DM Thomas Foundation for Young People

The DM Thomas Foundation for Young People, formerly known as the Hilton in the Community Foundation, supports registered charities working with disadvantaged children and young people.

The Foundation aims to help young people gain skills through education projects and relieve suffering through health-related initiatives.

Charities must work directly with young people up to the age of 25 or provide facilities for their direct benefit.

The Foundation makes grants to a wide range of charities supporting children and young people that meet one of its chosen areas of focus:

• Young People and Education - The Foundation is investing in the future by supporting young people in the vital areas of education, awareness and training. Through targeted grant giving the Foundation aims to facilitate a better future for young people by supporting local charities. Education funding generally will be given for training/re-training, educational equipment, activity-based learning leading to accreditation and sports equipment, and
• Young People and Health - The Foundation is committed to relieving suffering and supporting young people whilst they are undergoing treatment and care. Health funding generally will be given for medical equipment, care facilities, activity based holidays, proactive health awareness campaigns and hospices.

The Foundation has a particular strategic focus on:

• Children and young people with disabilities.
• Children and young people who are sick in hospital.
• Children and young people who are homeless.
• Children and young people who are life limited and who require palliative care.

Grants up to £30,000 are available. Grants for up to two years can be awarded.  

During the financial year ending 31 December 2013 the Foundation awarded grants totalling £1,726,761 (2012: £1,364,392). Around 50% of applications received from South West charities were successful in securing a grant.

Applying charities should have:

• An income of below £2 million.
• Management and administration costs (including fundraising costs) of 30% or less of their annual expenditure.
• Been registered with either the Charity Commission for England and Wales, the OSCR in Scotland or the Irish Charity Register for a period of at least 12 months before the Foundation can consider awarding funding.
• Completed their reporting (eg annual return) to these monitoring bodies.

The Foundation will prioritise support to charities that demonstrate community involvement and volunteering opportunities as part of their working practices.

There is quite a long list of things the Foundation will not fund, including: 

o Requests solely for staff salaries or other staff costs.
o Where outcomes are unclear or where the grant will not make an impact.
o Requests by individuals.
o Medical research, individual medical treatment.
o Capital appeals or construction of new buildings.
o Work which excludes some faith groups, and •
o Work with only boys or only girls.

You can find the full list of exclusions HERE under paragraph 4.2.

Application forms are available to download from theFoundation's website.

An electronic copy and a hard copy of the application should be submitted along with the supporting information outlined in the guidelines.

Remaining 2015 deadlines are:

o Tuesday 28 July 2015; and
o Friday 13 October 2015.

PLEASE NOTE: Unsuccessful applicants are asked not to reapply for at least 12 months from the date of their rejection letter. Successful applicants are asked to wait five years before reapplying.

Contact details for the DM Thomas Foundation for Young People are:

Simon Sheehan
The DM Thomas Foundation for Young People
179-199 Holland Park Avenue
London W11 4UL
Tel: 020 7605 7733
Email: info@dmtfyp.org

(Source: GRIN)