Standard Grant Programme

The Standard Grant Programme remains the main focus of the Foundation, and focuses on social and community welfare and education and training.

There are four closing dates per year, usually the second Friday of January, April, July and October. The dates for 2012 are listed below.  The board meet to consider applications, normally during the first week of March, June, September and December, making the waiting time for a decision around 10 weeks from the closing date. You should be notified of the result of your application no more than 2 weeks after the Board have met.

The average grant is currently between £3,000-4,000.

CHANGE TO ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA – INCOME MUST BE UNDER £1MILLION

As of Friday 8^th April 2011, in order for organisations to be eligible to apply, they must have an income of less than £1million in the previous 12 months.  For registered charities with a Headquarters based outside Northern Ireland, the income of their Northern Ireland operation will be the figure used to assess eligibility. 

 The Trustees have taken this decision as there have been an increasing number of applications to the Foundation which makes the decision process more difficult.  Also the Trustees are keen to ensure they stay in line with the overall aim of the Foundation, ‘to support underfunded charities that enable people, especially disadvantaged or people with special needs, to play a fuller role in the community.’ This new eligibility will stay in place for the foreseeable future.