Before You Apply

Before you begin your application, it’s worth taking a few minutes to check that your organisation and project are eligible for funding. Each grant has slightly different criteria, so read the guidance notes for the specific programme carefully.

In general, we can only fund:

• Charities or voluntary groups with a governing document and bank account
• Organisations based in Milton Keynes, or delivering work that benefits local communities
• Projects that haven’t yet started

We cannot fund individuals, political activities, or general appeals.

You'll also need to upload some key documents as part of your application, like your accounts and safeguarding policy.
We’re always happy to help if you’re unsure.

What documents do I need to upload?

It depends on the programme, but we’ll usually ask for:

• A signed constitution or governing document
• Your most recent annual accounts
• A recent bank statement
• Your safeguarding policy (if working with children or vulnerable adults)

If you’re applying as a new CIC, we may also need your Articles of Association and asset lock clause.

You’ll be prompted to upload documents during the application process. If anything’s missing or out of date, we’ll be in touch.

Can I apply if I’ve received a grant before?
Yes — many of the organisations we support come back for further funding. You’ll just need to make sure:

• Your previous grant is fully spent
• You’ve submitted a monitoring report for it
• The new project is clearly different or builds on the previous work

Can I apply if my project has already started?
Unfortunately not. We’re only able to fund future activity. If you’ve already started or completed the work, or already committed to spending, we won’t be able to support it. Please wait until you’ve received a grant offer before beginning your project or signing any contracts.

I’m not based in your area, but my project will deliver services here. Can I apply?
Yes — if the work takes place in our area and is clearly locally led. We’ll want to see strong connections to local people or organisations and a clear understanding of local needs.

What is the Cost-of-Living grant? 
Grants are available for projects that address hardship, isolation, and settlement challenges linked to the Cost-of-Living crisis, supporting people across Milton Keynes. They're available for the Sapling and Oak programmes, and follow the same application process. 

We’re a new group. Can we apply?
Yes — but your group should already be active in some way (e.g. running pilot activity or meeting regularly), even if you’ve only recently become constituted.

We’re part of a national organisation. Can we apply?
Yes — if your local branch restricts income to the local project.

Do you consider partnership or consortium applications?
Yes — we welcome collaborative working. One organisation must take the lead managing the grant, budget, and submitting the application.

Can schools or local authority nurseries apply?
We don’t fund statutory education or schools. However, PTAs, or Friends of Schools or Nurseries can apply if the project is:

• Open to the wider community
• Distinct from core curriculum delivery

Can I save my application and return to it later?
Yes — your progress is automatically saved in our online portal. You can log in and return to it at any time before the deadline.

Do I need to supply quotes?
For larger items (like equipment or refurbishment), we may ask for two quotes. This helps show value for money.

Why do you ask for names and addresses of committee members?
This is part of our due diligence. It helps us ensure grants are awarded to properly governed organisations and meet our legal obligations.

Can I get help with my application?
Yes — we want your application to be the best it can be. If you have questions about the fund, the form, or how to describe your project, please get in touch with the team.

We can’t write applications for you, but we’re happy to clarify anything that’s unclear and help you feel confident about submitting.

Can I see the scoring criteria for applications?
Yes. Please refer to the grant guidance for each programme.

I was expecting a decision but haven’t heard anything.
Check your email (including junk/spam folders) and your online portal. If it’s past the usual timeframe and you still haven’t heard, get in touch with the team.

After Your Grant is Awarded

Your grant has been awarded (hooray!). What happens next?

Once your grant has been approved, we’ll send you a Grant Agreement outlining the amount awarded, what it covers, and any conditions you’ll need to meet. This must be signed and returned before we release the funding.

We’ll also ask you to:

• Confirm when your project is starting
• Send us your bank details for payment
• Provide any documents if we’ve requested them (e.g. insurance, licences, or proof of match funding)

You’ll usually receive the funds within 10 working days of returning everything. Keep a record of your spending and save any receipts. You’ll need them later for your monitoring report.

If anything changes during your project, let us know as soon as possible. We're here to support you.

Can I make changes once a grant is awarded?
We understand that things don’t always go to plan. If you need to make any changes (for example, to your timeline, budget, or staff team), please get in touch before going ahead.
We’ll talk through the changes with you and confirm whether your grant can still be used.

What happens if we don’t spend the full grant?
Let us know if you haven’t spent the full grant. You may need to return any underspend unless we’ve agreed otherwise.
We ask that all money is spent as outlined in your Grant Agreement. If there’s a genuine underspend, we’ll work with you to agree a fair outcome.

Monitoring

When your project ends, we’ll ask you to submit a short monitoring report. This helps us understand the difference your work has made and ensures we remain accountable to our donors.

Your report will typically be due within six weeks of your project's end date (or as specified in your Grant Agreement). We'll email you a link to the form.

You’ll need to tell us about:

• What you delivered and how many people benefited
• Any challenges you faced, and how you adapted
• A simple breakdown of how the grant was spent
• Any stories, photos or quotes you’d like to share

Please keep receipts or proof of expenditure. We may ask for them.

Your report helps us champion the work happening across Milton Keynes. Thank you for taking the time to complete it.

Why have you asked to visit our project?
We like to see projects in action! Site visits help us understand your work better and share your impact with funders. They’re informal, not inspections.

What happens if I don’t return my End of Grant report or receipts?
We may ask you to return your grant if we don’t receive a report. Not submitting will also affect your chances of future funding.