Grants - Grant Applicants

What funds does the Foundation manage?

The Foundation has five funds:

  • General grant making – small grants of up to £500, or more for specific issues agreed with our donors.
  • Sport Relief – grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 (although grants of over £2,500 are unusual).
  • Help the Aged – small grants of up to £500 for groups supporting the elderly. A joint fund between Help the Aged and the Community Foundation.
  • Fair Share Trust – a fund specifically for Dallow Ward in Luton with grants of between £5,000 and £100,000 available.
  • Grassroots Grants - for small, volunteer led groups with an income of under £20,000. Grants of up to £5,000 per group in total are available for the period to March 2011.

Do we have to be a registered charity to get funding?

No – we make grants to community groups that are not registered charities, but they must be properly constituted and have a bank account in the name of the group.

When do your grants panels meet?

Our general grant panels meet every two months, usually in May, July, September, November, January, March each year. Completed applications are required to be with us by the middle of the month before so that they can be properly assessed. Urgent projects can be considered on a rolling basis and Fair Share Trust also has a rolling programme of assessment meetings.

Can we get help with our forms?

Yes – we are quite happy to talk through your bid either by phone, e-mail or in person.

Do we need to tell you how we’ve spent the grant?

Yes – we will need a report from you that shows how the grant has been used for the project shown in the application. Depending on the size of the grant, we may ask to see receipts for items purchased. We will ask for copies of any documents that show how the grant was used (e.g. newsletters, photograph of events etc.) and ask that you publicise the Foundation’s grant in your annual report and accounts. Failure to meet our terms and conditions may jeopardise future support and in extreme circumstances, we may require a refund of grant moneys.