CALL FOR PROPOSALS – INFORMAL EDUCATION AND GREEN FUNDING

Please note that applications for this round of funding is now closed. We are keeping this page live for organisations who applied before the deadline for information. We will announce any future open calls on this site and our twitter page which you can find here.

This call for proposals is to provide grants to London-based charities working in the sectors of informal learning, special educational needs (SEN), green spaces, green learning and biodiversity. A copy of the eligibility criteria and application form can be found at the bottom of this page. 

This call looks to fund new work in two project areas:

The project you are applying for must respond to one or more of the elements listed above, and activities should start between August 2023 and April 2024. The grant activities must be completed by the end of 2025. If you have any questions about your organisation’s eligibility or the suitability of the project, please feel free to contact us via email at grants@kusumatrust.org or call us on 020 7420 0655 or 020 7420 0650. 

Types of work we will fund:

We will take a particular interest in enterprising and innovative ideas, and work led by inspiring, visionary individuals and teams who are passionate about their work.

– Sustainable projects, i.e. projects that can continue once the grant period is over, or have lasting benefits
– Pilot projects
– Training
– Capital projects, with associated programming
– Feasibility studies, project evaluations and community consultations will be considered as part of wider programming

ELIGIBILITY AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA

Eligibility

You must:

– Be a registered charity in England with a turnover of over £250K in your latest published accounts to apply for a green grant. Only organisations with a turnover greater than £1M are eligible for the informal education stream.
– The project being applied for must take place entirely within the 33 boroughs of London.
– Projects that only engage the community of one borough must be impacting in Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, Wandsworth, Hammersmith and Fulham, Brent, Camden, Islington, City of London, Lambeth, or Southwark
– Hold a valid UK registered bank account in the name of the organisation
– Have an active website
– Have governance and financial management systems appropriate to your overall work and the proposed programme
– Hold relevant DBS checks and safeguarding policies and procedures
– Have paid staff

Organisational Exclusion Criteria:

– Schools, colleges,or nurseries, even if registered charities
– Places of worship, even if registered charities
– Political organisations, or those primarily concerned with policy influencing or advocacy

Programmatic Exclusion Criteria:

– Campaigning programmes
– Funding for projects or programmes that are completed
– Funding for the practice of religion, or any activities that actively promote religion or particular belief systems
– Organisations that benefit only one or a small number of individuals (e.g under 10)
– Programmes of work that are primarily the responsibility of statutory authorities
– Mental health/emotional wellbeing work that is not part of wider programming
– Sports activities that are not part of wider programming

Previous and current Kusuma grantees

We are prioritising new applicants in this call, however, previous Kusuma Trust (KTUK) grantees will be considered. Current KTUK grantholders, please speak to us before applying. Organisations who have been declined a grant from KTUK in the past 12 months should also speak to us before applying.

ASSESSMENT

Your application must show that:

– There is a need for the project you are proposing
– The project will change the lives of Londoners in line with at least one of the two project areas listed above
– You have a history of successfully delivering programmes in the sector, and the capacity to implement grants effectively
– The project will be monitored and evaluated effectively
– KTUK funds will make a demonstrable difference to your ability to work
– You have taken steps to ensure the sustainability of the project if applicable
– Core operating costs do not account for more than 20% of the budget
– The size of the grant must not exceed more than 10% of an organisation’s budget
– The project offers reasonable cost per beneficiary.
 – For capital projects, builds which have already received planning permission from the local authority, and have confirmed costings through a tendering process will be looked upon favourably in this grant round.

Guidance on budget:

– Please provide a specific, detailed budget. For each major line item, please include a breakdown of the costs included in that line item (for example within staffing, please give details of the staff members, their annual salary and the percentage of their time allocated to the project).
– For those operating on a full cost recovery model, please provide information on any central functions included in the budget. 

If your application is successful, due diligence will be carried out by KTUK. This will include (but not limited to) reviewing governance and management, financial accounts, the capacity to implement projects, technical expertise and current partnerships. 

HOW TO APPLY

Please note that the closing date for this open call was 14 April 2023. We are keeping this page live for applicants who applied before the deadline for their information. 

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a 90 minute due diligence meeting with the Grants Team. We aim to have made final decisions regarding grant recipients by the end of July.