Guide to applying: Finance Fund

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Application ProcessAudio version of guide to applying

If your work is eligible for support and meets the Finance Fund priorities then we would welcome your application.

We have a two-stage application process:

  1. Make an online first stage application that allows us to make an initial assessment and decide whether to take your application to the second stage.

You will be able to save and return to your application at any time, print before submitting and you will receive an email with your completed application after submission. Once you've created your online account you can log in from this website and return to your application.

To make an application:

  • create an account or log in
  • complete the online form which includes your organisation details, application details and a summary of your proposal using the headings given in the online form, in no more that 1,000 words (equivalent to about two sides of A4)
  • attach your most recent accounts (or a budget for the current year if your organisation is new, or the appropriate departmental budget if you are a local authority)
  • if you are not a registered charity you will also need to attach your constitution.

We recommend using the following browsers both of which can be downloaded for free: Internet Explorer (Microsoft) or Firefox (Mozilla).

If you have any questions, please check the FAQs or contact us at info@esmeefairbairn.org.uk or 020 7812 3700.

  1. If your application is successful at first stage we will contact you to invite you to make a second stage application and inform you of what further information is required.

If your first stage application is unsuccessful we will notify you by email.

We make funding decisions throughout the year so you can apply at any time, but we only consider one application per organisation at a time.

You do not need to have matched funding in place before applying but where the total cost of the work you propose for funding is high, you should indicate other sources of funding or specific plans to apply elsewhere.

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FAQs

Q:

Can I speak to someone over the phone to see whether we are eligible for funding?

A:

For a conversation to be meaningful we first need to read your first stage application.

We will call you if we need to know more.  Existing grant-holders should get in touch with their grants manager at the Foundation.

Q:

Do you have funding deadlines? When are these?

A:

There are no deadlines – we assess applications on a rolling basis so you can submit an application to us at any time.

Q:

Can my organisation have more than one investment at a time?

A:

Where an organisation is developing or running multiple funds, we may make an investment in a second or third fund.  We do not generally expect more than 10% of the Finance Fund to be allocated to a specific fund manager.

Q:

Do I need to have matched funding in place before applying?

A:

No.  However, it may help to have funding commitments from other sources and certainly a credible investment raising plan.

Q:

You require to see our constitution if we are not a registered charity - what is a constitution?

A:

A constitution is a document that outlines the rules that will govern your organisation (e.g. how many trustees/directors will you have, how they will be appointed).  It should cover what an organisation is set up for and how it is run.  Your local Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) or other local capacity building organisations may be able to help with developing a constitution, or if there is a membership organisation for your sector.  If you do not have a signed constitution then we will not be able to make a grant to you.