FAQ

1. Unsuccessful with your Expression of Interest form?
   If unsuccessful with an Expression of Interest form (EOI), you can resubmit in any future round. It’s important to make sure a resubmission reflects any previous feedback, unless the nature of the project has significantly changed. If it has changed the new application should clearly show the changes. Please note that even if the project is essentially the same you will need to complete a new EOI form. You should be aware, too, that we cannot guarantee the success of any resubmission as it will be competing with a fresh set of bids.
2. Unsuccessful with a Full Application?
   If unsuccessful with a full application, you can reapply with a new EOI in any future round. If you decide to reapply with a similar scheme to the one that was rejected, please ensure that you take full account of any feedback previously given and make that clear in your new EOI.
3. You have an active project but want to apply for a new one…
   In the case where you have an existing grant from EF and your project is still active you will generally need to wait until it finishes to reapply. In the event that the deadline for new schemes coincides with the end of your existing scheme, then you will need to ensure you complete the new EOI (and Full Application) to meet the appropriate deadline. For us to consider a new grant application and make an offer it would depend upon you completing all the final paperwork of your previous project in a timely and satisfactory way.
4. Your project is finished and you want to apply for a new one…
   If you have had a previous grant from EF and the project has finished, you can reapply with a new EOI in a future round, subject to the maximum grant limits (namely, £10,000 pa for individuals and £25,000 pa for start-ups/organisations). You will, of course, be expected to have completed all the final paperwork of your previous project in a satisfactory way.

If this happens it’s essential you contact us within 14 days of recognising it so we can discuss it with you. Normally we would not agree to increase a grant offer but we would want to understand the reasons for it before making any decisions or recommendations. It’s really very important, though, that you don’t commit to expenditure that you do not have funds to cover and you do not implicate EF in any commitment to additional expenditure.

You can find an explanation of what to do in the Criteria for Applicants. In essence, if the outstanding match funding is really quite minor then you could apply immediately. However, if it is a substantial sum, we would generally advise against applying until it has been confirmed. If, though, a decision is imminent then it might be best to apply now. Please consult with us if you are uncertain (see 3 above).

Please note, as soon as you know the other organisation’s decision it’s essential you let us know. If you delay or don’t inform us it could result in an unfortunate deferral or even rejection of your application.

In our Guidance for Applicants section you can see ‘the area of benefit’ which is a list of countries our funding can apply to. If your project is delivering to a wider area (that is, it includes one or more of those listed countries but goes beyond them) you can still apply. However, your application will be assessed only on the parts that relate to people within our ‘area of benefit’. If you’re making an application for a project that has global or wider beneficiaries you should take note of these points:

1. The project must deliver benefit within the eligible area of benefit.
2. Your application should only reflect the activities and impact you will be undertaking within our area of benefit. In other words, your wider activity is not relevant to the application.
3. Any costs associated with any activity outside the area of benefit cannot be funded.
4. The application will not receive any greater consideration in the assessment due to the fact that it has a global or wider reach.

There may be the occasional exception, where a project is designed to run for over 1 year but less than 2 years, for example 14 or 16 months. In these cases, we suggest that you contact us (see 3 above) to discuss how best to phrase and present your application.

Our policy is that grantees can, in fact, move money between budget headings up to 15% without telling us. However, if you are considering changes beyond that amount it’s essential you inform us and provide the reasons so we can discuss it with you. In agreeing to fund you we obviously were agreeing to fund a particular project, with its specific costs, activities and outcomes. If these get significantly changed we’d naturally need to be consulted.

If you have very sound reasons we would always wish to help your project in the best way possible. We do, of course, at the same time, have a duty to ensure the appropriate use of the grant money. We would also wish, as much as possible, to steer you away from any unfortunate consequences which could arise from substantial changes being made.

You should be able to start within 14 days of us receiving your Acceptance form, Bank form and Expenditure Profile form. Generally, we can process payments within about 14 days. However, please note that payments into non-UK bank accounts can take longer and this is something outside our control.

Generally, organisations are faced with 2 sorts of costs: ‘project’ costs and ‘overhead’ costs.

Overhead costs within organisations are known variously as ‘core costs’, ‘running costs’ or ‘indirect costs’.

Examples of these costs might include such things as:

• Office and administrative staff (salaries, HR costs, etc.)
• Premises costs such as rent, heat, light, rates
• IT equipment costs
• Training, fundraising and governance costs

Project costs are also known as ‘direct costs’ – these are the precise costs based simply on running a project. The reality is that organisations cannot run multiple projects without also finding funding for their ‘overhead’ costs.

Individuals: In the case of individuals, overheads are more likely to be restricted to premises costs such as rent, heat, light, IT costs – arising either from a rented office or a ‘home office’. You can claim for these using the Simple method below. If you need further advice on whether other items, such as insurance costs and salary costs are considered as ‘direct project costs’ or ‘overheads’, please contact us.

We do, of course, appreciate that you will have overheads and we offer two ways, based on the principle called Full Cost Recovery or FCR, whereby you can recover a proportion of these. The two options are:

Simple method

Using this option you can recover your overheads without having to make a detailed calculation:

• Simply calculate 10% of the total cost of your project and add this sum to your application, identifying it on the form as ‘FCR’ or ‘Contribution to Overheads.
• You will need to justify this figure by providing some simple information¹ that makes clear your overheads are at least the figure that you are requesting.

¹ This information will be a simple list of your annual overhead costs, provided on a Word or Excel spreadsheet and sent as an attachment with your application.

Detailed method
This option provides you with the potential to more accurately recover overhead costs but is significantly more complicated. Please refer to the spreadsheet provided at the bottom of this page.

There is detailed guidance on this site to help you complete the spreadsheet. You will need to send us a copy of this spreadsheet with your application, including on your application form the calculated value of FCR you are requesting.

Make sure the addition of your FCR/overhead contribution doesn’t take your application request above the maximum grant request! If it does you’ll need to adjust the scope of your project accordingly.