General Guidelines

TWF accepts requests for funding under each of our Grant Programmes. Each of our Grant Programmes has specific requirements or deadlines which you must follow if submitting an application for funding. Please read the guidelines on the relevant pages before submitting a funding application. Further general information on our application guidelines can be found below.

General application guidelines

TWF accepts requests for funding under each of our Grant Programmes. Each of our Grant Programmes has specific requirements or deadlines which you must follow if submitting an application for funding. Please read the guidelines on the relevant pages before submitting a funding application.

All applications must be sent to applications@waterloofoundation.org.uk in order to be eligible.

Should you wish to view the Terms and Conditions you will be asked to sign and agree prior to making an application please click here.

We will not consider applications for grants in the following areas:

the promotion of religious or political causes
general appeals or circulars.

For further information on our application guidelines please also look at our general Frequently Asked Questions below

Applications FAQs

Who can apply for funding?

We welcome applications from organisations with projects that have a recognisable charitable purpose. Your project has to be allowed within the terms of your constitution or rules and, if you are not a registered charity, you will need to send us a copy of your constitution, to ensure that there is sufficient public benefit.
As a general rule you can apply to us if you are one of the following:
– A charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales; the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR); or the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland.
– A charity with a formal constitution and an income of less that £5,000
– A social enterprise or not-for-profit organisation
– A Community Interest Company
– A Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
– An NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation) based outside of the UK
– A University / Academic Institution
Before applying for funding you should check our individual programme application guideline pages for any exceptions. If you are a charitable organisation based outside the UK, please ensure that you have followed the correct registration procedure for the country you are operating in and that you are eligible to receive funding from a UK organisation. You should also follow our specific guidelines if you are based outside the UK and are applying under our World Development or Environment programmes.

Do you fund individuals?

The Foundation is unlikely to fund applications from individuals or for the benefit of an individual.

How much can we apply for?

The level of grant available will depend on the Grant Programme you are applying under – please consult the Grant Programme pages for more information.

Do you have an application form?

No. All applications should be submitted in the form of an email and sent to applications@waterloofoundation.org.uk
Please read the guidelines on the following pages before submitting a funding application:
World Development – application guidelines
Environment – application guidelines
Child Development – application guidelines
Wales – application guidelines

Are there specific deadlines for funding applications?

For details of specific deadlines for funding applications, please see the guidance on the individual grant programme pages:
World Development – application guidelines
Environment – application guidelines
Child Development – application guidelines
Wales – application guidelines

What is the application process?

All funding applications we receive are reviewed at a first assessment stage. Applications which are deemed to be ineligible or do not clearly meet our main priorities are rejected at this assessment stage. We aim to contact all organisations after this first assessment to let them know if they have been unsuccessful.
The applications which are deemed to have best met our criteria are then taken forward to our second assessment stage. These are researched by the relevant Fund Manager, who will contact grant applicants to ask for further details about the funding proposal. The strongest applications are then taken forward for discussion with our Trustees who will make a final decision whether a grant can be awarded.

Will I receive feedback if my application is unsuccessful?

Due to the high volume of applications received, we are unable to offer tailored feedback to applications that are unsuccessful at the first stage of assessment.
Feedback is available for those applications that are unsuccessful at the second stage of assessment, directly from the Fund Manager reviewing the application.

Thinking of reapplying?

If you have already been funded by TWF, please contact the Fund Manager who dealt with your application to discuss further funding.
If your application has not been successful, you can apply again but please note that submitting an application for the same project or request is not going to be successful.

Where else can we get funding?

If your project does not meet the criteria for our programmes, you may find the following list of organisations can offer you advice and/or assistance. This is not a complete directory and is in no way a recommendation from the Foundation.

National Organisations | Organisations in Wales | Organisations supporting Child Development / Medical

National Organisations

Association of Charitable Foundations

This website gives information about charitable trust funding in the UK and abroad. It has links to mainly charitable trusts and foundations.

BBC Children in Need

Grants are open to organisations working with disadvantaged children and young people who are 18 years old and under based in the UK.

Big Lottery Fund

Provides funds for community groups and to projects that improve health, education and the environment.

Comic Relief

This charity funds charitable projects in the UK and developing countries.

Esmee Fairbairn Foundation

An independent foundation which aims to improve the quality of life throughout the UK.

Government Funding

Grant funds available for the UK voluntary and community sector available through UK Government.

GRANTnet

Is a free-to-use service provided by GRANTfinder that helps charities and community groups in the UK to find suitable funding sources.

Heritage Lottery Fund

Heritage Lottery Funding for heritage projects in the UK.

Lloyds Bank Foundation

The Foundation funds local, regional and national charities working to tackle disadvantage across England and Wales.

The King’s Trust

The trust gives practical and financial support to young people aged between 18 and 30.

UNLTD Millennium Awards

The charity supports social entrepreneurs in the UK who want to change the world for the better.

The Wolfson Foundation

The Wolfson Foundation is an independent charity that awards grants to support and promote excellence in the fields of science, health, education and the arts & humanities.

Organisations in Wales

Awards for All Wales

This website gives information about charitable trust funding in the UK and abroad. It has links to mainly charitable trusts and foundations.

Coalfields Regeneration Trust

The Trust supports community regeneration and organisations to deliver grass roots solutions to coalfield communities in Wales.

Community Foundation in Wales

The foundation promotes philanthropy in Wales by creating and managing relationships between donors and those who are running life-enhancing initiatives.

Natural Resources Wales

Grants to support voluntary organisations and community groups undertaking practical projects to contribute to sustainable development.

Interlink Small Grants Scheme

Funding advice for organisations in Rhondda Cynon Taff.

Sport Wales

Sport Wales supports a number of funding schemes that aim to increase levels of physical activity and sport in Wales.

Wales Council for Voluntary Action

WCVA manages a range of grant schemes that support local voluntary organisations, communities, groups and volunteers throughout Wales.

Welsh Government

Grants to fund schemes and initiatives that are in line with the Welsh Government’s priorities.

The Millennium Stadium Charitable Trust

The Trust provides funds in support of four main areas – sport, the arts, the environment and community.

Organisations supporting Child Development / Medical

Action Medical Research

Action Medical Research is dedicated to funding research to help reduce the high rate of premature birth and improve treatment for sick babies.

Autistica

Provides support for Autism Spectrum Conditions only.

Baily Thomas

Learning disability particularly severe learning disabilities and ASCs, not Dyslexia.

Epilepsy Research UK

The only national charity solely dedicated to epilepsy research (Epilepsy only).

Henry Smith Foundation

The Henry Smith Charity is a large grant making charity which makes grants totalling approximately £25 million each year. These go to 1,000 organisations and charities throughout the UK for initiatives and projects that address social inequality and economic disadvantage.