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SMALL GRANTS SCHEME GUIDELINES

General information on how to apply, including details on creating/accessing an account, and online application forms information can be found in the general How to Apply page.

Please also refer to the Frequently Asked Questions where you can find further detail and guidance on eligibility and making an application (including technical questions about your online account/application form).

Please note that competition is intense; we receive many more applications than we are able to fund.

Planned Completion of the Small Grants Scheme

The Foyle Foundation will complete its grant giving programme in 2025, thereby marking 25 years of giving to the fields of the Arts, Learning, Community Small Grants, State Schools Libraries and formerly Health.

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE WILL STOP ACCEPTING NEW APPLICATIONS TO THE SMALL GRANTS SCHEME ON 30 APRIL 2025.

Applications can continue to be submitted at anytime up to the final cut off date noted above.  Please also note that we can only consider applications for projects (and funding periods) which will be completed before the end of 2025.  

Please also refer to the Frequently Asked Questions for further information on the gradual planned closure of all grant schemes.

Who Can Apply

Our Small Grants Scheme is designed to support charities registered and operating in the United Kingdom, especially those working at grass roots and local community level, in any field, across a wide range of activities.

Applications can be accepted from charities that have an annual turnover of less than £150,000.  Larger or national charities will normally not be considered under this scheme.

Generally, the applying charity should be requesting funds for themselves rather than fundraising on behalf of another organisation.  The applying charity must take full responsibility for any grant made, and funding for projects/activities/services must be managed/delivered/provided by the applying charity.  We will support projects/initiatives where applicants work in partnership on joint projects with other similar organisations.  In these cases, a lead charity must be identified and they must be actively involved with the project – they will be the applying charity and any grant would be made to them.

The Foundation is unlikely to support charities that have built up considerable unrestricted reserves.

We are unlikely to support newly set up charities without a track record.

We are unlikely to consider applications from grant making charities.

School PTAs/friend groups/school fundraising arms are not eligible to apply.

Please note we are not able to support individuals.

What You Can Apply For

We make single grants only (no multi-year grants) towards core costs (including supporting salaries), projects, essential equipment or building projects.

Our priority will be to support local charities still active in their communities which are currently delivering services to the young, vulnerable, elderly, disadvantaged or the general community.

If applying for funding towards a capital project please apply towards the end of your fundraising campaign, when the majority of funding has been raised and you have an estimated start date for the works.  If your application is successful, the pledged grant offer is only valid for 12 months.  Please note that the Foundation does not fund feasibility studies.

Applicants must show how any grant will make a significant difference to their current work.

Charities must demonstrate ongoing financial viability over the next 12 months.  If you cannot demonstrate this, your application is likely to be declined.

If a grant is awarded it can only be used for expenditure/activities/purchases after the grant is approved.  The Foundation does not support retrospective funding.

The Foundation is unlikely to consider a request for building related costs if your lease is for less than 10 years.

The Foyle Foundation does not fund religious activity or activities promoting religion.  If applying from a religious organisation and/or place of worship we will expect to see a clear division in both your accounts and application between your religious and wider community activity.

How Much Can You Apply For

Charities can apply for between £2,000 and £10,000.  Please note that if successful, the Trustees may award less than the amount requested.

When Can You Apply

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE WILL STOP ACCEPTING NEW APPLICATIONS TO THE SMALL GRANTS SCHEME ON 30 APRIL 2025.

Otherwise online applications can be submitted at any time.  Once received, it will take up to four months, occasionally longer, to receive a decision from Trustees.  Please also note that we can only consider applications for projects (and funding periods) which will be completed before the end of 2025.

If a previous application was declined, the charity is eligible to reapply 12 months after the previous request date.

If a previous application was approved, the charity is eligible to reapply to the Foundation from 12 months after the approval date (providing all requirements of last grant are fulfilled).  However, please note that once you have received a grant from The Foundation it is unlikely that you will be a priority for funding in the following year.

Documents You Will Need to Attach to your Application

  • Accounts:
    • Latest full set of year end accounts
    • Income and expenditure figures for the last financial year (applicable if there has been a completed financial year since your latest signed accounts, but for which accounts have not yet been finalised and signed.)
  • Annual Budgets:
    • Current annual budget
    • Annual budget for year any grant would be spent in (applicable if the request is for funding which would be spent in the year after your current financial year. This will often be the case when you are approaching your current year end.)
  • Copy of latest bank statement
  • Request budget (not required if request is for core costs)
  • Safeguarding policy (reviewed within last 12 months)

Safeguarding

We expect all charities applying to The Foyle Foundation, regardless of the type of charity, to have considered their safeguarding responsibilities and to have suitable policies and procedures in place to protect from harm all people who come into contact with the charity (including trustees, volunteers, staff and users/beneficiaries of the organisation).

As per Charity Commission guidance, if your charity works with children or adults at risk you should:

  • Establish good safeguarding policies and procedures that all trustees, staff and volunteers follow, which fit with the policies and procedures of your local authority safeguarding partner or safeguarding children or adults board
  • Make sure all staff and volunteers receive regular training on child protection or working with adults at risk
  • Appoint a safeguarding lead to work with your local authority safeguarding boards and/or create a plan for responding to concerns overseas
  • Manage concerns, complaints, whistleblowing and allegations relating to child protection or adults at risk effectively
  • Have clear policies when DBS checks are required, how you assess the level of check needed and how you handle the information

You must follow relevant legislation and guidance (please refer to this government guidance for safeguarding and protecting people for charities and trustees for more information).  If you do not have adequate safeguarding policies, we may be unable to fund you.

In order to submit an application on behalf of your charity, you should have permission of a Trustee and the charity’s Management Team.

The Foyle Foundation is committed to protecting all personal information you provide to us. Please also see our Privacy Notice