GrantRadar

The National Lottery Community Fund

Supporting Great Ideas

Supporting Great Ideas is The National Lottery Community Fund's Wales programme of £20,001 to £500,000 for bold, innovative ideas that lead to positive and lasting change in Wales. Projects must test new ways to tackle emerging or longstanding issues, help organisations work in new ways (such as becoming more digitally capable or building local infrastructure), or tackle problems early. You must talk to the Fund first, then send an outline in any format before being invited to a full application decided by the Wales Committee.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£20,001 – £500,000
no fixed round
Deadline
Rolling
apply any time
Effort
Heavy
budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

  • Organisations with projects in Wales that are a voluntary or community organisation, a registered charity or CIO, a statutory body (such as a local authority, town, parish or community council), a not-for-profit company (including companies limited by guarantee and CICs), or a group of organisations led by a voluntary or community organisation or statutory body
  • Unincorporated groups can be considered, but would usually be expected to use the funding to become incorporated and register as a charity if needed
  • You must have at least 2 directors (board or committee members) who are not related
  • Individuals, sole traders, organisations based outside the UK, for-profit companies (including companies limited by shares) and anyone applying on behalf of another organisation cannot apply
  • The Fund looks for ideas that involve the people who will benefit, build on existing work, and show commitment to inclusion and sustainability, from organisations that are community led, strengths based and connected locally

What it funds

Projects in Wales that meet at least one aim (innovative ideas that test new ways to tackle emerging or longstanding issues; enabling organisations to work in new ways, including becoming more digitally capable, enabling mutual support, or building the infrastructure needed for local action to thrive; enabling more people to reach their potential by tackling problems early):

  • Staff salaries
  • Project activities
  • Running costs
  • Equipment
  • Organisational development

What it will not fund

  • Activities that generate profit for private gain
  • Religious activity (unless it clearly benefits the wider community)
  • Activities that replace government funding
  • Activities that only benefit individuals, rather than the wider community
  • Retrospective costs
  • Loan repayments

How to apply

  1. Get in touch before applying (wales@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk or Advice Line 0300 123 0735) and tell the Fund about your idea: what and why, fit with the priorities, the difference it makes, community involvement, your background, the funding and timescale needed, and how it is innovative and strategically important
  2. If the idea is a good fit, send an outline proposal in any format (for example a short video, email or document); the Fund gives an initial decision within 2 weeks
  3. If the outline is accepted, submit a full application with your detailed proposal, organisation information and partnership agreement (if relevant), with guidance and a Funding Officer to help
  4. The Wales Committee makes the final decision, usually within 12 weeks
  5. If successful, agree a payment plan, progress reporting and assurance with the Fund

unsuccessful applicants get feedback from their Funding Officer.

Have ready

  • Outline proposal (any format)
  • Detailed proposal (full application stage)
  • Organisation information (full application stage)
  • Partnership agreement (if relevant)

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