Frequently Asked Questions
Q. We are a new charity and have not yet registered with the Charity Commission.
May we apply for funding?
A. We only accept applications from:
UK Charities registered with the Charity Commission, or
UK charities that are exempt from registration under the 1993 Charities Act,
or
Educational establishments in the maintained sector
Q. You have funded our project before. Can we apply for more funding for the
same project?
A. No, we only look at one application within a 3 year period.
Please note that only one application per organisation can be made to the Company within the 3 year period. In this context "the Company"
includes the Mercers' Charitable Foundation, and the Charity of Sir Richard Whittington
and the Earl of Northampton's Charity.
Q. We were unsuccessful in our last application. How soon can we re-apply?
A. We only look at one application per organisation within a 3 year period (please
see answer above).
Q. The project is nearly finished, can we still apply for funding?
A. No, we do not fund retrospectively.
Q. Which geographical areas do you fund?
A. Geographical restrictions vary within our different grant programmes. Details
of geographical restrictions can be found on the individual grant programme pages.
Q. Does my application need to be sponsored by a Member of the Company?
A. No, the vast majority of applications are unsolicited and neither supported
by or known to Members of the Company.
Any member of a grant making committee with an interest/connection to an applicant
is required to disclose that interest to the committee. The Company strives to
be fair and even-handed in all its grant making. There are a group of schools,
almshouses and churches which the Company has a historic and legal connections
and significant support may be given to those organisations over and above that
provided by the individual endowment.
Q. How do I retrieve a partially completed application form?
A. To do this you must complete the eligibility quiz each time. This takes you to
a new application form; go straight to the bottom of the first page to "Save and
Finish Later", click on this and you will be asked for your existing password
and email. Providing these will return you to your partially completed application
form. Please remember that you will have created a new blank application form
so the one you want to return to is the earlier application rather than the most
recent.
Q. Do I need to send a signed copy of the terms and conditions page at the end
of the online form?
A. No, by submitting your application online you are agreeing to the terms and conditions
as listed. A signed copy is not required.
Q. What happens once I have submitted my online application form?
A. You will receive an automated email response to confirm receipt of your application.
Please keep a note of the tracking number in the email. You will then be required
to send a copy of your latest audited accounts in order for your online application
to be processed.
Q. When is the deadline for grant applications?
A. Our grant making committees meet regularly throughout the year (please refer
to the relevant grant programme pages of the website for information on committee
meeting dates). You are advised to apply in good time of an upcoming committee
date to ensure it makes the meeting. All information for an application needs
to be available by a minimum of four weeks before a meeting.
Q. When will I hear if my application has been successful?
A. When an application is received it is firstly seen by a Grants Officer, it
is then seen by the Chairman of the appropriate grants committee and finally all
recommendations have to be ratified by our Court of Assistants (similar to an
Executive Board).
The ratification process may take up to a further four weeks after the committee meeting. Please refer to the relevant grant programme pages of the website for information
on committee dates.
Q. If my application is successful what monitoring is required?
A. All successful applicants for grants of £10,000 and above are required to complete
a standard monitoring report 12 months after having received the grant payment.
Instalment grants may be required to submit a monitoring report before the release
of each payment.
Q. How do I contact a member of the grants department?
A. Contact details for Grant Officers are available at the bottom of relevant grant
programme pages of the website.
