Application links are available on the individual funding pages, accessible via the Grants page. For further information, please refer to our FAQs or email [email protected]. Please find information for Stage One & Stage Two applications below:
- Single-Stage Applications
If you are applying for a grant under one of these Funds:
- School Holiday Activity Fund
- Capacity Building Micro Grants
- Refurbishment Fund: Small Grant
- Cultural Capital Fund (Arts & Schools)
Then there is a single stage application process. To access the application form, please visit the relevant Fund page.
Applications for these Funds can be submitted at any time. Please note, applications to the School Holiday Activity Fund are subject to cut-offs ahead of each holiday period. If unsure, please click here to double check SHAF Application deadlines.
- Two-Stage Applications
If you are applying for a grant under one of these Funds:
- Open Programme
- Schools in Partnership
- Refurbishment Fund: Main Grant
Then there is a two stage application process.
Stage One: Proposal Process
To apply, please visit the relevant Fund page.
In addition to providing a proposal letter, which should be approximately two sides of A4 in length, you will also be expected to provide the following information:
- Information about your organisation
- A summary of the main purpose of your project
- Details of how much your project will cost in total
- How much you are requesting from the Charity
- The timescale of your project
- What you will spend the Charity’s contribution on
During the assessment of your proposal, a member of the Grants Team will be in contact with you and may request a site visit. We may also send your proposal to one of our Advisers, or arrange for an Adviser to visit you to discuss your proposal in more detail. You can submit Stage One proposals at any time.
To help you with your application, please see our Stage One Proposal Letter guidelines here.
The Grants Team will be in touch once we have received your Stage One Proposal. If appropriate, the Grants Team will invite you to proceed to Stage Two in the application process.
Stage Two: Application Form
If your Stage One proposal is assessed positively, a member of the Grants Team will inform you that your proposal has been successful and send a link to the Stage Two application form. Please note, that the Stage Two application process only applies to Main Grants, Schools in Partnership and Bursary.
The application process will consist of three parts:
Part 1 – Application Form – The link to the application form will be sent to you by your grants manager.
Part 2 – Project Budget – You will be able to download this form during the online application process. This should cover the whole cost of the project, including what has been requested from the Charity
Part 3 - Organisation Budget – You will be able to download this form during the online application process.
In some cases, you may be asked to submit a Departmental Budget.To complete the second stage application, you will also be asked for the following documents. Please note, the application will not be processed without the following:
- Annual accounts (signed and audited – if applicable)
- Safeguarding policy
- Equality and diversity policy
- A recent bank statement
- Job description - (if the application is for a salary)
- Supporting documents - (optional)
- Time Frame
We are currently receiving a very high volume of proposals and meetings are always oversubscribed well in advance. We advise that you submit your proposal to the Charity as early as possible and we will be in touch with you within six weeks to confirm next steps.
When we are able to progress proposals to the Second Stage application process, it is currently taking around ten months for decisions to be confirmed. Second Stage applications are considered by the Grants Committee and approved by the Foundation Governors (the Trustee) at meetings twice a year in June and November.
Whilst we try our best to process your requests in a timeframe that meets your funding needs, due to demand on the Charity's resources, we cannot guarantee this. We will be in contact with you throughout the assessment process to discuss your funding requirements and financial situation.
If we are unable to process your proposal and take it to the Second Stage application process, we aim to let you know as soon as possible.
If you have any issues or questions regarding submitting an application, please email [email protected]. If you are at all unsure about your eligibility, please refer back to our Eligibility page.