Guidance to Fund Seekers

Fast Track Application Form

 

Who we are:

The Isle of Dogs Community Foundation (IDCF) was established in 1990 to address social need in the pre-May 2002 Millwall and Blackwall wards of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. In January 2008, IDCF extended its area of benefit to include the wards of Limehouse and East India & Lansbury. Its constitution creates a permanent partnership between the local business, statutory and voluntary sectors.

IDCF is a community foundation working to create confident and integrated communities on the Isle of Dogs, supporting local community needs through a constructive and responsive grant programme. We aim to be constantly abreast of changing needs within our area of benefit in order to identify where grant-making and influence can best help meet those most pressing needs.

The Focus of our grant giving: Priorities for 2008/09

Training & Employment

  • Target those over 19 years of age
  • Move people nearer to the job market, including the local job market. This should include people at a very basic level and financial support to participate e.g. pre-vocational training e.g. literacy, numeracy, ESOL, confidence building etc
  • Training does not have to be accredited, but an explanation of why the training is appropriate is required under theses circumstance
  • Employment agencies, brokerage or work experience where there is clear relevance to moving clients towards and/ or into employment (this may include advice & guidance and life skills e.g:. presentation / transition to work / work etiquette

 Education

  • Target those 19 years of age and under
  • Support to year 8 pupils
  • Oracy, linked to written work (communication skills)
  • Support to achieving improved level of GCSE Maths / English
  • Supplementary social or life skills including family support and family learning, parenting skills, transition to work / work etiquette, role models, social firms

Community Development

  • Staffing issues (inc. salaries) up to a maximum of £10k in any year
  • Professionalising the voluntary sector
  • Supporting social enterprise

Who Can Apply?

We invite applications from non-profit organisations that work within the area of benefit. Your organisation may be a registered charity, a voluntary or community organisation. You must have your own constitution and bank account as required under charity law.

What you can apply for:

Fast Track Applications up to £800. These grants are awarded as a contribution towards purchasing equipment, social outings, and events etc.

Standard Applications up to £10,000. These grants are awarded as a contribution towards salaries, running costs, capital works (to a maximum of 50%), feasibility studies etc. projects working in IDCF’s priority areas.

Large Applications over £10,000 p.a. for multiple years are also available to larger, well established organisations.

What we will not Fund:

  • Individuals
  • Projects with primarily religious activities
  • Projects with primarily political activities

 

  • Projects/activities that are a statutory service
  • Activities that have already taken place
  • Activities that are the responsibility of the Local or Health Authorities

 

How to apply:

Grant requests must always be made in the following ways:

Fast Track Grants: Via our 3-page application form.

Standard Grants: Call IDCF to discuss your proposal and then complete the Standard Grant application form.

Large Grants: Call IDCF to discuss and then complete an Expression of Interest.

How we assess your application:

When staff and Trustees look at an application you will be assessed against the following criteria:

Evidence. Your application should offer evidence of need for the project.

Diversity. Priority will be given to projects which in their management, staffing and user groups, reflect the multi-cultural nature of the community and have substantial local involvement in the project’s management.

Success. We expect your project to have measurable goals for monitoring and evaluation and we will require completion of a monitoring form of all intended outcomes.

Co-operation. Priority will be given to projects that involve co-operation and partnership between voluntary and community organisations in the area.

Creativity. We want to fund projects committed to sustainable change and will seek evidence of this in your bid.

Good Management. We support organisations that set high standards for themselves and others. We need to see effective management systems appropriate to your their stage of development and we will look for assurances that our grant will be well managed.

IDCF, Jack Dash House, 2 Lawn House Close, London, E14 9YQ - 020 7345 4444

August 2008