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Community grants > Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions
On this page:

1. How much can we apply for?

2. Can we apply for a repeat grant – or for longer than a year?

3. There are a number of things we would like to do, and need to find funding for. Can we find out which ones have the best chance of getting a grant?

4. What happens if we get turned down. Will we know why?

5. What information will you use to make a decision on our request?


1. How much can we apply for?

Our programmes do not have specific ‘limits’ to the size of awards, but clearly the more you apply for, the more strongly your request must compete against the high number of very good quality applications we receive each year.

The following chart provides a quick guide to the number of awards to organisations made at particular ‘levels’ of grant size during our financial year 2004 to 2005. The numbers vary considerably year to year, but it should give you an indication of the spread of awards.

Grant size Awards Education Relief Recreation
Over £20,000 8 2 6  
0
£15,000 - £19,999 1 0 1
0
£10,000 - £14,999 1 0 0 1
£5,000 - £9,999 12 3 8 1
£2,500 - £4,999 6 5 1 0
£1,000 - £2,499 14 6 2 6
£500 - £999 2 1
1
0
Under £500 1 0 0 1

2. Can we apply for a repeat grant - or for longer than a year?

It is becoming unusual for the Charity to provide repeat funding for the same project activities. With fierce competition for grants, we do not want to raise the expectations of any organisation that - however successful their project has been - we can fund their activities year after year.

You will see from our grant lists, however, that sometimes we make awards to organisations for project activities lasting longer than one year. Talk to us first if you are considering applying for a grant that you would plan to draw down over several years.


3. There are a number of things we would like to do, and need to find funding for. Can we find out which ones have the best chance of getting a grant?

Yes, we can try and give you early, informal guidance on how a ‘wishlist’ of project activities may fare when it comes to formal assessment. The more detailed the information you provide, of course, the better our guidance can be.

4. What happens if we get turned down. Will we know why?

We do not have the resources to support every good quality application we receive. We will always try (particularly for larger project requests) to give some guidance when we do not make an award to an organisation. We know this can be helpful.

5. What information will you use to make a decision on our request?

Our Trustees will see the key answers to the questions that we asked in our application form. If you have sent a brief covering letter (not more than 2 sides of A4), they will see that usually too.

Our staff will keep on file any additional background information you have sent us, which will be available at the Trustee meetings to help them answer specific questions on your application.

If we need more information from you before making a decision on your request, we will ask you.

We hope that our Grant guidelines and How to apply sections answer many of your questions. Here are some more that we are frequently asked.
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The Bedford Charity, Princeton Court, Pilgrim Centre, Brickhill Drive, Bedford, MK41 7PZ
Tel: 01234 369500 | Email:
info@harpur-trust.org.uk | Charity number: 204817