The Application Process - Heart of Bucks Community Foundation

Who can apply?

Grant applications must come from organisations which are formally constituted, not-for-profit, and operating for the benefit of Buckinghamshire residents.

Eligible organisations include:

Charities
Community Benefit Societies
Community Interest Companies (CICs) limited by guarantee – our priority is to fund new and expansion projects but other applications will be considered
Social Enterprises
Parish Councils (for projects outside the PC’s statutory obligations)
Faith-based organisations (for projects which do not involve promotion of any particular faith)
PTAs (for projects which involve and benefit the wider community)

We are unable to fund:

Organisations and/or projects operating solely outside of Buckinghamshire, including Milton Keynes
Activities promoting a particular religious or political belief
Overseas travel
Individuals
Statutory organisations (with the exception of parish councils)
CICs limited by shares
Organisations whose principle concern is animal welfare
Relief of statutory responsibilities
Schools and private education organisations
Retrospective funding

Eligibility requirements

In order for us to award grant funding, organisations must be able to meet the requirements below. If you need any support, please see our resources page where you can find templates for many of the requirements listed.

A minimum of three independent and unrelated directors/trustees and two independent and unrelated cheque signatories.

An appropriate governing document which confirms that you are operating not-for-profit and with a dissolution clause which outlines that any assets are transferred to another charitable organisation.

Our minimum policy requirements are health and safety, equal opportunities and safeguarding (if applicable). These must be formally adopted by your organisation and we may request copies.

A copy of your organisation’s accounts from the most recent financial year or a bank statement for new organisations.

A financial system of control must be in place for all payments, including online. The person making the payment must be different from the person who has approved the payment.

If you have previously received a grant from us we must have received your end of grant report, including evidence of expenditure.

If you are a Community Interest Company, you will be required to submit a CIC 36 form (if registered in the last 12 months) or a CIC 34 annual report (if registered for more than 12 months).

If you require funding towards maintenance or improvement of a building or land that your organisation does not own, a long lease will be required. You will need to provide a copy of this.

Step-by-step guide to submitting an application

Step 1

Find out if your organisation can apply by checking the eligibility requirements above.
Step 2

If you are eligible, browse our available funds. The maximum you can apply for will be detailed on each fund page.
Step 3

To start your application, you will need to register or log-in to our funding portal.

Step 4

Once your application has been submitted, it will be assessed by our grants team. We may ask you for more information or evidence to establish whether it can be put forward to our independent panel.
Step 5

If your application can proceed to the panel, a decision will be made in-line with the criteria and usually within two months of the application deadline. If your application is approved we will arrange payment to you, or if it is unsuccessful we will explain the reason why.
Step 6

Following the completion of your project, you are required to complete an End of Grant Report. You will be automatically prompted to complete this 12 months after receiving your grant. This helps us and you to measure the impact of your project and is a key condition of your grant award.