Guidelines for applicants
Size of Grant
MHF aims to provide, alone or in partnership with other funders, significant and medium-term support to a small number of carefully selected projects or organisations. It is unlikely to have more than about 6-12 grants in payment at the same time and can therefore approve only a small number of new grants in any one year. One-off grants may be between £5,000 and £50,000. Grants for more than one year could be between £20,000 and £30,000 p.a. for two or three years.
Potential applicants are asked to note the following
- MHF will support national as well as local bodies, provided that projects are based in the North East of England (includes regional and sub-regional projects; projects which are locally based may be considered so long as they are of wider benefit).
- MHF will not fund straightforward service provision, nor mainline university research, nor the wide range of other projects that are eligible for support elsewhere.
- The financial resources of MHF are a tiny fraction of the total available for charitable activity in the North East. The Trustees therefore wish to concentrate their resources on projects which most other funding bodies can not or will not support.
- As a charity, the Foundation must confine its grants to purposes accepted in law as charitable. However, official guidance makes it clear that charities may include a variety of political and campaigning activities to further their purposes. ‘Speaking Out - Guidance on Political Activity and Campaigning by Charities’ [CC9 March 2008 version] published by the Charity Commission can be viewed and printed from www.charitycommission.gov.uk or can be obtained by phoning 0845 3000 218.
- The Foundation wishes to promote equal opportunities and diversity through its grant-making. It will do its best to ensure that applications are dealt with fairly and that no one is denied access to information or funding on grounds of race, colour, ethnicity or national origin, religious affiliation, gender, sexual orientation, age or disability. If appropriate, the Foundation will offer help with the completion of an application.
- The Foundation welcomes applications from stand-alone projects, from organisations which sponsor or manage projects, from two or more projects applying jointly, and particularly from projects involving service users.
- In certain cases, and strictly subject to compliance with the Charity Commission’s guidance CC9, the Foundation may be willing to support proposals which involve non-violent direct action.
- The Trustees may consider an additional element of grant to allow for support from a consultant to assist with campaigning, lobbying, media and public relations.
- The Trustees are willing to take some risks in funding projects which strongly reflect the above policy. The Administrator is available to discuss and give guidance on the submission of innovative proposals.