Grant Risk Appetite Workshop Template 2025
A clear grant risk appetite keeps prospecting focused and governance watertight. This 90-minute workshop template gives trustees and executives the structure they need to agree boundaries that bid teams can act on.
TL;DR
- Ground the conversation in current pipeline, cashflow, and risk data.
- Score risk appetite across finance, compliance, delivery, and reputation to identify red lines.
- Integrate thresholds into the pipeline board and change control playbook.
Why define a grant risk appetite?
The Charity Commission’s CC8 guidance (2024 update) encourages trustees to set explicit risk tolerances. With a shared appetite, fundraising can decline misaligned bids quickly and focus on opportunities that fit mission, capacity, and compliance expectations.
Pre-work and materials
- Current grant pipeline export with RAG status from the pipeline review meeting.
- Cashflow scenarios from the cashflow stress test template.
- Risk register and recent post-award issues captured in the delivery handover checklist.
- Strategic priorities, reserves policy, and insurance coverage summary.
90-minute workshop agenda
- 0–10 mins: Welcome, objectives, and review of key data.
- 10–30 mins: Discuss financial and compliance appetite using recent bid examples.
- 30–50 mins: Debate delivery and reputational appetite referencing community co-design clinics.
- 50–75 mins: Scenario voting across multi-year, rapid-response, and innovation bids.
- 75–90 mins: Agree thresholds, escalation routes, and communication plan.
Outputs and integration
Convert notes into a concise appetite statement, scoring rubric, and delegated authority matrix. Upload them to Crafty so writers see appetite guidance when evaluating opportunities and preparing funder debriefs.
Next steps and downloads
Download the workshop agenda, scoring rubric, appetite statement template, and action log. Store them in Crafty so annual reviews are quick and consistent.
Action plan
- Schedule your next risk appetite workshop within the quarterly governance cycle.
- Assign facilitator, scribe, and decision owner ahead of time.
- Store appetite assets in Crafty so triage rules remain visible.
Key takeaways
- Risk appetite clarity speeds up bid/no-bid decisions and protects delivery.
- Workshops grounded in data foster constructive debate and shared ownership.
- Integrating appetite into Crafty and pipelines keeps everyone aligned.
Summary and next steps
Risk appetite is a living document. Revisit it as funders, finances, and strategy evolve, and ensure Crafty always reflects the current guidance so teams stay focused on the right opportunities.
- Run the workshop annually with interim reviews after major programme shifts.
- Share appetite thresholds with fundraising, finance, and delivery teams.
- Update Crafty prompts and pipeline filters when appetite changes.