How to Apply

The information below forms general guidance – please make sure to visit the pages of the programme you are applying for to get more specific guidance.

Applications will only be accepted using the online application form which will be accessible when the programme is open. In order to access the form you will need to complete an eligibility checklist – if you are not eligible you will not be able to open the main form.

Applications, when open, must be submitted before the stated deadline as they will not be considered if incomplete or late. We would recommend that you keep a copy of your completed form. 

As well as completing the online form you will be asked to attach certain documents, such as:

• Your most recent full-year accounts (NB these must be independently examined/audited regardless of whether nor not your regulatory body requires it)
• Your Safeguarding Policy
• A copy of your certificate of registration as an NGO or CBO (for Overseas applications only)
• A copy of your Constitution or similar and which must contain your dissolution clause

Many of the questions on the form have a word limit – please try not to exceed the limit. We prefer to hear about your organisation and your project in your own words, there is no need to use jargon or to make huge claims about numbers of beneficiaries or outcomes as we will judge the proposal on many things, eg level of need, track-record or expertise in what you want to do, service-user engagement, governance, fit with our priorities.

You may be asked to provide the contact details of someone within a funding organisation, independent of you or your organisation who can provide a reference for your work. This organisation must have funded you within the previous 24 months. An individual donor cannot be a referee I’m afraid.

And last, but definitely not least, we recognise that it takes time and effort to make an application – as it does for us to process them. If you don’t meet the essential criteria and/or the work you do is not a close fit with our priorities please resist making a “might as well” application as you will be very unlikely to be successful – sorry!

Can we provide very specific guidance?

Unfortunately we are unable to provide guidance as to whether or not your particular project is likely to be successful etc as it is unrealistic to do this until we see the full application and have all the information we need. 

Most of the information you will need to make your application is on this website so please be familiar with it before you apply. If there is something you are not clear about and you cannot find the answer then we are happy to clarify, if possible. Contact us via email in the first instance. 

What do we look for in an application?

You should read the specific criteria for the programme you are applying to. For certain pieces of work, eg those that involve specialist or sensitive services such as counselling, dealing with vulnerable people, etc, you will be expected to have the necessary track record and expertise – if you don’t then you are unlikely to be funded. In some instances a professional qualification or quality mark might be required

Good governance is also important – you will need to have at least 4 trustees who are unrelated to each other and to the organisations Director/CEO; and none of whom live at the same address.

There should be a clear history of returning accounts and other documents to your regulatory body on time as organisations with late returns (without good reason) are unlikely to be funded.

We expect organisations to be solvent and to have a clear history of good management of finances. We will not necessarily judge against organisations for having low free reserves (as you probably need our funding more than ever!), so long as there is a reasonable chance of them not disappearing completely. Organisations’ accounts which show negative free reserves will not be funded.

If you are a new organisation and cannot provide a full year’s examined accounts then you will need to provide a full and realistic income and expenditure budget for the current 12-month period, identifying those funds which are already confirmed and the likely sources of those funds which are still to be raised.

What happens after you apply?

As part of the assessment process we may wish to speak to you by telephone or Zoom. Please don’t worry if we ask to speak with you in this way! These meetings are to help us get a fuller picture of your proposal and to give you a chance to talk about your work as it is not always easy for you to do it justice on a written application.

During the periods we are open for applications we will state when you are likely to have a decision from us. By and large we try to give applicants a decision with 12 weeks of the closing date but, if we have a  large number of applications, that may not always be possible but will let you know if our stated timescale is delayed.

Inevitably we get many more applications than we can support. If your application is declined we will endeavour to provide feedback if you wish – just get in touch.