D M Thomas Foundation’s Central Grants scheme

The D M Thomas Foundation’s Central Grants scheme is intended to support registered charities that work with disadvantaged children and young people up to the age of 25.

The scheme aims to help young people gain skills through education projects and relieve suffering through health-related projects. PLEASE NOTE: the Foundation prioritises support to charities that demonstrate community involvement and volunteering opportunities as part of their working practices.

Grants of up to £30,000 are available. Approximately £200,000 is distributed in grants each quarter. There is no specific requirement for match funding.

Grants can be awarded for medium to long-term projects (i.e. over one year) or for one-off causes. A maximum limit of two years of support can be provided. If an award covers more than one year, then the grant will be paid annually in advance.

The Foundation makes grants to a wide range of charities that meet one of its chosen areas of focus:

o Young People and Education - the Foundation is investing in the future by supporting young people in the 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
o 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:

o Children and young people with disabilities;
o Children and young people who are sick in hospital;
o Employability and training programmes for disadvantaged young people; and
o Children and young people who are life limited (requiring palliative care).

The Foundation prefers to fund equipment and capital costs. Funding for salaries will not be considered.

However, grants will be awarded for refurbishment and equipment, but not for capital appeals or for a new construction.

The Foundation also does not support the following

o Teacher training;
o Applicants whose projects do not fit one of the four core themes: disabled children, children in hospital, employment and training, and life-limited children;
o Organisations that are not registered charities;
o Charities which have (a) an income above £2 million (except hospices); (b) been registered for under 12 months; or (c)  Present financial information which is incomplete or out of date; (d) Management and administration costs (including fundraising costs) above 30% of their annual expenditure;
o Projects and organisations outside the UK or Ireland;
o Funding requests over £30,000;
o Requests solely for day-to-day administrative running costs (rent, lighting, heat, etc.);
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 from individuals;
o General donations;
o Fundraising events or other fundraising costs;
o Work with adults;
o Medical research, individual medical treatment;
o Capital appeals or construction of new buildings;
o Overseas expeditions or exchange programmes;
o Training or conferences for professionals or staff, such as teacher training, parenting training;
o Loans;
o Work which excludes some faith groups; or
o Work with only boys or only girls.

Applying charities should have :

o An income of below £2 million;
o Management and administration costs (including fundraising costs) of 30% or less of their annual expenditure;
o 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;
o Completed their reporting (e.g. annual return) to these monitoring bodies.

The remaining 2017 application deadlines are:

o Monday 9 May;
o Monday 25 July; and
o Monday 10 October 2017.

Application forms are available to download from the Foundation's website.

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

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 D M Thomas Foundation for Young People are:

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

(Source: GRIN)