Applying for a grant: Guidelines

Grant making at the Foundation

We manage a number of different grants programmes on behalf of public, private and charitable donors.

  • Our application forms are 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.

Other sources of individual funds can be found at www.turn2us.org.uk

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 (Grassroots Grants has a different rule)
  • 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 (not required for registered charities)
  • A copy of your organisation's most recent accounts (and annual report if available) if your organisation has been in operation for a full year
  • A bank statement(s) 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) or vulnerable adults or the activity you are applying for will involve working with them, you will need to provide us with a copy of your safeguarding policy.

Please look here before contacting us if you need help to develop this policy.

Please send your application online if possible. If you can also email any supporting information please do, otherwise post it. Part B of the group application form must be posted to us.

We will automatically consider applications for all relevant funds. We normally notify you within a week of receiving all the documents to tell you when the application will be considered and who is dealing with it.

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, children and young people's plans etc
  • Your group's ability to manage, and
  • Evidence that the grant is needed

We generally give preference to new and small groups and where relevant want to know about disability access and environmental considerations.

Appeals procedure

 

 

updated 29.07.2010