Fusion21 Foundation supports NAVCA with £50,000 funding to develop national impact framework for local infrastructure organisations

The Fusion21 Foundation is delighted to be providing £50,000 funding to NAVCA (the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action) to support the development of a national impact framework for local infrastructure organisations (LIOs) working across England’s voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector.

With an additional £20,000 in match funding from NAVCA members, the project will create a practical tool to help LIOs better understand and show the difference they make in communities - work that’s often hard to capture, but vitally important.

LIOs play an essential role in strengthening local VCSE groups by building partnerships, supporting volunteering, and helping organisations grow their capacity to deliver more for their communities.

Co-designed with NAVCA members, academics, local commissioners, and expert partners, including New Philanthropy Capital, the framework will enable LIOs to measure, understand, and communicate their value, both locally and nationally.

As part of the project, a user-friendly impact dashboard will be developed to support data collection and reporting. Over time, the framework will help manage funder expectations, support continuous learning, and show how investment in local infrastructure contributes to more resilient communities.

Jo Hannan, Head of Fusion21 Foundation, said: “We’re proud to be working with NAVCA on this ambitious project that will help bring greater recognition to the crucial support LIOs provide - so much of which happens behind the scenes and often goes unnoticed.

“This project aligns perfectly with our commitment to making positive changes through learning, research, and evidence.”

Rich Warrington, Deputy CEO at NAVCA, said: “At NAVCA, we know that local infrastructure organisations are vital to the health of the VCSE sector and enabling thriving communities. Our members have told us that the results of their work connecting people and organisations, transferring knowledge and skills, negotiating with and for community organisations, and enabling volunteers and volunteering involving organisations to find each other often remains unseen and unheralded.

“We’re excited about this project, which will develop the tools for NAVCA members to understand the positive change they help to enable.”

Once complete, the framework will be available as part of NAVCA’s resources for their 184 members, helping them build stronger partnerships, secure funding more effectively, and enhance the support they provide to communities across the country.