Grassroots Grants


Grassroots_logo.


Who can apply?

The purpose of Grassroots Grants is to support small informal voluntary and community groups and organisations, many of who are dependent on volunteers. The Community Foundation particularly welcomes applications from groups that have not had a grant of any kind before.

In light of the current economic climate and its impact, the Community Foundation will focus its support on projects which will reach the most disadvantaged people, and will achieve a long term benefit for communities in these difficult times.

The types of group or organisation that we will fund through Grassroots Grants will:

  • be a not-for-profit, third sector voluntary or community group.
  • have been active in the local community for not less than 12 months prior to 31 December 2008.
  • be able to prove that their income over the last three years, or over the group’s life if they haven’t been going for three years, has been less than £30,000 per year on average.
  • be volunteer led i.e. most of the work is being done by volunteers rather than paid staff.
  • be connected with and /or meeting the needs of their local community.
    have a governing document, though the group does not have to be a registered charity.

If you are not sure if your group fits these criteria, does not have a governing document or is missing something else from this list please contact The Community Foundation on 01380 729284 to see if we can help.

How much can be applied for?

Grants of between £250 and £5,000 are available.  £5,000 is the maximum that any one group can have from the Grassroots Fund, whether it is from The Community Foundation for Wiltshire or Swindon or from another area. Grants can be requested as a one-off payment or over more than one year, up to 2011.

Please be aware that there is a heavy demand for this fund and it is likely that only exceptional applications will achieve the maximum award.  We would ask applicants to be realistic about their need for funding.

What can be applied for?

Grassroots Grants can fund both capital and revenue costs of any kind.

How to apply?

Please follow the links to the “Expression of Interest Form”. Send this to us and we will contact you to let you know if you are eligible to apply to Grassroots or any of the other Community Foundation Funds.
Applications are considered at a quarterly grants panel meeting in March, June, September and December. The next closing dates for applications will be Friday 7th May 2010 for June decisions.

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