Guidelines for Applicants 2010
How to Apply
What You Should Know
Applications to the Foundation are accepted at any time on a rolling basis. An acknowledgement can normally be expected within 14 working days.
We operate a two stage application process that should reduce the time that applicants may spend preparing material and allow us to give a response to the application in a reasonable time. On average, 90% or more of requests are rejected before the second stage.
We have three Grants Committees that meet at different times in the year. You cannot apply to a specific Committee.
First Stage
We do not use an application form so that applicants are not constrained in promoting their case for an award. However, we do expect that you comply with our format. Applications that make no effort to meet this simple requirement will be rejected automatically. The basics:
- Initial applications should be of no more than four A4 pages (minimum font size Arial 11 point) addressing the questions below. These are designed to elicit sufficient information to explain your application without having to contact you.
- A budgetary breakdown may be attached additional to the four-page limit. Budgets covering more than one year should include elements for inflation. Salaries should identify NI costs and pensions where appropriate.
- Your application must be accompanied by a signed copy of your latest Annual Report and Accounts which comply with Charity Commission requirements.
- Additional publicity material including pamphlets, newspaper cuttings, Annual Reviews and DVDs will not be read.
Tell us:
- Who you are and what you do.
- About the work you want funded, including beneficiaries, location and timescales.
- How much you need from us and over what period – one year, two years or three.
- Where any balance of funding is coming from and how you intend to fund the work when our award ends.
- How this work will make a difference to those people you seek to benefit.
- How you intend to monitor the work, measure its success and ensure its quality.
- How your work benefits the public in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2006.
Your application MUST contain the following statement:
We are aware that supplying any deliberately false information or making any deliberately false statement may result in prosecution. To the best of our knowledge and belief, all statements made in this application and its associated documentation are true and accurate. I am authorised to sign on behalf of the organisation.
Name …………….. Position ……………………..
What Happens Next
All requests for support are rigorously filtered. The assessment process includes financial and other due diligence checks to establish the authenticity of your application; this may involve a preliminary visit. Application to the second stage will only be invited after this process.
In the second stage we send out a letter outlining the broad elements identified in the initial application together with the second stage application questions. You will have assembled much of the information to answer these as part of your initial approach to the Foundation. Where appropriate, the completed application questionnaire will be supported by a business or work plan and future funding strategy.
The process of preparing an application that goes to a Grants Committee, including arranging a visit to you by a member of the Committee, can take three months or more.
If Your Application is REJECTED
There is no time limit before unsuccessful applicants at any stage might re-apply. If requested we can provide feedback on why an application was unsuccessful. Before re-applying, however, a telephone call to the Foundation is always advisable.
Final Point
We have a small staff team. However,if you are in any doubt about whether you are eligible under our guidelines, we are happy for potential applicants to ring up and discuss funding opportunities or seek clarification. This often saves on unnecessary correspondence.
