Eligibility and Exclusions
What funding is available for my project?
Berkshire Community Foundation offers a variety of grants of upto £5,000.
Who can apply?
Grants are open to voluntary organisations or groups established for charitable purposes; you do not need to be a registered charity to apply, but you should have a structure which will allow for monitoring of activity and feedback to the Foundation. Application criteria differs between the grants however statutory organisations cannot apply for any Berkshire Community Foundation grants.
At the Foundation we understand that the community needs of Berkshire vary greatly and as such we welcome applications from groups benefiting older people, disaffected young people, people with mental or physical disabilities or a long term illness and their carers, homeless people, people living in areas of multiple deprivation or rural exclusion, ethnic minorities, low income families, and lone parents.
What cannot be funded?
We do not fund medical research or equipment, sponsored events, animal welfare, overseas travel/expeditions, promotion of religious or political causes, statutory work (in educational institutions or replacing statutory obligation/public funding) or groups with more than one year’s unrestricted reserves. Dependent on the grant applied for we may be able to fund running costs, or sports and arts projects that tackle wider social need. Grants are not intended to support major capital appeals and cannot be made retrospectively.
How do I apply?
The first step is to complete an Expression of Interest form. The team will then use this information to see if there is an appropriate funding stream available which may be able to support your request, and will respond with an application form, if appropriate. You can also call the grants team on 0118 9303 021, if you wish to discuss your requirements before submitting the Expression of Interest form.
What Happens Next?
All applications are assessed by a member of the grants team and then presented at a panel meeting. You may be aksed for further information at this stage.
How do we monitor your grant?
All successful applications will be provided with a monitoring form which, as well as looking at grant expenditure, asks for feedback on the difference the grant has made to your group.
What happens if the application is unsuccessful?
Should your application be unsuccessful, a member of the grants team will contact you to explain the reasons why and will provide guidance as to whether you should apply again.
