Small Grants Scheme Guidelines
These guidelines were last updated on 8 March 2022. Guidelines and application forms are updated regularly throughout the year – please ensure you download the most recent guidelines to read through and to use the most recent application form links.
The Foundation understands that charities are now operating in different circumstances due to the pandemic. We are keen to be as flexible as can be in our support of small charities following this difficult and constantly changing period, while maintaining a focus on those who can demonstrate a clear (usually local) need for their services and financial viability over the twelve months from the date of their application.
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. Please note we are not able to support individuals. School PTAs and Friend groups are not eligible to apply. We are unlikely to support newly set up charities without a track record.
Online applications can be accepted from charities that have an annual turnover of less than £150,000 per annum. Larger or national charities will normally not be considered under this scheme. We take into consideration your latest complete financial year, however, if you expect your turnover to exceed £150,000 in your current financial year, you are unlikely to be supported.
Please note that competition is intense; we receive many more applications than we are able to fund.
What the Foundation will Fund
Our focus will be to make one-year grants only, to cover core costs, 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. We are unlikely to consider a request if the lease is less than 10 years. 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.
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 non-religious activity.
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. For example, you must let us know:
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?
There are no deadlines - 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.
If a previous application is declined, the charity is eligible to reapply 12 months after the previous request date.
If a previous application is 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.
Other Information
If a grant is awarded it can only be used for expenditure or 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.
We are unlikely to consider applications from grant making charities.
Generally, the applying charity must 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.
The Foundation is unlikely to support charities that have built up considerable unrestricted reserves.
Please note that we purposely do not have a word limit to allow applicants the space to give us the information necessary to explain the project and the need for funding, but please keep answers relevant, clear and succinct.
Further information regarding the scheme, attachments and the application from can be found on the Frequently Asked Questions.
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 people who come into contact with the charity.
As per Charity Commission guidance, if your charity works with children or adults at risk you should:
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.
How To Apply
Applications need to be submitted online. Information/Documents you will need:
Creating an Account & Starting a New Application
You will need to create an account using your email address as part of the application process. Once an account is created, you will receive email confirmation of this within a few minutes. If this is not received please contact the Grants Team before proceeding.
You will be able to save an application you are working on and return to it later via your account. A copy of the application questions can be emailed to yourself or others after you begin to complete the form.
Note that applications you are working on will timeout after 60 minutes. The timer is reset either when you save or navigate between pages. Typing alone will not reset the timer.
Many applicants choose to type their answers onto a Microsoft Word document and then copy and paste onto the online form once ready to submit their application.
Further information regarding the scheme, attachments and the application from can be found on the Frequently Asked Questions.
Personal Information
The Foyle Foundation is committed to protecting all personal information you provide to us. We will only use contact information you provide for administration, evaluation and research purposes to facilitate our grant making and to further our charitable activities. Personal contact information will not be made public in anyway. Please also see our Privacy Notice.