An innovative knowledge transfer partnership (KTP) project between Northern Rock Foundation and the University of Bristol, set out to assess how using a ‘research/project’ approach to grant-making could increase the impact of the Foundation’s programmes, and to demonstrate the added value of this approach to other funders. The project has improved the Foundation’s understanding as to how research and evidence can generate impact through planning, commissioning and delivering research projects in order to help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its current and future investment in the third sector. The project findings also include a toolkit for use by grant makers and others such as researchers wishing to extend the impact and reach of their work.