A plain English guide to common terms used on the ActionFunder platform
We aim to keep things as clear and simple as possible — but sometimes a bit of jargon sneaks in. Here’s a quick reference guide to help you navigate commonly used terms on ActionFunder.
Beneficiary Type– The main group of people that a project is designed to support. Examples include: young people, older adults, refugees, people experiencing homelessness, and others. This helps ensure alignment between your fund’s goals and the community’s needs.
Due Diligence – The checks carried out by ActionFunder after a funding invite is accepted – to verify the group’s bank details, legal status, and eligibility before payment is made.
Focus Areas – The themes or issues your fund is intended to support which are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, they are – Arts & Culture, Animal Welfare, Education & Employment, Climate and Nature. Food Action, Mental Health & Wellbeing, Neighbourhood, Physical Health & Sport, Poverty & Homelessness and Sustainable Production & Consumption. Projects must align with at least one of your focus areas to be matched.
Fund – The pot of money you’ve made available to support community projects. Each fund can have its own budget, theme, eligibility criteria, and region.
Funder – An organisation or business providing money to support community projects. On ActionFunder, funders can create and manage funds, select projects, track impact, and engage with grantees. If you’re reading this Help Centre article – you’re likely a funder!
Funder Dashboard – Your personalised homepage on ActionFunder — where you manage your funds, track updates, view matches, and access impact data.
Funding Invite – An offer made by you (the funder) to a non-profit, inviting them to accept funding through the platform.
Grantee – A non-profit or community group that has received funding through ActionFunder.
Impact Dashboard – A visual summary of the outcomes from your funded projects. View key metrics, download survey data, and track progress in real time.
Impact Report – A compiled report of all impact surveys completed by grantees within a specific fund. It aggregates project-level data to provide funders with an overview of the collective outcomes and impact achieved through their funding.
Impact Survey – A short form completed by non-profits at the end of their project to report on outcomes and impact. This data feeds into your impact reports and dashboard.
Local Needs Analysis Tool – A tool that helps identify demand and need in specific geographic areas by surfacing the types of projects seeking funding there — great for planning and demonstrating impact in bids or tenders.
Match – When a project aligns with the criteria of your fund (location, focus area, beneficiary type and grant amount), it appears on your Match List. These are projects eligible for your funding.
Project – A specific piece of work submitted by a non-profit or community group that’s seeking funding — e.g. running a youth club, planting a community garden, or improving a food bank.
Selection Deadline – The date by which you (the funder) aim to make funding decisions. It helps non-profits understand when they can expect to hear back about their application. This date is visible on your fund page.
Shortlist – A curated list of matched projects you’re actively considering for funding. From here, you can make funding offers.
Update – A light-touch progress post shared by the non-profit during project delivery — often including photos, milestones, or reflections. You can view these from your dashboard.
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Still have questions? Your Customer Success Manager is here to help, or reach out to us at customersuccess@actionfunder.org.