We are here to help!
Completing a funding application might feel a little daunting but we are here to help. Thousands of small charitable organisations across Kent and Medway receive grants through us every year.
We want to make the process as easy as possible. Read through our advice and watch the videos below to help you through the grant application process.
Before you Apply
- Please check if you’re eligible by using our eligibility checker.
- If you would like to review the questions you will be asked to answer before starting the form you can download application form guidance notes here.
- We ask all applicants to consider the impact of their project on the environment, to avoid or reduce any negative impacts and maximise any positive ones. To help you, we’ve put together some helpful guidance on designing projects for people and planet here.
- There are a few things we cannot fund. Check what we can't fund here.
- Read our statement on the use of Artificial Intelligence tools in funding applications.
Assessing Your Application
- Once submitted, you will receive an email with a PDF of your completed application and your application will be assessed by our grants team
Please respond to our requests for documents and questions as quickly as possible, if we have to chase for documents that should have come in with the application, it slows things down for you. See what documents we ask for in the FAQs below
You can find the timescale for decisions in the FAQs below. If you need an update on your application, please get in touch with us
If you are new to us, we will try to visit you
What happens next?
- If your application is successful, we’ll email you a grant offer detailing what your grant is for, the amount, and any terms and conditions specific to your award. We’ll also let you know when we expect you to have spent your grant, and the feedback we are looking for
- For more details on our decision-making process, see our FAQs below
- If you've received some funding through Kent Community Foundation, please don't keep it a secret! Here are some tips on how you can publicise your grant
- We will ask for feedback at the end of your grant. Here is an example of an impact reporting form
- Around I in 4 of applications received is unsuccessful. This can be for a variety of reasons – ineligible, poor quality, insufficient funds. If you are unsuccessful ask for feedback, we cannot provide it as standard but will if you specifically ask
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my organisation can apply to Kent Community Foundation?
Visit our funding page and complete the eligibility checker.
How do I know which fund to apply to?
You can online submit one application every six months. If you are not sure which form to complete, get in touch.
What supporting documents do I need to send?
- A full month’s bank statement dated within the last 3 months (showing account name, account number and sort code). This is so we can check your organisation has its own bank account, verify bank details, and check the activity on the account looks normal. This should be your day-to-day operating account. If you wish to blank out individuals' names that is fine, but please do leave all other descriptions/date/amounts as visible as possible.
- A copy of your most recent accounts. If you do not have a full set of accounts for the last financial year, audited management accounts or an income and expenditure spreadsheet is also acceptable.
- A copy of your governing document. Only required if you are not registered with Charity Commission. This document needs to identify the charitable objects and dissolution clause.
- Your Safeguarding Policy. If applicable, and with a last-reviewed or established date within the last three years (we would expect this to include information on your DBS policy and how incidents/concerns are reported)
- Estimate(s) or quote(s) to support the amount you are requesting. Quotes for goods/services/one-off costs of the value of £750 and over.
How do we use these documents to assess an application?
- We review your latest audited accounts and the group’s sustainability.
- If a registered charity, we check your accounts and annual returns are filed and up to date. Also, that there have been no delays in doing so.
- We confirm you have a bank account with reasonable cash movement and that you have safeguards in place for all payment transactions.
- We may contact your referee and ask them to complete a reference form relating to the group/charity and the project.
- We review your group's constitution to ensure it has clear charitable objectives/aims and review the dissolution clause.
- If you work directly with vulnerable adults or children, we ensure that your group/charity has a reasonable safeguarding policy in place for each.
- We confirm that any previous grants you may have received from KCF have all been evaluated and monitored. If this has not been done, we will request it.
Who should I choose as our referee?
Your referee needs to be a professional individual, not directly benefiting from with your group, who has known your group long enough to be able to vouch for its sustainability and competence. They also need to have read your application form and know about the project for which you are applying for funding.
I can’t fill out an online application form, what should I do?
If you need help completing your application for whatever reason we are happy to help. We have a grants team who can offer advice via email, phone, or even in person if you require a little extra help. We can support those with limited or no access to a computer and the internet, or anyone with a disability who may consequently have difficulties in applying.
We understand that sometimes online forms can be difficult for those with sight problems, it may be easier for you to fill out a version of our application form on a word document if this applies to you. Please contact our grants team on 01303 814 500 for assistance with this.
Do you fund retrospectively?
We only fund activity and projects which are planned for a future date and have not yet happened. We do not offer funding retrospectively for activity which has already taken place.
How do funding decisions get made?
Around two thirds of our funds have a specific decision-making panel facilitated by KCF. These may be family funds, corporate funds, statutory funds. Panels may be annual or more frequent, they may be in-person, by email, or virtual. Decisions on the remaining third of funds are made by KCF’s own Grants Committee – we call these our discretionary funds as KCF has more influence on the decisions made.
Where we can, we try and involve external experts, or those with lived experience, in decision-making. This is a priority for us over the next three years.
How long does it take from application to get a decision?
- Micro route – once we have everything we need to assess, we aim to get you a decision within eight weeks
- General route – once we have everything we need to assess, we aim to get you a decision within four to six months
- Annual route – once we have everything we need to assess, the application is live for twelve months and decisions can come at any point
- Other ad hoc funds as advised.
When will I receive my grant after a successful application?
We aim to get grants out within about a month of the award announcement going out.
What if I am unsuccessful?
Around I in 4 of applications received is unsuccessful. This can be for a variety of reasons – ineligible, poor quality, insufficient funds. If you are unsuccessful ask for feedback, we cannot provide it as standard but will if you specifically ask.
Download our grants strategy here