How to apply
We do not use an application form as we prefer applicants to describe their proposals in their own way. Set out below are questions that we need to answer when assessing an application. Not all questions will apply to every application, but you should review the list before submitting your proposal to ensure that all relevant areas have been covered. Please use the questions as a checklist, not as a template for your proposal.
Applications can be made at any time of year. Unless urgent it will be considered by the Foundation's Directors at their next quarterly meeting. Where urgent, applications may be considered in between meetings.
If you are interested in making an application we recommend that you send an outline of your proposal by email to Kevin Ireland. He will then contact you to talk through your ideas and explain the likely timescales for submission and consideration of the proposal.
Questions we consider in assessing applications
Who?
- Who does the proposal seek to benefit?
- Who will be responsible for leading the proposal in the organisation?
What?
- What does the proposal seek to achieve?
- What outcome targets will be set for the proposal?
- What is the capacity and experience of the organisation - and the key individuals concerned - to make a success of the proposal?
- What are the areas of risk of the proposal?
- What are the costs involved and what is the Foundation being asked to cover?
Why?
- Why is the proposal needed?
- Why is the proposing organisation the one to deliver it?
- Why is it right for the London Housing Foundation funding?
How?
- How does the applicant know that what is planned is what the target group (a) need and (b) want? (Who has been involved in the planning?)
- How will the funds be spent? (i.e. on what will they be spent?)
- How will the proposal and achievements be delivered? (Who will do what?)
- How will achievements against performance targets be measured?
- How does the application relate to the Foundation's funding criteria?
When?
- When will the activities in the proposal start? How long will they last?
- When will performance be measured and reported?
- When are grant payments required?
Who else?
- Which other organisations are working in the same field/area? Has there been any co-operation with them? (include details of partner organisations, referral agencies, etc.)
- What other funding has been obtained and/or is planned? (Both during the project period and as continuation funding).
The Future?
- Will the activities continue after the LHF funding is concluded?
- Is any evaluation or major review planned?
- How secure is the prospect of future funding?
- Will the activities have any wider impact or influence?
Organisational details
- How are the organisation's finances? (We need to review the latest annual report and accounts of the applicant organisation, and the budget for both the organisation and the project for the relevant period).
- Is equality of opportunity guaranteed? (We need to know that there are suitable policies and that they are applied)
- What would happen to the proposal if the Foundation is unable to or declines to fund it?
Learning from previous grant awards
You will obtain an idea of the kind of projects that the Foundation supports from looking at those that we have funded previously. We are also keen, when discussing any potential application, to ensure that full account has been taken of any previous similar projects and activities and the learning that can be obtained from these. For this reason we provide contact details for previous grant awards - please take the time to consult people who have carried out similar projects.
