Who is eligible to apply for funding to Tees Valley Community Foundation?

You must be a local community or voluntary organisation operating in and benefiting the communities of Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland or Stockton-on-Tees. You do not have to be a registered charity, but your organisation must be for the benefit of the community.  

Can we apply for a grant if we are a new group?

We are keen to support new groups. However, you will need to be constituted and have a bank account for your group.  

How much money can we apply for and how many times can we apply?

The Foundation manages a number of different grant programmes and the amounts available / frequency of applications varies according to each programme, as stated in our Summary of Grants Programme Lists. Please click here for further details.

Do we need to have a set of rules to apply?

Yes. Your governing document (which can be a set of rules, Constitution or Memorandum and Articles of Association) shows us that you are a formally established group and that you were set up for the benefit of the community. Please click here to go to our guidelines, which tell you what must be included, as a minimum. Please click on small group or medium to large group for example constitutions.

What do you fund?

Each fund that Tees Valley Foundation manages has its own criteria and is stated in our Summary of Grants Programme List. Please click here for further details.

What do you not fund?

Please click here to go to our Guidelines, which includes a list of our general exclusions.

How do I apply?

You can apply by completing an application form, using the notes beside each question on the form and posting or e-mailing it to us. Forms are available by contacting the office or by clicking here for downloadable documents.

What makes a good application?

A request which clearly demonstrates:

• evidence of need
• community involvement
• value for money
• lasting benefit

What are common mistakes?

• Incomplete application form: ALL questions must be completed and the form must be signed, where indicated.
• Ineligible request: Please ensure that your proposal clearly fits within of our grant programmes.
• Missing supporting documents: Please ensure that you send all the documents we ask for.
• Incomplete supporting documents: Please click here for example Constitutions (small group) / (medium to large group), Accounts, Child Protection Policy and Vulnerable Adults Policy. All these documents show what should be included (as a minimum) in your governing / financial documents.
• Supporting documents (i.e. Constitution and Accounts) are not signed.  
• Inconsistent Group name: Please ensure that the group name stated on the Application Form is the same name that is stated on all your supporting documents and is the name of your Bank Account.
• Request for funding is not included within the Group’s aims/objectives, as stated in the Group’s governing document (set of rules, Constitution or Memorandum and Articles of Association).
• Only one cheque signatory is required: please ensure that you have instructed your bank that all cheques must be signed by at least two, unrelated people.

Who makes the decisions?

A detailed report on all projects is produced by one of the Foundation’s assessors and is circulated to members of an independent Advisory Panel (made up of a cross section of the local community, voluntary and public sector) who meet to consider the requests and reach decisions. The panel includes representation from the Foundation and may also include representative(s) from the donor.

How long will it take before we hear a decision?

We aim to assess all applications within three months (some considerably sooner). Once a decision has been made, we will send a letter to the address you supply on the application form.

What can I do if I disagree with a decision?

If you disagree with a grant decision (i.e. there is a perceived inaccuracy of assessment or failure to take account of all information), an appeal can be made in writing to the Chief Executive who will reconsider the application, taking any further information or remarks into consideration.

The appeal must include supporting evidence and cannot be made because the decision is not favourable.