Supporting great ideas

Who can apply?

You can apply if you’re a:

• Voluntary/community organisation
• registered charity or charitable incorporated organisation (CIO)
• statutory body (including local authority, town, parish or community council)
• not for profit company including companies limited by guarantee and Community Interest Companies with two or more directors (see below for ineligible CICs)
• group of organisations, as long as the lead applicant is either a voluntary/ community organisation or statutory body.

We can’t accept applications from:

• individuals
• sole traders
• organisations based outside the UK
• anyone who is applying on behalf of another organisation
• organisations that are aimed at generating profits primarily for private distribution. This includes those without sufficient asset locks or organisations that can pay profits to directors or shareholders, which may include some CICs limited by shares
• organisations without at least two unconnected* people on the board or committee.

(*not a relation by blood, marriage, in a long-term relationship or people living together at the same address)

We will consider funding unincorporated groups, but normally expect the groups to use our funding to incorporate and, where appropriate, register as a charity.

What can you spend the money on?

We can fund:

• staff salaries
• project activities
• running costs
• equipment
• organisational development

For COVID-19 related ideas, we encourage you to think about any costs needed to help you and your community through the current crisis. As well as the costs to deliver your activity, this might include: contribution to fixed costs, investment in your systems, people and infrastructure, dedicated capacity development.

We can fund some political activity and campaigning

But only if:

• the activity is not party political. This means that it must be about policy, practice, or legislation rather than opposing or supporting a political party.
• the activity is meant to help the cause of your organisation and benefit the public or society.

We will not fund projects where political activities are the main purpose. But we can fund projects that are mainly about campaigning.

We cannot fund:

• activities that generate profits for private gain
• religious activity (although we are able to fund religious organisations if they are providing benefit for the wider community)
• activities that replace government funding
• activities that benefit individuals, rather than the wider community
• retrospective costs
  
• loan repayments.
  

Not sure if you’re eligible?

If you’re not sure If you’re eligible, please contact us by emailing wales@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk or calling our Advice Line on 0300 1230735.

Before you consider submitting an application, it is crucial that you speak with us first so that we can establish whether your idea is suitable for this funding.

There’s no closing date for Supporting great ideas – you can apply at any time.

The time it takes to get a decision from us may vary. We are prioritising applications that are COVID-19 related and we will try and tell you our decision as soon as possible.

If you want to put in an application that is not related to COVID-19, you are welcome to do so. However, given our focus on COVID-19, please be aware that there is likely to be greater competition for our funding and that we might not be able to get to you within our normal turnaround times.

1. Find out if we can fund you

• Check that you’re eligible
• Talk to us (see Getting Started for contact details)

2. Tell us your idea

First, give us a brief outline of what you want to do.

We appreciate you may not have all the details of your idea, but to help us build a good understanding, please be prepared to talk about the following when you contact us:

1. What you want to do and why?
2. What difference do you think your idea will make?
3. How are people and communities involved with your project?
4. What is the background of your organisation?
5. How much money do you need from us and for how long?
6. How does your idea fit in with other local activities?
7. How is your project innovative* and strategically** important?

If your project is COVID-19 related, we also want to know:

• How your organisation fits with the priorities we have outlined above?
• What the requested funding would cover?

• If new / additional activity, please describe what the activity would involve, who it will help and why you think it will support the community at this particular time of crisis

• What time period the funding would cover?
• How much funding you are requesting? Please note that we can’t provide unrestricted funding so do provide us with a budget with the main cost items our funding will cover

*By ‘innovative’ we mean:

• New kinds of activity and service to tackle new or emerging needs: or
• New or better ways of delivering an existing service.

**By ‘strategically important’ we mean:

• Projects of a strategic nature such as those which support communities indirectly, build partnership and effective working across sectors: or
• Projects with similar aims outlined in the Fund’s Civil Society strategy.

Once we have agreed that your project idea is suitable for this funding programme, you can send us an outline proposal in a format that best suits your organisation. For example you can send us a video or email us. If you have any problems submitting your idea in any way, do call us.

We’ll then get in touch with you within two weeks with our initial decision.

3. Submit a full application

If your outline proposal is accepted, we'll ask you to submit a full application.

Your application will be made up of:

• your proposal for funding
• organisation details
• your partnership agreement (if applicable)

You will be sent guidance on how to put together your full proposal including areas that you need to cover. Your Funding Officer will also be able to provide additional advice.

A funding decision on your application will be made by The National Lottery Community Fund’s Wales Committee, based on an assessment by the relevant Funding Officer. You can expect a final decision on your full application within 12 weeks.

If you’re successful

You’ll get a call from your Funding Officer and an offer letter in the post.

If you’re unsuccessful

You’ll get a call or email from your Funding Officer letting you know the decision and offering any relevant feedback.

4. Get ongoing support

If you’re successful, we’ll work with you to identify the right level of support throughout the duration of your grant.

We’ll agree your payment plan, how often you’ll update us on your progress, and how we gain assurance for the funding we have awarded.

We’ll also discuss how we can support you to celebrate and promote your funding, engage with the wider community and share your learning with others.

Please speak to us before starting your application, you can contact us by emailing wales@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk or calling our Advice Line on 0300 1230735.