Investing in the Power of Civil Society (IIPCS), funded by The National Lottery Community Fund
Led by Lloyds Bank Foundation and co-developed with The AVOCADO Foundation, CAST, Groundwork, IVAR, NCVO, School for Social Entrepreneurs, Voice4Change England, and an advisor (Access Foundation) - the IIPCS pilot is a collaborative initiative, grounded in our collective experience of providing development support to small and local charities.
Together, we are testing a new model of tailored support for charities to help them build resilience, adapt to change and thrive. Beyond this, we are reimagining how funders and partners can join forces in new ways to ensure civil society organisations can navigate an increasingly complex landscape.
In a challenging environment, charities need support that helps them become stronger and reach more people. Our model builds on a decade of Lloyds Bank Foundation’s expertise, now strengthened by eight exceptional partners whose deep sector knowledge will ensure support continues to evolve and address the most common challenges charities face.
André Clarke, Director of Charity Development and Funding
How it works
The pilot will run for 12 months from April 2026, working with a specific cohort of up to 640 Reaching Communities grant holders and seekers referred directly by The National Lottery Community Fund.
Through a simple diagnostic, each organisation identifies their strengths, development priorities and receive tailored support that best matches their capacity and needs.
Our three tiers of support, Anchor, Connect and Elevate, offer everything from light-touch guidance to intensive consultancy in areas such as digital transformation, fundraising and income generation, communications and engagement, leadership and governance, and environmental impact.
- Tier 1 – Anchor helps organisations clarify priorities, access trusted resources, and build confidence to move forward, especially when capacity is limited.
- Tier 2 – Connect brings organisations together to learn, share challenges, and strengthen practice through themed cohorts and workshops.
- Tier 3 – Elevate offers tailored, hands-on support for organisations facing complex or critical moments, including one-to-one consultancy.
Dedicated Relationship Managers stay alongside each organisation throughout, ensuring their experience is smooth, flexible and responsive as their needs evolve.
Test and learn
IVAR will lead the learning process for the pilot, using its action research methodology to ensure insights are practical and shaped by those closest to the work. Learning will take place through a structured six-week cycle across 12 months, bringing together data and feedback from across the pilot to understand what needs to change as we go.
IVAR will also produce interim and final reports to ensure learning from the pilot is shared widely across the sector.
Next steps
Check back here for updates as the pilot progresses.
From our partners
Voice4Change England joined the partnership to champion equity, inclusion, and to amplify underrepresented voices. As a national advocate for Black and Minoritised communities, we recognise that working collectively allows each organisation to bring its expertise and lived experience, while ensuring the pilot is shaped by the communities it serves.
Kunle Olulode, MBE – Director, and Sharmin Shajahan, Deputy Director
AI is creating significant challenges and opportunities for the sector. It’s vital to invest in the capability and confidence of charities and civil society organisations, so they can navigate this fast-changing landscape. At CAST, we're excited to collaborate with this partnership and hundreds of organisations to deliver the vital support this pilot will provide.
Dan Sutch, Director
The AVOCADO Foundation is thrilled to join this partnership, driven by a shared ambition to build an equitable, resilient, and inclusive civil society. Together, we’re eager to co-design a pilot that strengthens the organisations and communities we serve, laying strong foundations for long-term impact and shared learning
Carol Akiwumi, MBE - CEO
NVCO is delighted to join this partnership to reshape how charities are supported. Working together allows us to bring our strengths and create support that genuinely works.
Charities tell us they need practical, human support grounded in real experience. This pilot gives us the space to build that with them.
Kate Lee Chief Executive Officer
TNLCF’s ambition to strengthen civil society resonates deeply with the School for Social Entrepreneurs’ mission to help build leadership and long-term resilience. We are excited to join this partnership to test a support model rooted in trust, responsive to need, and designed to maximise the potential of organisations led by and for their communities.
Alastair Wilson, CEO
Climate change and rising costs hit the most vulnerable communities hardest. Many organisations are already embedding environmental action in their projects but need support to strengthen their sustainability. Groundwork is delighted to bring our expertise to test and learn what truly helps organisations create safer, greener and more inclusive places for their communities.
Graham Duxbury, CEO
The Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR) is delighted to be the learning partner on this pilot. It allows to bring together our deep understanding of the sector with our expertise in designing and delivering engaging learning processes. We look forward to working alongside charities to explore their challenges and strengthen the vital work they do.
Ben Cairns, Director
Access has long recognised the critical need for capacity building within our sector and have felt the impact of limited infrastructure to support this work. We are keen to ensure that the work we deliver in this area complements and supports the pilot, as well as benefitting from it.
Neil Berry, Director of Programmes
