Guidance Notes
Grant Application Form
Please complete the online form as fully as possible and answer all questions.
Some fields are compulsory (marked with a *) and you will not be able to submit the form until they are completed.
We now ask all applicants to select a main category and sub-category as part of the application process. For information about the new categories and guidance on choosing the most appropriate option, CLICK HERE (opens in a new tab).
Notes for specific questions
9. Tell us the legal status of your organisation (e.g., registered charity, community interest company). The Norman Family Charitable Trust can support only non-profit organisations and cannot assist individuals.
11. If your organisation’s latest accounts are not available on the Charity Commission website, please upload them with your application.
If your most recent accounts are newer than those posted on the Charity Commission site (even if only in draft form), please also upload them.
If your organisation is not a registered charity—such as a CIC or voluntary/non-profit group—please upload your most recent accounts.
13. Describe what your organisation is set up to do. Summarise your aims (as stated in your mission statement or constitution), your main activities, how many people you regularly support, and whether you rely on volunteers.
14. Enter the total amount you are requesting from the Trust. A figure must be provided for your application to be considered.
Please bear in mind that most grants awarded by the Trust fall within £1,000–£5,000. Larger requests may be declined or funded at a significantly lower level. We strongly encourage you to apply to other funders as well.
16. Provide a brief summary of the purpose of your application. This summary will be used in reports to the Trustees, so please make it clear and concise. Limit it to 40 words. You can give more detail in Question 17.
17. Use this section to explain your funding request in more detail.
Please include a breakdown of how the funds will be spent, with a project budget or quotes where possible.
In the Steps Taken to Raise Funds section, tell us who else you have approached for funding for this project and how much you have already raised.
If you still have substantial funds left to secure and the Trustees wish to support the project, the award may be made as a pledge rather than a grant. Pledged funds will be released once the full project funding is secured and the project is confirmed to go ahead.
19. The Trust supports people living in the South West of England, specifically Devon, Cornwall, and Somerset (TA postcodes only).
We do not fund work in Bath, Bristol, etc., unless you can clearly demonstrate significant benefit to people living in the eligible areas.
Applications from East Devon will be prioritised.
Please explain how your project supports this aim. National charities must clearly demonstrate how their work benefits the preferred area, though we generally prioritise smaller local organisations.
20. List any applications you have made to the Trust in the last five years, including whether they were successful, approximate dates, and any amounts awarded.
BACS payment details must be uploaded with your online form. Please ensure the document is clear and includes the bank name, account name, sort code, and account number.
General Information
How Applications Are Reviewed
The Trust reviews applications at a Grants Sub-Committee meeting held every other month (usually January, March, May, July, September and November).
Applications benefiting East Devon are given priority.
Requests over £10,000 are rarely awarded in full. If considered, they will probably be deferred to the next full Trustees’ Meeting, which takes place quarterly.
The date of the next Sub-Committee meeting and its deadline are listed on the News page, and all deadlines for the current year are on the home page.
To be considered, your online application must be submitted before midday on the cut-off date so Trustees have time to review it.
You will receive the outcome by email shortly after the meeting.
If your application is missing required documents—such as accounts, financial information, bank details, quotes, or a budget—we will request them by email. Missing items may delay your application to the next meeting.
After a Grant Is Awarded
You must confirm receipt of the grant by email once the funds have reached your organisation’s bank account.
If you do not confirm receipt within a reasonable time (even after reminders), a note will be added to your file, which may affect future applications.
If you are asked to submit a monitoring report, please return it promptly or get in contact to reschedule. Failure to do so (after reminders) will result in your future applications not being considered until the report is received.
How Often You Can Apply
To ensure fairness, the Trustees consider one application per organisation per financial year, unless there are exceptional circumstances.
If you received a grant—or were rejected—during the current financial year, please wait until after 1 April to apply again.
If you withdrew an application before it was considered, you may re-apply at any time.
Please make sure all previous monitoring reports (if requested) have been submitted before applying for a new grant.
How your information will be used by the Trust – View our Privacy Statement