TFN Regional Application Form

| Resume a previously saved form
Resume Later

In order to be able to resume this form later, please enter your email and choose a password.

Application form Guidance

Thank you for your interest in applying to The Funding Network (TFN). Please read the below guidance before continuing with your application. 

 

What kind of organisations will be considered?

TFN supports projects that aim to achieve social change: they have the potential to enable enduring positive transformation for individuals, communities, society and/or the environment over the long term.  To see examples of previously funded projects, please visit our website.


In addition:

·        TFN does not support organisations which involve the promotion of any specific religion or are affiliated to any political party.

·        Organisations do not have to be a registered charity but must be a registered not-for-profit with charitable aims (ie social enterprise, CIO, CIC are all fine, as long as they are non-profit or the profit is reinvested. This should be clearly stated within the organisation's governing documents).

·        Organisations will normally be small or medium-sized, where up to £5,000 would make a useful contribution either to a particular piece of work or to the organisation’s core costs;  as a general principle, organisations should have an annual income of under £500,000.

·       For our regional events, TFN will only accept applications from projects which work in the local area or have their national or international office based in that region.

Organisations already funded by TFN may re-apply after at least one year’s gap. If a project is not successful at the Selection Panel it may be resubmitted, but only once in a 12 month period. Projects which have received funding from TFN on multiple occasions may find it more difficult to secure further funding - if you would like to discuss your options before completing your application please contact jennie@thefundingnetwork.org.uk.

 

What is the role of the sponsor? 

TFN was created as a network of people interested in giving to social change projects, and the requirements for sponsoring a project reflect this. In London, the sponsor must be a TFN Member but this is not the case for our regional events - but they do need to know you and be able to vouch for your work. If selected, your sponsor must be prepared to publicly pledge at least £250 to the project and speak in support of the project on the night. These requirements are designed to be an indication that they are confident the project is sound and would spend the money wisely.

 

Sponsors may not be in the paid employ of a project that they sponsor; other kinds of personal affiliation with projects, such as trustee, mentor, or volunteer relationships are entirely acceptable.

 

Application Process

Please complete the following application form by 23.59 on Monday 18th February. If you would like feedback on your application before submitting, please contact Jennie by 9am on Thursday 7th February  at the very latest - we can access your form remotely, but you will need to notify us and let us know any specific questions. 


You should ask your sponsor to look over your application form before submitting so that they can give you support and feedback (there is the option to save the form and access it via your email and a password). 

 

When completing your application please do not provide links to other reading or documents. Your application will only be assessed on the information provided in the application form and our subsequent due diligence. 

 

Selection Process

The selection process has two parts - all applications are initially read and scored against criteria to create a shortlist. The Selection Panel then meets and has five-minute telephone calls with each of the shortlisted projects - this will take place from 10.30am - 12 noon on Thursday 28th February. This is designed in part to judge the ability of your proposed presenter and it is therefore essential that they be available for this call. All projects are informed of the outcome a few days after this meeting. 

 

Typically four organisations will be selected to present at each event, with the aim of getting a good range of issues and geographies covered. TFN always receives more applications than slots available and it is a competitive environment but will we endeavour to give feedback to both selected and rejected applicants.

 

Selected projects are required to attend a meeting with the TFN team prior to the event. 

What information will you be asked for? 

The TFN application is broken down into four sections:
  • Organisation Details
  • Your Application
  • Financial Information
  • Monitoring Information
Organisation Details:
Organisation contact details
Organisation set-up (or intended set-up)
Social media details (if any)
Presenter information
Name of Sponsor 
*Documents needed: if you are a registered company limited by shares, we'll need your articles of association

Your Application:
Aim of your organisation (30 words)
Aim of the project for which you are seeking funding (30 words)
Background to your project and organisation (100 words)
What problem is the project addressing? (100 words)
What is the purpose of the funding you are applying for? (drop down options)
How will your project address the need identified? (250 words)
How many people will your project directly reach? And who are they? (30 words)
If applicable, how many people will your project indirectly reach? And who are they? (30 words)
Project budget (attachment upload)
Please explain what you would do with a contribution from TFN. (200 words)
What social change will this project achieve and how do you plan to assess this? (200 words)
Sponsors note (100 words)

Financial Information:
What is your annual turnover for the last full financial year? (30 words)
What is your projected income for the current financial year? (30 words)
What are your main sources of funding and how long are these secured for? (50 words)
What is your reserves policy? (100 words)
What is your current level of free reserves? (50 words)
*Documents needed: most recent annual accounts or budget/cash flow/management accounts in lieu of these

Monitoring Information:
Location you work in
Beneficiary group you support
Need you address
If you work with vulnerable people, do you have a safeguarding policy in place? 
Details of your current Trustees/Directors, occupations and dates appointed (if any)
*Documents needed: a publicity photograph (if available)

Page 3 - Organisation Details



edit hint text






TFN will only support organisations limited by shares if it is written into their governing documents that 100% of any profits are reinvested back into the organisation. We will not support organisations if they have the potential to pay dividends to non-charity shareholders now, or in the future. To confirm your status please attach your Articles of Association.

Please provide an outline of your organisation structure and how you meet TFN's criteria of being not for profit with charitable aims.















Page 4 - Your Application


A very brief description of the mission and objectives of your organisation

A very brief description of the project.

Why was your organisation created? What does your existing work do?

What is the need and how have you identified this? Why is your project important? Include any measurements that have been taken to verify the problem - statistics, your own or independent research etc



What is your solution to the problem you have identified? Unless this is a new project please mention what you have achieved in the last year and give evidence of your track record. Outline how your project will work and if you have a compelling sum that shows how funding your project would save resources elsewhere please include this.



Indirect beneficiaries include: wider family, community, etc


How will you assess the impact of the project? What results do you expect to see - do you have any evidence that your solution will solve the problem you have identified? If this is an existing project please provide details of your impact to date.


Please explain how you would spend up £3,000 - £5,000 (a brief budget is useful) and provide an explanation of how you plan to raise any money not raised at TFN.

A brief statement from your sponsor outlining why he/she thinks your organisation is worth support, and details of any affiliation between the sponsor and the organisation.

Page 5  - Financial Information







Page 6 - Monitoring Information


This should be a photo which brings your project to life and will be used by the TFN team in publicity materials should you be selected for the event.



Please select the country where your work takes place. If this is across more than one country, please select the option where this specific project will operate. If your work is global then please select the global option.

Please provide details of your Trustees or organisation Directors, their current occupation and the date they were appointed to your board. 
Name Occupation Date Appointed
Trustee
Trustee
Trustee
Trustee
Trustee
Trustee
Trustee
Trustee



Save my progress and resume later | Resume a previously saved form

Need assistance with this form?