Introduction
The Main Grants Programme does not fund individuals, but it can match lottery funding, support capital redevelopments and learning space initiatives, and provide project, programme and revenue funding. Application procedures are straightforward, and the Foundation continues to maintain a balance between supporting large-scale projects, with far-reaching effects, and small-scale community endeavours. Grants range from below £5,000 to in excess of £1m. All grants are awarded at the Trustees meeting, held twice a year. As there is no fixed schedule for these meetings, applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis. The Foundation welcomes submissions to the Main Grants Programme for projects from the following sectors:
- Museums, galleries and heritage sites (particularly for learning spaces)
- The arts
- Education
- Health, social care and disability
- Jewish charities with interests in any of the above areas
Learning Spaces
The Clore Duffield Foundation has funded museum, gallery and heritage learning spaces across the UK for over 15 years, from £2.5m Clore learning centres in national museums, to donations of less than £5,000 for single rooms in local history heritage buildings.
In light of this experience, the Foundation provides learning space applicants with basic guidance on cost; lighting levels; location, use and nature of space; dimensions; programming; display; architect's plans; and best practice examples (small - and large-scale). You can download this advice here.
Applicants should also read Space for Learning: A Handbook for Education Spaces in Museums, Heritage Sites and Discovery Centres (2004), which can be downloaded here.
Who can apply?
Registered charities with interests in the sectors listed above are welcome to apply to the Main Grants Programme. Potential applicants should note that their organisation must be a registered charity to be eligible. Unfortunately, the Foundation does not fund projects retrospectively and will not support applications from the following:
- Individuals
- General appeals and circulars
It should also be noted that the following are funded only very rarely:
- Projects outside the UK
- Staff posts
- Local branches of national charities
- Academic or project research
- Conference costs
To apply
There is no application form for your initial approach to the Foundation. If your project falls within the Foundation's funding criteria, please send a letter of application. This letter should be no longer than two sides of A4 paper, and should include the following information:
- A brief overview of the work of your organisation
- A concise account of the project you are seeking funding for
- A clear statement of the sum you are seeking from the Foundation and the total cost of the project
- You should enclose a standard-sized (DL), stamped, self-addressed envelope. If this is not included, the Foundation will not be able to respond to your application
- No annual accounts or additional information should be included at this stage
- All applications should be on your organisation's headed paper with your contact details and charity number clearly displayed
Timing and Procedures
- There is no deadline for the Main Grants Programme and applications are accepted on a rolling basis. You should receive a response from the Foundation within four weeks of contacting us if you have included a self-addressed envelope.
- All letters of application will be reviewed by the Foundation's staff in the first instance, and then by the Trustees
- If the Foundation decides to progress your application to the next stage (i.e. a meeting of the Trustees), you will be contacted within six weeks and asked to submit a full proposal, for which guidance will be provided
- Trustees meetings are typically held twice a year. Successful and unsuccessful applicants are usually contacted in writing within two weeks of the meeting
- Please do not send applications by recorded delivery as the Foundation is not able to guarantee that a member of staff will be on site to receive them
- Email applications will not be accepted.