Background
The SMB Trust is a long-established UK charity that awards grants to organisations working in areas such as faith, education, social care, and poverty relief. They approached me to design them a site that could clearly communicate their values, simplify the application process, and provide trustees with a dedicated, secure portal for managing reviews and decisions.
Approach
The public-facing site is clean and informative, with clear eligibility criteria, guidance notes, and an online-only application process. The grant form was custom-built to reflect strict requirements around eligibility, file uploads, and funding thresholds.
Behind the scenes, a bespoke Trustee Portal gives each trustee a personalised login and a secure, distraction-free interface to review applications assigned to them. Trustees can shortlist or decline applications, add notes, and collaborate on final approvals. A built-in reporting tool allows data to be filtered and exported for accounting and oversight.
Outcome
The new site launched in 2025 and now provides a complete end-to-end grant management platform, eliminating paper submissions and manual coordination. Trustees can securely access and manage applications from any device, and the Trust is equipped with powerful tools to streamline their quarterly grant cycles while maintaining full oversight and control.
