-makers, and endowed foundations

  • International Funders & INGOs : Organisations funding work across multiple regions and managing complex portfolios

  • Corporate Foundations : Corporate giving programmes and CSR-aligned funding

  • Family Offices Private wealth management with philanthropic interests

  • Donor-Advised Funds Charitable giving platforms and donor advisory services

  • Women's Funds & Specialist Grant-Makers Specialised funding bodies with sector-specific focus

  • Fiscal Sponsors Organisations hosting and managing charitable projects

  • Philanthropic Advisors Consultants supporting individual donors and family offices

Whether you're making your first grant or managing a complex portfolio, I tailor my approach to your specific context, risk profile, and the work being funded.

understanding due diligence

Due diligence is the process of carefully reviewing an organisation before committing to fund them. It involves looking at their finances, governance, operations, compliance, and capacity to deliver the work being proposed. Done well, due diligence is more than ticking boxes — it's about understanding an organisation in context, so funders can make informed decisions and grantees can be supported effectively.

what it is

  • A careful, evidence-based assessment at a specific point in time

  • A tool to inform funding decisions A way to identify risks and recommend appropriate mitigations

  • A foundation for ongoing monitoring A respectful, collaborative process

what is isn’t

  • A guarantee that nothing will go wrong.

  • A one-size-fits-all checklist.

  • An adversarial investigation

  • A judgment on the people behind the organisation

  • A replacement for ongoing relationship and monitoring

a word on assurance

Due diligence provides assurance, not certainty.

No assessment can guarantee that an organisation will perform perfectly, or that risks won't emerge over time. I provide assurance at a point in time, based on the documents reviewed and information gathered. It cannot guarantee future performance, which is why ongoing monitoring is an essential part of responsible grant making.

Now more than ever, the biggest impact we can have is ensuring funding reaches those closest to the issues, and is deployed with the assurance that it will be used responsibly.

The world is getting harder. The challenges facing communities, the planet, and the people most in need are growing, and the non-profit sector needs money and resources more than ever. Yet due diligence, the very process designed to enable responsible funding, can sometimes become a blocker.

That's where I come in. . .

My background spans both the commercial and philanthropic sectors, with deep experience in financial management, governance and risk. I've worked across diverse grant portfolios, alongside programme teams, legal advisors, and partner organisations, which gives me an understanding of both sides of the funding relationship.

At the heart of my work is something simple: I want to help ensure good money gets to good organisations, doing good work

About me

credentials

  • Qualified accountant (ACCA)

  • AVPN Fellow - impact investing expertise

  • Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT) certified

  • Multilingual capabilities across cultural contexts

  • 20 years + Experience across commercial and philanthropic sectors

  • Extensive work with diverse grant portfolios globally

Get in Touch

If you would like to discuss how I can support your due diligence processes, please get in touch.

You can use the contact form to share a brief overview of your needs, or simply call me for a chat on 07949 834738. I would love to learn more about what your needs are and how I can help.