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Who can apply

You can apply if your organisation works with communities in England and is a:

  • voluntary or community organisation with a written constitution

  • registered charity

  • charitable incorporated organisation (CIO)

  • not-for-profit company limited by guarantee

  • community interest company (CIC)

  • school

  • public body (for example, local authority, town, parish or community council)

  • community benefit society (registered with the Financial Conduct Authority)

  • co-operative society (also registered with the Financial Conduct Authority)

Partnerships

You can apply as a partnership, as long as each partner is one of the eligible organisation types listed above.

We normally award funding to a lead organisation. They’re responsible for managing the funding and paying any partners for the work they do.

You’ll need a written agreement between all partners before we can pay the funding. If you don’t have one, you can use our partnership agreement template (Word document, 51 KB).

Unincorporated groups

You can still apply. But before managing funding of this size, it’s worth thinking about whether becoming an incorporated organisation is right for you. If you're not incorporated, your trustees or members can be personally responsible for things like unpaid debts.

Examples of incorporated organisations include companies and CIOs. You can read NCVO’s guide on legal structures to find out more.

If your organisation needs an asset lock

Some organisations must have an asset lock. This means you have rules that stop your assets being sold or used for private benefit.

You must have an asset lock if you're a:

  • community interest company (CIC)

  • company limited by guarantee that’s not a registered charity

  • community benefit society

  • co-operative society

You can read more in the government’s guide to asset locks for CICs.

Requirements for board or committee members

All organisations must have at least 2 board or committee members who are not related. This applies to companies and charities.

By ‘related’, we mean people who:

  • are married or in a civil partnership

  • are in a long-term relationship

  • live together at the same address

  • are related by blood

  • are related through a long-term partner