The Main Grants Scheme supports U.K. based charities which have a core remit of the Arts or Learning.  Applications are also accepted from U.K. based state schools.

We welcome applications from all regions and countries of the U.K.

Smaller Arts or Learning charities with a turnover of less than £150K per annum are usually more suited to our Small Grants Scheme.  On occasion we can accept an application under the Main Grants Scheme, but in these cases, the decision may still be made to internally transfer the request to the Small Grants Scheme.

Generally, the applying charity should be requesting funds for themselves rather than fundraising on behalf of another organisation.  The applying charity must take full responsibility for any grant made, and funding for projects/activities/services must be managed/delivered/provided by the applying charity.  We will support projects/initiatives where applicants work in partnership on joint projects with other similar organisations.  In these cases, a lead charity must be identified and they must be actively involved with the project – they will be the applying charity and any grant would be made to them.

We cannot accept applications from charities with a core remit of Health (we stopped our Health programme in 2009).

We are unlikely to consider applications from social and community welfare charities under the Main Grants Scheme.

We are unlikely to consider applications from grant making charities.

We cannot accept applications from school PTAs, Friends Groups or Academy Trusts (even if they are registered as charities – individual schools can apply).

We make single grants only (no multi-year grants) to charities that can demonstrate ongoing financial stability for the next 12 months from the date of their application.  We can consider applications towards:

• Project revenue costs.
• Essential equipment and digital services.
• Core costs, which is aimed at those with no, or without significant, public funding.
• Capital projects. The Foundation is unlikely to consider a request for building related costs if your lease is for less than 20 years.  Please note that we do not fund feasibility studies and if RIBA stages apply, you must have reached at least RIBA Stage 3 before making a full capital application.  Major infrastructure, services and equipment renewal projects will be eligible for consideration.  We welcome projects/proposals that help reduce fixed or variable costs to promote efficiency savings, or which enable the generation of higher income, or additional revenue streams.  We also welcome projects that promote environmental efficiency and reduce your carbon footprint or energy costs.  If you wish to apply for a building project and request £75,000 or more, you must first submit an enquiry form for the Foundation to review, and if necessary, advise on, before you are able to proceed to a full application.

Organisations and projects that provide direct benefits and services to the general public (rather than special interest groups) will be favoured.

We will support projects/initiatives where applicants work in partnership on joint projects with other similar organisations.  In such cases a lead organisation, to which any grant will be made, must be identified.

Charities must demonstrate ongoing financial viability over the next 12 months. If you cannot demonstrate this, your application is likely to be declined.

We do not to support start-up costs for new charities.

Retrospective funding will not be considered.

The Foundation seeks applications that make a strong artistic case for support in either the performing or visual arts.  Our Arts programme aims to help sustain the arts and to support projects that help to deliver your artistic vision.  We look for value for money, long term benefit and sustainability in projects that we support.

Typical areas of support include:

• helping to make the arts more accessible by developing new and more diverse audiences;
• encouraging new work and supporting young and emerging artists; skilled freelancers and independent practitioners;
• projects that encourage sustainability by reducing overheads or which help generate additional revenue.  This might include environmental improvements to save energy and lower carbon emissions.

The Foundation will support projects which facilitate the acquisition of knowledge and learning and which have a long-term strategic impact.

Key areas for support are:

• libraries, museums and archives;
• special educational needs;
• projects that encourage sustainability by reducing overheads or which help generate additional revenue. This might include environmental improvements to save energy and lower carbon emissions;
• projects and activities which increase access and widen the diversity of attenders/visitors.

Citizenship, esteem-building, independent living, vocational skills training, life skills, mainstream early learning projects or playgroups/preschools will not generally be considered under the Main Grants Scheme.

Universities

For Universities we will consider supporting arts, museum, archive or special collection projects, which meet a clear public benefit.  All University projects should enable general and not just specialist use, the majority of time, and not be limited to out of term use, or be relatively inaccessible by being sited in remote parts of University buildings or campuses where public access will be restricted.

In all cases we will expect Universities to be contributing to the project in financial and not just in-kind terms. Some grants may be offered on a matched funding basis.

If applying for reading/library resources, please refer to the Foyle School Library Scheme.

We cannot accept applications from school PTAs, Friends Groups or Academy Trusts (even if they are registered as charities – individual schools can apply).

Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND)

Dedicated educational establishments catering for those with SEND can be considered for educational/arts projects.

