Making an application
This video will give you an overview of the following
- Making a strong application.
- Common mistakes made.
- What happens after your application is submitted.
- What our assessors look for in an application.
- What happens if your application is successful.
Important information to know before applying
Documents for open grant rounds
Each time The Community Foundation for Ireland makes a grant, the Grants Team check the documentation of the applicant organisation. Each grant round requires different documents to be submitted so check the criteria and application form for what you need to submit.
The information below states what the documentation needs to include so we can complete our checks easily.
Bank statement: This should be a bank statement from the last six months. This can be downloaded from your organisation’s online banking, or a good quality scanned or photographed copy of the statement can be submitted. This is so we know which bank account to pay the grant into if successful. We don’t need to see the balance or any of the transactions on the statement, so please blank out these details before sending it to us.
Needs to include:
- Account name that matches the application. We cannot make grants to individuals, only not-for-profit organisations.
- Account number, Sort Code, BIC and IBAN.
- Credit Unions now supply a BIC and IBAN. We can only pay into a Credit Union account using a BIC and IBAN.
Governing document or Memorandum and Articles of Association: This document needs to be the signed governing document for the organisation making the application. One part of the governing document we check is the purpose and charitable objects of the organisation. The Community Foundation for Ireland does not generally fund the following:
- Animals,
- Religious activities,
- Political activities,
- Overseas travel,
- Individuals or profit making companies,
- Sports (except community sports),
- Any core or ongoing activities
Financial Accounts: This document needs to be the most recent accounts for the organisation. We cannot accept accounts more than two years old. For larger organisations the accounts submitted must be signed and audited in line with accounting regulations from the Charity Regulator Authority, 2017.
For larger grants, we may also ask for the following:
- A list of the organisation’s trustees and the dates they were appointed,
- The organisation’s current Tax Clearance certificate.
Email Scam Warning
The Community Foundation for Ireland (CFI) has been made aware of fraudulent emails circulating, either:
- Congratulating and advising you being nominated for a grant.
- Making reference to Covid-19 with dedication to local charities which are mobilising the fight against Covid-19.
- Requesting bank details to process the grant.
Such emails are not from CFI
The email may spoof the From field so it appears to be from a staff member within the company.
If you receive such an email, we recommend that you take the following steps:
- Contact us if you are unsure.
- Check the email address – it may be different to the genuine one.
- Do not use the email ‘reply’ function, from within the received email.
- Do Not open attachments to an email unless you are satisfied the emails are genuine
Additionally, look for any wording/grammar/tone that would be unusual.
All our grants are made through an application process and go through a vigorous process.
Receiving a grant
We require all applicants to provide their bank details and to attach their most recent bank statement to verify the bank account and we do not need to see any transactional information. It is very important that you provide accurate bank details in your application so that we can ensure, if you are successful, your grant is paid as soon as possible so that you can get started on your funded project. All of your bank account information is available on the top of your bank statement and can be viewed online if you use internet banking. We advise all applicants to check that their IBAN and BIC is correct before submitting an application. You can check your IBAN through the following website: http://www.ibancalculator.com Please note we are unable to pay grants into a credit union account where the credit union continues to utilise their clearing bank’s BIC and IBAN code.
Does your organisation have an account with a credit union?
As we have moved exclusively to grant payment by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) we can only pay funds into a credit union account where the credit union operates its own unique BIC code. While most credit unions now operate their own unique BIC code, unfortunately some have not yet moved over to this new system i.e. they continue to use their clearing bank’s BIC and IBAN code.
Please note we are unable to pay grants into a credit union account where the credit union continues to utilise their clearing bank’s BIC and IBAN code.
Interim and outcome reports
Depending on the size of the grant awarded, a grantee will be requested to submit either an interim and an outcome report or just an outcome report. The interim and outcome reports are designed to evaluate your project as a whole and measure the impact of our grant making. The report will allow the grant recipient, donors and The Community Foundation for Ireland to reflect on and learn from the activity the grant supported.
Grantee Survey
Every year we conduct the Grantee Survey to get feedback from organisations who apply to us for grants, both successful and unsuccessful applicants. Click to download the full 2019 Grantee Survey.
Frequently asked questions
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Can I apply to more than one grant scheme held by The Community Foundation for Ireland?
Yes, you can.
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Can I apply to multiple schemes for the same thing?
