University of Community Fund criteria
The University Community Fund was launched in early 2020 recognising the importance the University places on supporting grassroots organisations and projects, and the role they play in local society.
In its first two years, the Fund provided more than £150,000 to nearly 100 groups and organisations across the length and breadth of Fife that deliver tangible benefits for local communities. With soaring food and energy prices hitting communities hard, as well as supporting grassroots organisations, the Fund is reaching out to help those most in need.
-
Over the course of the financial year, there will be a £30k core donation from the University available in the University Community Fund. This is administered across three funding rounds. Our fund is open to donations, and we are grateful to those who support us in this manner.
Applications will be accepted for between the minimum level of £250 and the maximum of £3000.
The maximum available within any 12-month period will be £3000 for any applicant. For example, an application of £500 in Round 1 and an application of £2500 in Round 2 will be accepted and considered.
-
For all applications, a formal panel will be made up of University staff.
Who can apply?
-
Applications will be accepted from organisations and groups from across Fife that provide activities that either have an impact on communities and/or demonstrate a clear opportunity to increase engagement with the University.
-
Applications must demonstrate some or all of the following:
- Increase valuable support to communities during the cost of living crisis
- Benefit communities in the local area
- Increase engagement between the University and the community
- Promote knowledge exchange and widening participation
- Promote environmental sustainability within the local area
- Promote diversity and inclusion within the local area
- Promote and celebrate the local area’s heritage, whether physical or cultural
All applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis and the figure awarded is at the discretion of the panel. A decision to fund a particular project does not necessarily mean that a project of that nature will automatically be supported in the future. Similarly, a decision not to fund a particular project does not mean that no such projects will ever be supported in the future.
Because of the demand for the fund, applicants are advised that they are unlikely to be supported unless they can demonstrate that they have a strong case in at least two of the criteria. Schemes that promote greater community cohesion will be supported and the fund will prioritise small, grassroots charities and community organisations over larger organisations.
The fund will support local branches of national charities if they are financially independent and locally managed, and national charities if they have a distinctive offering to the local community.
-
Funding will not ordinarily be provided for:
- Capital projects or day-to-day running costs, e.g., salaries, rent, building maintenance, subsistence
- We will also not normally fund the continuation of existing projects unless an improvement to the project can clearly be demonstrated
- We recognise that repeat funding for activities can be difficult and therefore we will consider repeat applications on a case-by-case basis and for a maximum of two times over a five-year period
- Statutory bodies, including schools, however, we will fund organisations that work with statutory bodies or activities based on the premises of statutory bodies
- For-profit organisations
- Individuals
- The promotion of religious or political beliefs
- Activities where there isn’t evidence of a will to engage positively with the University of St Andrews
-
If you are not part of any sort of organisation, we suggest you contact an eligible one and ask them to sponsor your application. In this scenario, all funding must be paid to the organisation’s bank accounts and the receiving organisation is ultimately responsible for the project and its delivery. We cannot make awards to individuals.
-
Applications will be accepted from students and staff providing the project clearly benefits the local community and the student/staff member is sponsored by an organisation (as detailed above).
Additional information
-
We aim to let you know no later than a month after the closing date for submitting applications.
-
Following on from the acknowledgement of a successful application, we expect that funding will be in your bank account within three to four weeks. We do not recommend that you start your project before the money arrives in your account.
-
Following on from the completion of your project, we will expect a report on the benefits of the awarded funds. This report could be written or take the form of a presentation (video, verbal, PowerPoint, etc). Your report should be submitted within one month of completion of the project unless otherwise agreed. You will also be required to return any unspent money to us once your project ends.
-
Yes. Successful organisations will sign a short funding agreement outlining our expectations and must acknowledge the support of the University of St Andrews in any materials published for the project and in the accounts and annual report of the organisation. A template to acknowledge University support will be provided along with the University’s logo.
-
Yes, but if there are, for example, privacy concerns regarding an individual’s involved (including the privacy of the applicant/grant-holders), we will work with you to ensure these are accommodated.
-
The only formal contact required once your project has been funded is the end-of-grant report. However, one of the primary aims of this fund is to increase engagement between the University and the community, therefore, we would like to get to know your organisation, your project, and its people as we are keen to develop sustainable relationships with our awardees.
To enable us to promote the University Community Fund and raise the profile of your project, we may also wish to contact you to carry out interviews or take photographs of your project in action. Requests will be made prior to any visits and we appreciate that, dependent on the project or organisation in question, this request may not always be feasible.
-
Unsuccessful applications will be provided with feedback on their application. Although not a guarantee for future success, where possible, unsuccessful applications will be advised on improvement opportunities. This does not guarantee success in the next funding round.
Based on the University Community Fund’s clear criteria on projects it will and will not fund, the University will not consider appeals.
-
The University Community Fund provides financial support to the community. Should you require alternate resources that the University may be able to help with (e.g., volunteers, vehicle support, expertise or other assets), please email community@st-andrews.ac.uk with further information on your needs.
-
Please contact the team on community@st-andrews.ac.uk.