Tees Foundation

Tees Million

Grants of up to £2,500, available all year round with no deadline, for community projects in Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Redcar and Cleveland, and Darlington. Applicants do not need to be registered charities as long as they have a constitution or governing document, their own bank account in the same name as the application, and a governing body of at least three people. Decisions aim to be made and paid within four weeks. A separate Tees Challenge route exists for bigger ambitions beyond £5,000, offering diagnostics, match funding and sustainability guidance alongside money.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: Up to £2,500; no fixed round
Deadline: Rolling; apply any time
Effort: Light; short form, little evidence needed

Who can apply

Voluntary or community organisations, registered charities, parish or town councils that are led by the community and not by members of the council, and schools where the project does not form part of the National Curriculum
Applicant groups do not need to be registered charities provided there is an appropriate constitution or governing document in place and the group can demonstrate it complies with all relevant safeguarding requirements for the activities being funded
The group must have its own bank account in the same name as the application, and a governing body or board with a minimum of three members
You must be operating in, and benefiting, one or more of the communities of Darlington, Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool or Redcar and Cleveland
A reference is required from a professional who does not work directly for the applying organisation and who has knowledge of the group and its activities
Other than the bursary fund, the Foundation does not make grants to individuals

What it funds

Community projects in Teesside run by charities and groups whose sole purpose is supporting the community, including:

Work reaching individuals or communities that might not otherwise be reached
Support for groups through tough times such as the cost-of-living crisis

Activities taking place on religious premises can be funded where they benefit the wider community.

What it will not fund

Overseas travel
Religious activities — though activities on religious premises benefiting the wider community can be funded
Individuals, other than through the Foundation's bursary fund
Organisations whose sole purpose is not supporting the community
School projects that form part of the National Curriculum
Parish or town council applications led by members of the council rather than by the community

you may apply more than once in a 12-month period, but previous applications and funding are taken into account

How to apply

Register for an account on the Foundation's grants portal — registrations are activated manually, usually within two hours between 9am and 5pm Monday to Thursday
Log in and complete the application, telling the Foundation about your cause
Attach an up-to-date, signed copy of your constitution and a bank statement in the name of the group applying
Give the details of a professional referee who does not work directly for your organisation
Submit; the status changes from 'In Progress' to 'Received'

Tees Million is an open call with no deadline or cut-off date for submissions

registering outside office hours will not be processed until 9am on a Monday

the Foundation operates a voicemail-only service; leave a message and a staff member returns the call in office hours

for a need beyond a £5,000 grant, use the Tees Challenge expression of interest form instead

Have ready

An up-to-date, signed copy of your constitution or governing document
A bank statement in the name of the group applying
Details of a professional referee who does not work directly for your organisation and knows your group and its activities

end of project reports, case studies, press releases, images or scanned receipts are welcomed after the grant but not required to apply

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