Yes you can, provided each application meets the specific criteria of each grant scheme. However, due to limited resources it is unlikely that we will be in a position to support more than one application.
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Do you require supporting documents and when should they be submitted?
We request that applicant organisations submit a recent organisational bank statement. This can be uploaded as part of the online application process. Sometimes, additional documentation is requested and this will be specified in the relevant fund criteria and/or we will contact you directly to request these.
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How can I submit my application form? Does it have to be submitted electronically?
We do not accept hard copy applications. Generally, all applications should be made using the relevant Online Application form. The submission process is outlined on each criteria document. Application forms are only accessible for the period that the fund remains open to applications.
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Does the application need to be with you before the deadline?
Yes, we will not accept applications after the stated deadline. Please check the criteria for deadline details.
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Where should I send my application?
Generally, all applications should be made using the relevant Online Application form. Please refer to the application form and criteria with the specific grants scheme. The application process will be outlined here.
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What happens if we are successful with another funder for the same project?
If this impacts on the amount you request from us please let us know your good news as outlined, we are unable to double fund a project.
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What can I apply for?
Each of our grant schemes has specific criteria, from which you will be able to find out what your project is eligible to apply for. Tip: most of our schemes are unable to fund large capital projects, general running costs and salaries. Please refer to the specific criteria for details.
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What size of charity/group will you support?
This is dependent upon the grant scheme in question, some grant schemes have an organisational income limit. Please read each specific scheme criteria carefully. Our focus is on supporting grassroots community groups working in their local community, as well as national organisations working on various issues.
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Some of your grant schemes have income limits. How do you establish a group’s annual income?
We look at the income in the last full set of accounts or, if it is a new group, in their projection for the current year. Where your last years’ income is not representative of your usual activity levels, you can submit the average income over your last 3 years.
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Do you support individuals?
No, we do not support individuals for any purpose. We can only support community and voluntary groups.
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Do we need to be a charity to apply?
No, as long as you are a constituted not-for-profit group with charitable aims, you can apply. By having charitable aims, we mean broadly that your group aims to benefit the community which you are working in.
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Do you fund overseas trips?
No.
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We’ve just had to pay out for some unexpected costs. Can we apply for a grant to cover the expenditure we incurred?
No. We will not make grants retrospectively, i.e. for costs already incurred. Bear in mind that it can take between 6 – 10 weeks for us to give you a decision on your application.
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Will I receive confirmation that my application has been received?
Yes you will receive acknowledgement that your online application has been received, if you do not receive this within three hours of submitting your application please contact us immediately. You will receive a confirmation email with a reference number for your application.
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When will I hear if I’ve been successful or unsuccessful?
We will always contact you in relation to the outcome of your application, generally 6 – 10 weeks after the closing date. If you have not had contact from us on the outcome of your application, please contact us.
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What feedback will I get if unsuccessful?
Though you will be informed by email if you are unsuccessful in your bid for funding, due to the high number of applicants unfortunately we are unable to offer individual feedback to our applicants.
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My application was rejected. Can I reapply and when can I reapply?
You are able to reapply to the next round of the scheme you applied for, however you will need to check the criteria to ensure that your project is still applicable.
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We’ve had a grant from you before. How long must I wait before I can apply again?
There is no timeframe for reapplying, please check our website for details on our grants opening and closing dates. Please note, if you have not fulfilled all reporting requirements for your previous grant, this will be taken into account when your new application is received.
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How is the grant paid?
The grant will be paid via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). However, in a few cases, we ask you to complete a Funding Agreement and/or satisfy certain special conditions before the grant is paid.
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What if the project we needed the money for doesn’t go ahead?
You will need to return the money to us. Contact us by phone on 01 874 7354 to discuss this.
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How long do we have to spend the money?
Unless it is a large grant which will be paid over two or more years, you must spend your grant within the timeframe stated on the criteria or within one year of receiving it.
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What if we are unable to deliver on the timescale?
If you are unable to deliver your project within the year please contact us to discuss the options available to you.
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What happens if we don’t spend all the money we were awarded?
You are able to submit a request to us for changes to the same project. You may need to return the under-spend.
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How can I advertise my grant/project?
Please acknowledge us in any materials produced or in publicity/news stories relating to the funded project. To access a PNG version of our logo, download here (.png 0.7MB). This should be included in any materials produced as part of the grant. We also appreciate if you use social media to promote the work.