Feedback from organisations

Feedback received from organisations that have taken part in Social Investment Fund funding rounds.

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Feedback from New Investment Round Two participants

As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, we invited organisations that took part in Round Two of the New Investment pathway to share feedback on their experience. This included organisations that took part in both the Registration of Interest (ROI) and Request for Proposals (RFP) stages.

Thank you to everyone who completed the survey and shared their experiences. The feedback we received provides a useful insight into what worked well and where we can continue to improve.

What organisations told us

Overall, organisations told us they had a positive experience in Round Two.

Many said they appreciated the clear process, the guidance available throughout the application stages, and the support provided by SIA staff. Organisations also valued the opportunity to strengthen their thinking about outcomes, impact measurement and evaluation as they developed their applications.

Participants told us the overall purpose of the Social Investment Fund was clear and that they appreciated the relationship-focused approach throughout the process.

What worked well

Organisations said the following things worked well:

  • Clear structure and guidance through the application process
  • Helpful communication and support from the SIA team
  • Useful quick guides and supporting resources
  • An online application system that was easy to use
  • A clear purpose for the New Investment Pathway
  • A relationship-focused approach throughout the process.

What could be improved

While feedback was positive overall, organisations also identified areas that could be strengthened. Some organisations requested:

  • More time to prepare and develop applications
  • Additional examples and guidance for evaluation and evidence requirements
  • Greater flexibility within application forms, including increased character limits so organisations have more space to provide their responses
  • Continued improvements to the online application system, including system usability and resolving technical issues
  • Proportionate evaluation and evidence requirements for initiatives of different sizes and levels of maturity, with additional support for smaller organisations.

How we will use this feedback

We will consider the feedback alongside lessons learned from delivering New Investment Round Two, to inform how the Fund develops over time. This includes looking for opportunities to:

  • Continue improving guidance materials and supporting resources.
  • Review evaluation and evidence requirements so they remain practical and proportionate.
  • Identify opportunities to improve the application experience and online systems.
  • Build on the relationship-focused approach that organisations valued throughout the process.

Thank you

Your feedback helps us understand what worked well, what could be improved, and how we can better support organisations applying for social investment funding.

 

Feedback: New Investment and Contract Consolidation Round One

We surveyed organisations that submitted an application in Round One of the New Investment and Contract Consolidation pathways. Respondents represented a mix of small to large organisations.

Below is a summary of what you told us and what we are doing about it.

What is working well

You told us that:

  • The online application system was easy to use.
  • Communications from SIA were timely, professional, and helpful.
  • Webinars and guidance were valuable, especially for less‑experienced applicants.
  • The Fund’s outcomes and prevention focused approach is clear and appropriate.
  • The process encouraged deeper thinking about services, evidence, and outcomes.
  • The overall process provides a strong foundation for future rounds.

Opportunities for improvement and what we're doing

You said: More detailed and worked examples were needed.

Survey respondents found Theory of Change the hardest area, along with outcomes, delivery confidence, and sector wide learning.

Our aim is to provide guidance that is clear, practical, and easy to follow so you feel supported throughout the application process. We will continue to refine and improve our guidance materials for any future rounds based on your feedback.

You said: The effort required felt high for a Registration of Interest/Expression of Interest stage.

Survey respondents, particularly from smaller organisations felt the workload was not proportional to the likelihood of progressing.

We recognise that your time is valuable. We have designed the Registration of Interest stage to request only the essential information needed to make a well‑informed and robust decision about which organisations progress to the Request for Proposal stage.

To help ensure your time and resources are well spent, we have strengthened our early‑stage guidance with clearer criteria and expectations, reducing the risk of organisations investing effort in applications that may not be a good fit.

We have also expanded our support materials, including further webinars, updated FAQs, examples of proposals funded in Round One, and a self‑assessment tool, to help you quickly assess your alignment and decide whether applying is the best use of your time and resources.

You said: Improve the portal user experience.

Survey respondents reported issues with file uploads, character limits, and difficulty reviewing or editing answers before submitting.

In response to this we have made several enhancements to our system including improving the visibility of file uploads, increasing character limits across key sections of the application to support applicants to tell us about their proposal, and continuing to monitor all technical issues that are submitted by portal users via ServiceDesk@sia.govt.nz.

You said: Create more opportunities for human connection.

Survey respondents wanted the chance to talk to their application in person, ask questions, or clarify expectations.

In response to this we will include an opportunity for organisations shortlisted for the New Investment Pathway Round Two Request for Proposal (RFP) stage to meet with the evaluation panel to present their proposal, ask questions, and respond to questions from the panel.

You said: Address perceptions of fairness and equity.

Some survey respondents felt the process favoured larger or more established organisations.

The Fund represents a small portion of social sector funding (less than 1%) and is designed to test and demonstrate new ways of working. To do so it requires us to partner with organisations that have the capacity and capability to collect and share data, reach a minimum number of people, and demonstrate more mature Theory of Change (ToC) capabilities. This approach will enable us to build a stable foundation for the Fund and means we will be focussing on working with organisations that are well positioned to scale at pace.

Continuous improvement

We value every piece of feedback we receive and hearing from our applicants helps us understand what we are doing well and where we can improve.

As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, we are taking steps to make future surveys more engaging and easier to complete. We will:

  • Keep surveys short, focused, and meaningful
  • Send surveys closer to the deadline for applications, so feedback is fresher in respondents minds

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to share their experience with us. We are grateful for your insights and the chance to learn from you.