Guide Small Community Grants

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4. What we can't fund

This fund is currently closed to new applications while we re-consider our corporate grants and funding process. We have a grants mailing list which will send out an email notification when it has reopened to new applications. To be added to our grants mailing list, please contact us at engagement@eastdevon.gov.uk.

Generally speaking, the following will not be eligible:

  • Projects where you haven’t got the majority of any match funding in place already.
  • Projects that promote or support a particular politics, faith or belief (including repairs to buildings used solely or mainly for these activities).
  • Individuals or projects that result in direct cash payments or awards to the end beneficiaries, or to ongoing staff salaries.
  • Project sponsorship and fundraising events.
  • Projects from purely commercial or for- “private-profit” organisations.
  • Projects considered likely to create a new or displaced dependency on other public and voluntary services.
  • Regular highways-related activity such as but not limited to grass cutting, ditch and drainage work or other associated ‘lengthsman’ duties and tasks.
  • Projects benefitting one individual recipient, e.g. an individual carer.
  • Projects where more than 25% of the people benefiting from the project live outside of East Devon.
  • Animal welfare projects where the sole/majority of beneficiaries are animals (i.e. charity, rescue or therapy).
  • Projects seeking a commitment to ongoing support.
  • Projects that have already taken place.
  • Projects where work has already started and / or finished before we’ve confirmed you’ve been successful in your application. We cannot fund projects retrospectively. 
  • Organisations or groups that do not have a bank account in their name with at least two unrelated signatories and/or do not have a management committee comprising at least three unrelated members. Unless you are applying using guidance note **(a) above.
  • Unsustainable projects. For example, projects that need to continue beyond the life of the funding but are unlikely to be able to.
  • Projects working with vulnerable people where there isn’t a Safeguarding Policy and / or appropriately trained staff / volunteers.
  • Projects where planning permission is required but hasn’t yet been given.
  • Funds that are required to help pay off debts.
  • Projects that directly benefit individuals or for profit organisations.
  • Ongoing costs including ongoing rent costs, ongoing salaries, costs for the day to day running of an organisation, unless this is during a transition phase with documented evidence of how the project will become sustainable post transition, or as part of a pilot project.
  • Work that a statutory organisation has to do by law, for example Devon County Council, the Church or the NHS, unless this is over and above what they would ever provide.
  • Projects that have a negative effect on one or more of the priorities listed in our council plan.