How can AIMS grant management software support community sustainability?

We are often asked by clients how we can support their sustainability policies and provide meaningful social value. The right grant management system for you will innately provide positive social, economic, and environmental impacts for your communities.

Internally, we have worked with Enterprise Ireland to create a social value policy that sits alongside our sustainability policy and anti-modern slavery statement. We have made commitments that reflect the aims of the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012. In conjunction with the Act, AIMS is dedicated to Social Value and we endeavour to ensure that social, economic and environmental issues are considered during all stages of our bidding and delivery process and as part of the whole life cost of a contract.

This is important for us from an ethical standpoint, but we also know that many clients are procuring services in line with their own social value and sustainability practices.

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What is Social Value?

The Social Value Act asks all public bodies in England and Wales to consider how what is proposed to be procured might improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of the relevant area and in conducting the process of procurement, how it might act with a view to securing that improvement.

The Act does not offer a definition for Social Value but there are many definitions of both sustainability and sustainable procurement, the most well-known are listed below, which we have adopted as an organisation.

Sustainability – “Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.

Sustainable Procurement – “A process whereby organisations meet their needs for goods, services, works and utilities in a way that achieves value for money on a whole life basis in terms of generating benefits not only to the organisation, but also to society and the economy, whilst minimising damage to the environment”.

AIMS Grant Management will always consider ahead of any commissioning, bidding or tendering process, how the economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being of the region may be improved through the procurement of goods, works and services. We hope that embedding Social Value into our working processes will bring significant benefit to the communities our clients serve and are part of, whether in the UK, Ireland or globally, delivering a social return, wherever possible, on every pound we spend, or customers spend with us.

How can a grant management system help you embed social value in your grant making?

A grant management system like AIMS can offer social value in several ways by enhancing the efficiency, transparency, and impact of your grant programmes. This is true for clients of any size and location.

A municipal government using a grant management system can ensure that funds are distributed to community projects that address local needs such as affordable housing, green spaces, and youth programs, thereby directly improving community well-being.

Trusts and foundations can use these systems to manage grants for projects that target specific social issues like poverty alleviation, education, and healthcare, ensuring that resources are effectively used to create positive social outcomes.

Corporations can use grant management systems to manage their CSR initiatives, ensuring that their contributions to social and environmental causes are impactful and aligned with their corporate values.

Grant management systems streamline the application, review, and allocation processes, ensuring that funds are distributed efficiently. This maximises the impact of your available resources, allowing a grant maker to address social issues more effectively and better serve their communities.

GMS like AIMS provide detailed reporting and tracking capabilities, enhancing transparency in how funds are used. Your administrators and stakeholders can see where and how the money is being spent, ensures accountability.

We see a huge increase in cross-border and multi-body grant giving. Our software system includes tools for collaboration among various stakeholders, such as funders, grant recipients, and community organisations. This fosters a collaborative approach to solving social problems, leveraging the strengths of multiple partners.

By allowing a grant maker to collect and analyse data, a good grant management system can help organisations make informed decisions about which projects to fund and how to allocate resources. This ensures that the most impactful and innovative projects receive the necessary support.

Grant management systems provide tools for ongoing monitoring and evaluation of funded projects. This ensures that projects are on track to achieve their goals and allows for adjustments to be made as needed, enhancing the overall effectiveness and social impact of the grants.

AIMS grant management software is designed to be inclusive and accessible, ensuring that smaller organisations and those with limited resources can apply for and manage grants effectively. This allows clients to democratise access to funding and support a more diverse range of initiatives.

Grant management systems often include training and support resources that help grant applicants and recipients develop the skills needed to manage projects effectively. Capacity building is crucial for long-term sustainability and empowerment of communities. At AIMS, in addition to the training and support that is hardwired into your system, we offer all clients the opportunity to select up to three members of their community for an hour long 1:1 zoom session with one of our senior management team to discuss grant management and philanthropy. (This is a minimum offer, and if you feel that there is an interest within your community we are very happy to propose a suite of education and support packages. Just get in touch to discuss.)

By choosing the right grant management system supplier, you can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of grant administration but also ensure that your funded projects deliver maximum social value. This creates a virtuous cycle of trust, impact, and sustainability, benefiting both the grant providers and the communities you aim to support.