Grant making at the Foundation
We manage a number of different grants programmes on behalf of public, private and charitable donors.
- Our application form is easy to complete
- We accept applications throughout the year
- You should not have to wait more than about two months for a decision (some of our grant programmes offer a faster process for small urgent projects)
What types of grants can we give?
Groups must be based in Cumbria with a volunteer committee and have a bank account with two signatories.
You will need a constitution or set of rules. In general we are able to provide grants to:
- Charitable organisations eg village halls, youth groups, playgroups etc (your group does not have to be a registered charity)
- Social enterprises
- Certain funds will support individuals
Some of our grants programmes may be able to support other types of groups.
It is always worth calling us to find out if your group is eligible.
What we will not fund?
We do not fund the following groups or projects
- Animal welfare
- Boxing clubs
- Deficit funding
- General large appeals
- Medical research and equipment
- Non-Cumbrian projects
- Sponsored events
- Things statutory bodies like councils have to do eg schools
- Things that have already happened
- Applications where you have had a grant from that fund within the last year
- Individuals (except for specific funds)
What to do next
Please contact a Grants Officer at the Foundation to talk about your group and the project you would like funding for. Call us on 01900 825760.
Supporting information
Applications from groups must include the following information:
- A copy of your organisation's governing document. This may be a set of rules, constitution or memorandum and articles of association
- A copy of your organisation's most recent accounts. If your organisation has not been in operation for a full year please include copies of bank statements covering the last quarter.
- Details of an independent referee. This person must be someone who knows about your organisation, but who is not someone on the committee.
- If your organisation works with children or young people (under 18 years), or the activity you are applying for will involve working with children or young people, you will need to provide us with a copy of your child protection or safeguarding policy.
Please contact us if you need help to develop this policy.
Please email you application form to us even if you have to send supporting papers by post
Assessing your application
All applications are assessed by an experienced grants officer. Final decisions about grant allocations are made by the Community Foundation's grants committees. The committees are made up of Foundation Trustees, elected members and community representatives. Grant committees generally meet every two months.
The following criteria will be used to assess your application. Please include information about each of these areas:
- Evidence of need - How do you know that the project is needed?
- Evidence of community use - How many people currently use your services or how many are likely to use any new services?
- Evidence of community involvement - How many people are involved with the running of your organisation including people who help out with fund raising or volunteering?
- Evidence of local fund raising
- Fit to fund - How does your project fit the criteria of the fund you are applying to?
- Value for money - include quotes if appropriate
- Fit to local strategies - How does your project fit into strategies and plans such as local strategic plans, local village plans, Market Towns Initiative plans etc
Please send your application by email if possible. If you can also email any supporting information please do, otherwise post it.
Dates
Closing dates for most applications are below. Due to the pressure of work these are not negotiable.
30 May for meetings on 24 and 26 June
8 August for meetings on 2 and 4 September
26 September for meetings on 21 and 23 October
21 November for meetings on 16 and 18 December
30 January 2009 for meetings on 24 and 26 February
(The last date in each case except for April 2008 is for projects in Barrow Borough)
Except for these funds in West Cumbria only:
• Allerdale Community Fund
• Coalfields Community Chest
• Sellafield Site Fund
where the closing dates are:
13 June for meeting on 9 July
22 August for meeting on 17 September
24 October for meeting on 19 November
19 December for meeting on 14 January 2009
13 February for meeting on 11 March
Allerdale Youth Bank has a closing date of 12 June for a meeting on 17 June and normally monthly.
Holehird Trust has a closing date of 5 June for a meeting on 23 June and approximately quarterly.
Mary Grave Trust has a closing date of 31 August for a meeting on 21 October and meets three times a year.
Edmond Castle Educational Trust has a closing date of 30 September for a meeting on 21 October then about six monthly.
Joyce Wilkinson Charitable Trust has a closing date of 4 June for a meeting on 18 June and about six monthly.
Rockcliffe and Westlington CWM Trust Fund meets as required.
Decisions of independent grants committees are usually notified within a week of the closing date.
updated 01.05.2008