Cumbria Community Foundation manages more than 100 different grant making funds.

We will assess your application according to the criteria of the relevant fund or in the case of the Cumbria Fund, our current grant making priorities.

When we assess your application we are looking for evidence that it is a good quality proposal that has a strong social purpose and that you are the right organisation to carry it out. We use the application form, supporting information and what you tell us, to decide this.

If funds are limited then priority may be given to projects that will have the greatest positive impact on our communities or that are addressing current issues, e.g. additional hardship arising from the cost of living crisis.

When your application is received it will be acknowledged within five working days. If the application form is not fully completed or you have not sent us the additional information we ask for, we may send it back to you or keep it on hold until the additional information is received.

Completed applications are reviewed by a Grants & Programmes Officer who may contact you by telephone or visit you.

If the application is eligible for funding, it is normally presented to one of our grants committees, made up of a group of local people with a good general knowledge of local communities and the issues facing those from disadvantaged backgrounds. In some instances, we may consult with our fundholders who wish to be involved in the decision-making process.

How We Assess Applications for Funding

We want to support organisations that make a real difference in their communities.

Below is an overview of how we assess applications to ensure fairness, transparency, and the best use of our funds.

1. About Your Organisation

We review your organisation’s purpose, structure, and governance as part of our due diligence. This helps us ensure your organisation is well-run and suitable for funding.

We consider:

• When your organisation was established and its legal structure.
• Whether you have at least three unrelated directors/trustees.
• Your organisation’s track record, including past funding history.

2. Financial Assessment

We check your financial stability to ensure our funds are used responsibly and your organisation can deliver the proposed project.

We look at:

• Your latest accounts and bank statements.
• Funding sources and future sustainability plans.
• Whether your organisation relies heavily on one or two funders.
• Whether your expenditure and staff costs are reasonable.
• Level of reserves held and for what purpose. An acceptable level is equivalent to 12 months or less of operating costs. If reserves exceed this, CCF requires an explanation.
• Level of earned income if your organisation is a social enterprise.

3. Identifying Need & Demand

We ensure your project meets a real need in the community.

We consider:

• Evidence of demand, such as surveys or feedback.
• How your project benefits disadvantaged groups.
• How your organisation ensures accessibility and inclusivity.
• Your understanding of who else is delivering similar services in the area to avoid duplication.
• Whether the project aligns with one of our grant-making priorities.

4. Measuring Impact

We assess the expected impact of your project.

We look for:

• Clear, measurable outputs and outcomes.
• How the project will benefit the community.
• How progress and success will be tracked and reported.

5. Project Feasibility

We assess how achievable your project is.

We consider:

• Whether the project aligns with your organisation’s aims.
• Whether the team has the right skills and qualifications.
• Risks and challenges, and how they will be managed.

6. Long-Term Sustainability

We consider how your project will continue beyond our funding.

We look at:

• Plans for future funding.
• Potential for income generation.
• The likelihood of attracting support from other funders.

7. Value for Money

We ensure funding is used effectively.

We check:

• If project costs are reasonable and justified. Salary costs should be reasonable and, where possible, reflect at least the Living Wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation.
• If a fair proportion of funds goes towards direct service delivery.
• If additional funding or volunteer support is being leveraged.

8. Safeguarding

We expect organisations to have a safeguarding policy and procedures in place, proportionate to the level of risk in their activities (provide link to detailed guidance):

Risk levels:

• Low Risk: No direct public service delivery.
• Medium Risk: Some public interaction but not working alone with vulnerable individuals.
• High Risk: Direct services for vulnerable groups require a robust safeguarding policy.

9. Conditions of Award

Some grants may have conditions that must be met before funds are released, such as:

• Updating safeguarding policies.
• Providing supporting financial documents.
• Securing match funding.

10. Final Decision

Once all assessments are complete, we recommend a funding amount based on the application’s merit, which is considered by the fundholder or Grants Committee. If successful, you’ll receive confirmation, and we’ll outline any conditions attached to the grant.

For any questions about our funding process, please get in touch with us.

Decision timeline

If your project is particularly urgent we may be able to operate a ‘fast track’ process. Please contact us for more information.

Our Grants Committees meet every three months. Once we have made a decision about your application, we will inform you within five working days. You will receive the funding within four to six weeks. Fast track decisions are usually within six weeks.

We cannot make grants to all the applications we receive. Your proposal may be worthwhile but we just might not have the right fund or enough money to award a grant. If your application is turned down, we will tell you why it was not successful. Our Complaints, Reconsideration and Appeals Procedure for Grant Making has information on how to make an appeal.

It is important to note that we require all grant applicants to have adequate safeguarding policies and procedures in place. If you work directly with children or adults at risk, we also require you to have in place an appropriately trained designated safeguarding lead, evidence of regular safeguarding training for all staff and volunteers, and for there to be appropriate checks on trustees, staff and volunteers in eligible. For more information see  https://www.cumbriafoundation.org/safeguarding-faq/

If successful, grants are paid directly into the grant recipient’s bank account. We may occasionally make grant payments by cheque.