Eligibility and new applicants

We welcome applications from organisations and individuals applying to us for the first time. 

Building strong relationships is central to how we work, and so, we have a few key requirements for first-time applicants. 

• It’s essential that you read our full eligibility guidance before starting your application. 
• We only accept one application from first-time applicants at a time. 
• If your organisation receives a grant, you’ll need to submit a satisfactory monitoring or progress report before applying again. 
• As a small grants funder, our typical grant size (for general applications) is around £5,000.  
• Ensure you include all requested information and supporting documents. Missing items may delay your application or result in it being withdrawn. 
• If your organisation doesn’t yet have formal annual accounts, you can submit management accounts or a cashflow forecast instead. 
• As a first-time applicant, we may contact you for further information. It’s part of our process to better understand your organisation and application. 

We recommend attending our in-person ‘Time to Talk’ sessions before submitting your first application. These sessions offer valuable insights into our funding process and give you a chance to ask questions in advance.

Your organisation does not have to be a registered charity to apply to us. While most of our grants go to charities, we do sometimes support community interest companies and other non-charitable social enterprises. We have specific guidance for them, which is here.

To be eligible, an organisation must have: 

• a governing document, such as a constitution or memorandum and articles of association 
• a board of at least three unrelated individuals 
• directors/trustees to have equal control 
• a bank account in the organisation’s legal name  
• two unrelated bank signatories  
• adequate safeguarding policies and procedures; this includes both safeguarding for adults and children. For more detailed information, please see here: Safeguarding 
• a business plan (if the organisation is a non-charity social enterprise, such as a CIC). This must demonstrate how the organisation is or aims to be financially resilient, with trading as a core source of income 
• submitted all due monitoring 

We are able to fund a broad range of applications, including unrestricted support, core costs, project delivery, and capital expenditure. Whatever type of funding you are seeking, your application must be for something which is charitable in law, and which supports the impact areas in our strategy.

For an application to be eligible, it must:  

• be for work that is legally charitable 
• be in line with your organisation’s objects
• support one or more of our impact areas

Whilst our aims are intentionally broad, there are certain types of applications and costs that we are unable to support.  

We do not fund:  

• contributions to general appeals or circulars
• advancement of religion
• advancement of animal welfare
• grant-making or equivalent gifts in kind by other organisations (although we can fund provision of necessary goods for a service e.g. food parcels or activity packs)
• activities primarily intended to support a public body in fulfilling its statutory obligations
• activities which have already taken place
• applications from privately owned and profit-distributing companies or partnerships

The Community Foundation has some funds that have been set up to help individuals. These funds have specific eligibility criteria and so full attention should be paid to the specific call for applications and any associated guidelines. 

We do not have any funds for individuals that support cost-of-living related issues. If you need help with cost-of-living issues you can find information here 

Please only apply if your request fits with one of the funds shown.

Please note: 

• To submit an application you need to be registered on our grantee portal. If you are not currently registered you need to allow up to two working days for your registration to be checked.
• Some funds have deadlines.
• You will normally get a funding decision from us within 12 weeks from the date we receive your completed application.
• Please only apply if your request fits with one of the funds shown.
• Please download and read the guidance before starting an application in response to a current call.

Our ‘Help Notes’ provide step‑by‑step guidance for each question and are available here.