How To Apply


Notice

Posted 16 November 2011

The Wates Foundation reviewed its grant making policy in November 2011 in the light of a range of factors including finance and levels of demand for support.

 

As a result of this review, the Foundation has adopted a wholly pro-active grant making strategy and will no longer take applications or bids for support from external organisations. Any unsolicited applications or bids will be rejected automatically.

 

This strategy will be in place for three years until 31 March 2015.

 

For all inquiries, please contact the Foundation Secretariat by telephone on 01372 861251 or by email at director@watesfoundation.org.uk.

 

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What You Should Know

Applications to the Foundation are accepted by post, but NOT by email, 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.

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.
  • Supply the name of a contact person, a telephone number and an email address.
  • 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.

Using the questions as headings and in the order given, 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 as defined by 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.