The Main Grants Scheme re-opened for new on-line applications from 15 July to support charities registered and operating in the United Kingdom with a core remit of the Arts or Learning.

Smaller Arts or Learning Charities with a turnover under £150,000 per annum may be more suitable for consideration under their Small Grants Scheme (separate guidelines available on the website).

Please note that Foyle Foundation do not support applications from individuals.

Revised Criteria for Support

The Foundation understands that charities are now operating within very different circumstances since the March 2020 Coronavirus lockdown and during the gradual relaxation of social distancing restrictions. They are keen to be as flexible as possible in our support of charities during this difficult and constantly changing ongoing period. The Foundation has consulted, listened to the needs of the sectors we support and reflected on how we could adapt our grant-making to be more flexible and relevant in our response during these unprecedented times. As a result, until further notice, they have revised our criteria for support to include the following:

  1. Their focus will change to make one-year grants only (no multi-year grants) to charities that can demonstrate ongoing financial stability for the next 12 months from the date of their application.
  2. More grants to cover core costs, favouring those with no, or without significant, public funding.
  3. Grants to cover essential equipment or re-equipping to enable ongoing service provision, home working, delivery of on-line digital services and education work.
  4. Grants to enable minor works, or fund equipment, to enable social distancing within buildings.
  5. Projects/schemes that employ or support skilled freelance and independent artists and practitioners.
  6. Projects/proposals that help reduce fixed or variable costs to promote efficiency savings, or which enable the generation of higher income, or additional revenue streams. This can include environmental efficiency projects to reduce your carbon footprint, energy costs, or which improve internal air circulation systems to improve safety for visitors.
  7. Occasionally, to consider additional support (by exception) for existing building project already supported and underway, as costs will have increased during lockdown and site closures and where this will prevent the wipe-out of reserves. (Please discuss your situation with The Foundation before applying).
  8. We are suspending our Capital Projects programme until July 2021. We will not accept applications for major new building projects until then and only for projects that have not started before July 2021.

Charities must demonstrate ongoing financial viability over the next 12 months. Please note that demonstrating sustainability in the current uncertain climate is vitally important. If you cannot demonstrate this, your application is likely to be declined. For example, you must let us know:

  •  the impact of Coronavirus on your organisation to date
  • how you have retrenched, reduced staff and other costs, or cut back your normal service
  • what services you can still provide and to whom and by what means
  • how you are implementing/or intend to implement social distancing rules
  • what your revised Covid 19 affected annual income/expenditure forecast is likely to be
  • what income you have raised to date for the current year
  • your current shortfall for the year and how you consider that this can be met
  • if you have any reserves and how they are being used to support your charity at this time
  • what borrowings have you incurred, or are contemplating, for how much and on what terms as to interest and repayment
  • if you are able to access any central or local government, public agency or lottery funding
  • the details of any other funding sources you are applying for

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