Applications are normally considered towards supporting children and young people with SEND from 0 to 25 years to reach their educational potential. This includes (but is not limited to) sensory rooms, equipment to aid learning, arts activities and educational therapy/therapists. The application form needs to clearly demonstrate the educational benefits of any funding requested.

Depending on your type of provision, please use either the Main Grants Scheme (charities) or Main Grants Scheme (schools) application form.

Although not necessary before applying, if you are unsure regarding your eligibility, you are welcome to contact The Foyle Foundation Grants Team for further advice (mgs@foylefoundation.org.uk).

State Schools

For state funded schools our main initiative is the Foyle School Library Scheme.

State funded mainstream schools may be funded from time to time under the Main Grants Scheme for other projects with direct arts/educational benefits but must demonstrate why their project cannot be funded from statutory or other funding and also explain their long-term commitment to this activity.  For example, requests could be towards support of arts provision including, but not limited to, equipment such as staging and lighting and musical instruments.

Major school building projects, investment in IT (except for SEN leaning aids), PSHE curriculum related activities and sports projects will not be considered from mainstream schools. Mainstream independent schools (excluding schools for pupils with special educational needs) will not be considered.

The minimum you can apply for is £10K – the majority of Main Grants Scheme grants are in the range of £10K to £50K for revenue applications, with some larger grants possible depending upon need and purpose.  Please note that if successful, the Trustees may award less than the amount requested.

If applying for a capital project and you are requesting £75K or more, please first fill in the enquiry form.

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE WILL STOP ACCEPTING NEW APPLICATIONS TO THE MAIN GRANTS SCHEME (INCLUDING BUILDING PROJECTS APPLICATIONS FOR LESS THAN £75K) ON 31 JANUARY 2025.

FOR CAPITAL REQUESTS £75K AND OVER WE WILL CLOSE FOR STAGE ONE ENQUIRIES ON 31 MAY 2024.  NOTE THAT IF YOU THEN PROGRESS TO A FULL STAGE TWO APPLICATION, WE WILL CLOSE FOR APPLICATIONS ON 30 JUNE 2024.

Otherwise, online applications can be submitted at any time.  Once received, it will take up to four months, occasionally longer, to receive a decision from Trustees.  Please also note that we can only consider applications for projects (and funding periods) which will be completed before the end of 2025.

For capital projects, please note that usually we will not accept an application if the design has not completed RIBA Stage 2 and reached RIBA Stage 3 (Developed Design).

If a previous application was declined, the charity is eligible to reapply 12 months after the previous request date (please note scheme closure dates above).

If a previous application was approved:

• where a grant of less than £75K had been awarded, the charity is eligible to apply to the Foundation 12 months after the approval date (providing all requirements of last grant are fulfilled). However, please note that once you have received a grant from The Foundation you may not be a priority for funding in the following year. Please also note scheme closure dates above.
• where a grant of £75K or over had been awarded, the Foundation will not normally accept a further application within three years from the date of the final instalment (providing all requirements of last grant are fulfilled). Please also note scheme closure dates above.

• Accounts:
  1. Latest full set of year end accounts
  2. Income and expenditure figures for the last financial year (applicable if there has been a completed financial year since your latest signed accounts, but for which accounts have not yet been finalised and signed.)
• Annual Budgets:
  1. Current annual budget
  2. Annual budget for year any grant would be spent in (applicable if the request is for funding which would be spent in the year after your current financial year. This will often be the case when you are approaching your current year end.)
• Request budget (not required if request is for core costs)
• Safeguarding policy (reviewed within last 12 months)

We expect all charities applying to The Foyle Foundation, regardless of the type of charity, to have considered their safeguarding responsibilities and to have suitable policies and procedures in place to protect from harm all people who come into contact with the charity (including trustees, volunteers, staff and users/beneficiaries of the organisation).

As per Charity Commission guidance, if your charity works with children or adults at risk you should:

• Establish good safeguarding policies and procedures that all trustees, staff and volunteers follow, which fit with the policies and procedures of your local authority safeguarding partner or safeguarding children or adults board
• Make sure all staff and volunteers receive regular training on child protection or working with adults at risk
• Appoint a safeguarding lead to work with your local authority safeguarding boards and/or create a plan for responding to concerns overseas
• Manage concerns, complaints, whistleblowing and allegations relating to child protection or adults at risk effectively
• Have clear policies when DBS checks are required, how you assess the level of check needed and how you handle the information

You must follow relevant legislation and guidance (please refer to this government guidance for safeguarding and protecting people for charities and trustees for more information).  If you do not have adequate safeguarding policies, we may be unable to fund you.