Grants Policy

• Requests for funding are invited from organisations registered with the Charity Commission for projects covered by one of the four grant programmes set out below.

• Grant applications can be submitted on-line via our website or if preferred by post.
  

• Applications are considered by trustees on a regular basis and small grants (up to a maximum of £2000) are awarded monthly.
  Trustees meet every six months to award approximately twenty large grants of between £10,000 and £20,000 with an occasional maximum of £50,000.
  

• Trustees will consider applications for core costs as well as for development / project funding.

• Grants are normally awarded on a one-off basis and repeat applications are not usually considered within two years of the award.
  

• Feedback on project outcomes is appreciated in any case and is required in support of repeat applications.
  

• Bodies legally exempt from registration with the Charity Commission may also apply and small grants are sometimes made to unregistered groups in the West Midlands (who must nevertheless have a constitution, an elected committee and a bank account controlled by two or more committee members.)
  

• All applicants will receive a response from the trust whether or not their application has been successful.
  

Birmingham and the West Midlands

• Community Action
  Community based and organised schemes (which may be centered on a place of worship) aimed at solving local problems and improving the quality of life of community members.

• Vulnerable Groups
  Vulnerable groups include the elderly, children and young people, the disabled, asylum seekers and similar minorities.

• Advice, Mediation and Counselling
  Applicants must be able to point to the rigorous selection, training and monitoring of front line staff (particularly in the absence of formal qualifications) as well as to the overall need for the service provided.

• Education and Training
  Trustees are particularly interested in schemes that help people of working age develop new skills in order to re-enter the jobs market.

• Environment and Conservation
  Projects which address the impact of climate change and projects to preserve buildings and installations of historic importance and local interest.

• Medical and Healthcare
  Covers hospices, self help groups and some medical research which must be based in and be of potential benefit to the West Midlands.

• The Arts
  Music, drama and the visual arts, museums and art galleries.

United Kingdom

• The Religious Society of Friends
  Support for groups with a clear Quaker connection and support for the work of the Religious Society of Friends in the UK.

• Penal Affairs
  Restorative Justice, prison based projects and work with ex offenders aimed at reducing re-offending.
  

Ireland

• Peace and Reconciliation.

International Development

• Africa
  The International Development programme is concentrated on West Africa and work to reduce poverty on a sustainable basis in both rural and urban communities. Schemes that help children access education are also supported.

• Asia and Eastern Europe

• South America

Exclusions

The Trust does not fund:

• Individuals (whether for research, expeditions, educational purposes or medical treatment).

• Projects concerned with travel, adventure, sports or recreation.

• Organisations which do not have UK charity registration (except those legally exempt from registration and in exceptional circumstances West Midlands based small grant applications).
  

The Trust receives many more applications than can be supported and even if your project meets our requirements we may not be able to help particularly if you are located outside the West Midlands.