Power and Responsibility Grants policy

Background

The responsible use of power was important to Joseph Rowntree.  He saw business and politics as forms of public service to be used to promote social justice, equality and a spirit of citizenship.  Whilst being fully aware that corporate and government power can be used to the detriment of individuals and communities, he recognised their potential for good and for building the kind of society he was interested in.  Much has changed since 1904, but Rowntree’s concern about ‘the power of selfish and unscrupulous wealth’ still rings true 100 years later.

The ways corporate and political institutions operate continue to concern the Trust. Though the context is different, the Trust’s Quaker values remain constant and are expressed in a concern for social justice.  We believe that greater social responsibility, accountability, openness, and responsiveness within political and corporate institutions will benefit everyone.

The nature of the world today means that it is harder for people to know where, and by whom, decisions affecting their lives are taken, let alone have a chance to influence them.  There is a need to strengthen the democratic process, to enhance corporate accountability, and to build confidence in the way decisions are taken.  

What we will fund

This area of concern builds upon the Trust's experience in the corporate responsibility and democracy fields.  The Trust will consider applications from organisations and individuals which:

• encourage accountability, openness and responsiveness in government, local government, government agencies, and the private sector; or which explore an appropriate role for the media in achieving this;
• foster understanding of, and respect for, human rights in government, business and civil society as a means to promote social justice;
• explore appropriate relationships between people, their communities and the institutions that affect them - whether these be local and central government, quangos, or companies;  
• explore whether and how political participation and involvement can be increased and deepened within Britain, as a means to promote a socially just society;
• promote ideas to nurture the democratic process and to counter the misuse of power;
• explore how government and business might change their planning, evaluation and reward systems from their current short-term outlook to a longer-term one;
• promote a relationship between government and business that works in the public interest.

Other factors

The Trust wants to support initiatives which make a difference.  We are interested in changing the agenda and willing to consider radically challenging models that demonstrate new and different thinking.  The limited size of our resources, together with our interest in influencing policy, tends to lead us towards supporting organisations working at the national level.

Issues of social responsibility, corporate governance, accountability, openness and responsiveness are equally relevant to the European Union and global institutions to which the UK belongs.  In this programme we will consider applications from organisations working at a European Union level. We will also consider applications aimed at increasing the accountability of the UK government and other UK bodies for the impact of the policies and practices that they pursue within global institutions.    

The ways in which business and government can be held accountable for the impact of their policies and practices differ significantly.  Applications may address either or both of these sectors.

The Trust is interested in addressing the issue of climate change in all its programmes.  This programme will look carefully at applications that address the inter-relationship between climate change and the national public policy agenda; citizens' participation and 'voice' in the climate change debate; and climate change as an issue of corporate accountability.

What we will not fund

The interests of this programme are broad and funds are limited.  In order to maintain a focus the Trust has to be selective and generally will not fund work that:

• is about participation in service provision eg education and health
• focuses on international development issues
• is limited to a particular business sector eg tourism or supermarkets
• engages in public education about climate change.

Please also see the Trust's general exclusions.