Aims/priorities: The Veterans’ Foundation has established a substantial grants programme to support charities and organisations that provide support to those in need among serving armed forces personnel, veterans, operationally qualified seafarers and their immediate families.
A potential, qualified beneficiary “in need” is one or both of the following:
- At a disadvantage compared with non-armed forces citizens due to their service.
- Someone who is experiencing challenges such as the following: unemployment, homelessness, mental and physical ill-health, injuries, poor welfare, a child's loss of parent, or addiction.
Who can apply? All registered charities and other not-for-profit organisations that support the Armed Forces community (veterans, those serving and immediate dependants), including seafaring veterans who have served on operations, can apply.
Eligible organisation types include:
- Registered charities.
- Community Interest Companies (CIC) Limited by Guarantee.
- Not-for-profit companies limited by guarantee (with a suitable asset lock and dissolution clause)
- Unincorporated constituted groups working for the benefit of the community.
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Have a minimum of 12 months independently examined or audited financial accounts.
- Have at least three unrelated Trustees or Directors on their Committee or Board.
- Have a UK bank account in the name of their organisation, with a minimum of two unrelated signatories.
- Have a safeguarding policy.
Priority is given to charities and organisations:
- Who can demonstrate that they are directly involved in the provision of support to those in need.
- With a low to medium income.
Grant amount: The following grants are available in 2024:
- Small grants of between £500 and £5,000 are being introduced and will be available in June 2024.
- Standard grants of between £5,001 and £30,000. This can be for one year or a multi-year grant for up to three years (eg, £10,000 per year over three years).
- Salary grants up to £25,000 per year for up to three years, for the exclusive use of salary costs.
- Major Grants (£100,000 to £200,000 spread over one to three years. These grants are awarded where the case is particularly strong and benefit to beneficiaries is closely aligned with the VF objectives. Now closed for applications.
Application process: The Foundation recently updated its grant application process, including a new online platform, and revised guidance, eligibility criteria and application form.
The guidance and application form differs for each of the funding programmes and these need to be read before applying.
Once the Small Grants programme opens in June 2024, it will remain open for applications as it is a rolling programme and there are no deadlines.
There is a two-stage application process for Standard and Salary grants:
- The first stage is to complete the online eligibility quiz.
- Those who are successful will be able to access the application form.
There are quarterly deadlines for Standard and Salary grant applications:
- 30 July 2024 - for a decision in September 2024.
- 15 October 2024 - for a decision in December 2024.
- 28 January 2025 - for a decision in March 2025.
Only one application can be submitted per funding round.
Deadline: Tuesday 30 July 2024.
Contact information: Email: grants@veteransfoundation.org.uk