Application Process
Applications should be made on the Trust's application form.
Once we have received your application, together with any supporting documentation, it will be assessed to ensure that it complies with the Trustee's criteria.
We will write to you and let you know either:
a. that your application will be considered and when you can expect to hear the outcome; or
b. that your application will not be taken further and the reasons why
Depending on the size of the grant applied for, your application will be then be forwarded for consideration at the next Trustee meeting.
Once the Trustees have made a decision, we will write to you to advise you of the outcome.
The number of applications we receive far outstrips our resources and, therefore, the number of applicants we are able to help is limited. The decision of the Trustees is final. The Trust reserves the right to visit applying organisations as part of their decision making process to view the project first hand or speak to those involved.
Timetable & Deadlines
Grant applications are considered in March, June, September and November. The deadline for receipt of applications is the 1st March, June, September or November for consideration in that month's submission.
Criteria
Grant applications from the following organisations will be considered:
• Registered charities
• Schools / PTAs
• Not for profit organisations (including small clubs and societies)
• Grants cannot be provided to individuals
Grant applications for the following purposes are considered:
• contributions to capital projects (e.g. refurbishments)
• capital expenditure items (e.g. furniture/equipment/computers etc)
• contributions towards the purchase or leasing of new Ford vehicles**
• general funds (small grants up to £250 only)
** Applicants intending to purchase vehicles will need to confirm that at least two thirds of the purchase price has been raised from other funding sources. Applicants intending to lease vehicles will be required to do so via FordBusinessPartner and are advised to contact the Ford Retail Trust before submitting their application. Grants towards leasing apply to minibuses and Transits only and are not available for the leasing of cars.
Applications relating to core funding, operating costs, salaries or revenue expenditure will be considered in the same way as requests for general funding and will, therefore, be eligible for small grants only.
Grant applications supporting the following activities will be considered:
• work that has clear benefits to the local community / environment
• work with young people / children
• education / schools (mainstream)
• Special Education Needs
• People with disabilities
Grant applications are NOT considered if they support the following purposes / activities:
• Major building works
• Sponsorship or advertising
• Research
• Overseas projects
• Travel
• Religious projects
• Political projects
• Purchase of second hand vehicles
• Third party fundraising initiatives (exceptions may be made for fundraising initiatives by Ford Retail Group employees / retirees)
Please note that if your application is successful, you will be required to confirm receipt of your grant. Failure to do so, within 3 months of receipt of a grant cheque, may result in the organisation becoming ineligible to receive further grants for up to 5 years.
Application Form
Word Application Form PDF Application Form
Sections 1, 2 and 3 must be completed by all applicants. In addition, Section 4 must be completed by applicants applying for large grants. Forms which are not fully completed will not be considered. If a question does not apply to your application, please state Not Applicable. Answers may be continued on a separate sheet if necessary and supporting documentation (e.g. budget submissions, project outlines, quotations for equipment etc) should be submitted with your application if appropriate. Copies of the organisation's most recent Report and Accounts should be submitted with all large grant applications where available. The Trust does not undertake to return any documentation, although if you request the return of specific items we will do our best to comply.
Applications are accepted on the understanding that, if successful, organisations agree to possible publicity in any materials that the Ford Retail Trust or Ford Retail Group produce.
The Trust encourages and welcomes any appropriate public acknowledgement of grants, including the use of the Trust's logo on any publicity about the grant and / or on any relevant materials that the organisation may produce.
A jpeg version of the Trust's logo can be made available to successful applicants upon request. Please send your completed application form to:
Julia Greenhough
Unit 40, Long Marston Business Park, Long Marston,
Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 8QR