(Frequently Asked Questions!)

Before you apply

Thank you for your interest in a 3R Foundation Grant. Our application form should only take around 5–10 minutes to complete. Before applying, please also read our Pre-application FAQs below, which answer many common questions and explain our eligibility criteria.

Quick Tips

✓ Apply for a specific item or project

Applications supported by a quotation or screenshot of the cost are often the most successful.

✓ We normally only fund projects in full

We do not normally fund part funded or multi funded larger projects. We prefer to fully fund specific, tangible items within our usual grant levels of £250, £500 and, occasionally, £1,000.

✓ Check your eligibility

Please make sure your organisation and project meet our funding criteria before applying.

Q: Do we have to be a registered charity to apply for a grant?

A: No. We welcome applications from local non profit clubs, community groups and charities (although we do not make grants to individuals). Your organisation must benefit the local community in North Lancashire or South Cumbria, have been operating for at least 3 to 6 months, and be able to demonstrate that it is achieving its aims. We also ask that you have a website or social media page so we can verify your activities, and an organisation bank account, as grants cannot be paid into personal accounts.

Q: Will you consider applications from large charities or national organisations?

A: We do not normally award grants to larger charities or national organisations with established fundraising resources. The 3R Foundation was created specifically to support smaller local charities, community groups and not for profit organisations, where even a modest grant can make a significant difference. This is not a reflection on the value of larger charities or the work they do, but simply allows us to focus our limited funds on organisations that often have little or no fundraising capacity of their own.

Q: Do you accept applications from schools?

A: We do not accept grant applications directly from schools, academies, colleges or universities. However, we are happy to consider applications from PTAs, Friends of Schools groups and other independent non profit fundraising organisations that support them.

We will also consider applications from independent SEN schools, nurseries and pre schools, but only where they are operated on a genuine non profit or charitable basis.

Q: I have never applied for a grant before and I am not sure where I should start?

A:  Don't worry! Many of the organisations we support are run entirely by volunteers with little or no fundraising experience. We recommend starting by reading these Frequently Asked Questions. If you're still unsure, just get in touch. We'll be happy to discuss your project and advise whether it's likely to be eligible before you apply.

Q: We don't have a website or social media page, will this affect our application?

Possibly. As part of our due diligence, our Grants Committee needs to be satisfied that your organisation is genuine and delivering the community benefit described in your application. A website or social media page is the quickest way to verify this. As we process a large number of low value grant applications, we simply don't have the time or resources to carry out detailed background checks where there is little or no online presence, so this may affect our ability to consider your application.

If you're likely to apply for grants from us or anywhere else in the future, we strongly recommend creating a Facebook page or similar. It's free and only takes a few minutes to set up. Ideally, you should also have a simple website, as this allows you to present much more information about your organisation, activities and achievements in a clear and professional way.

Q: How many grants are available?

A: The 3R Foundation is a non profit charity, so after our running costs, all profits from the 3R Foundation Charity Shop are made available as grants. The amount available each month depends on how well the shop has traded, but we typically award 15 or more grants every month.

Quick Tip: We aim to help as many local organisations as possible, so most of our grants are £250 or £500. We usually only award one or two £1,000 grants each month, so applying for a smaller amount, where appropriate, may improve your chances of success.

Q: What sort of projects do you offer grants for?

A: We prefer to fund specific, tangible items rather than ongoing costs or large projects. This might include tools, equipment, computers and tablets, kitchen appliances, sports equipment, safety equipment and PPE, repairs and improvements to community buildings, branded volunteer clothing, signage, trees and plants, leaflets, banners and other publicity materials.

These types of projects are easier for us to verify and publicise, helping to showcase both your organisation and the impact of our community grant programme.

Q: Do you offer part funding grants towards more expensive projects?

A: Not usually. We focus on modest grant awards for specific, tangible items that we can fund in full, rather than contributing towards larger part funded projects. There are many national and local funders that are much better suited to supporting larger projects, and we would normally encourage applicants to approach them instead. Only in very exceptional circumstances would we consider a contribution towards a larger project. If in doubt, please contact us before applying and we'll be happy to discuss your project.

Q: Do you offer larger grants than £1,000 for bigger projects?

A: The 3R Foundation has specifically set out to support smaller clubs and groups with £250, £500 and, occasionally, up to £1,000 grants that can be processed and provided quickly and efficiently. However the board of Trustees do have the facility for special 'Trustees Discretionary Grants' although these are rare and usually reserved for organisations we know well or projects with exceptional community benefit  If you have a project that you feel deserves special consideration then please contact us and we will be happy to discuss it prior to an application. 

Q: What do you NOT offer grants for?

A: We do not normally offer grants for general running costs, staff salaries, room or equipment hire, training, travel, accommodation, or other ongoing expenses. We prefer to fund specific, tangible items or projects that can be purchased, delivered or completed and clearly demonstrate the impact of the grant.

Q: How do I apply?

A: We only accept applications submitted through our online Grant Application Form. Please read these FAQs first, then use the link to the application form at the bottom of this page. If you're not confident using online forms, don't worry. Give us a call and we'll be happy to talk you through the process, although we are unable to provide paper application forms.

Q: How do I know if my application has been submitted OK?

A: You need to click the submit button at the end of the form AND complete the 'Captcha' security thing (sorry!). You will then see a page that says: "Thanks! Your grant application has been successfully submitted." 

If you don't see this then your form has not been submitted properly.

Q: Do you need to see quotes for what we are applying for?

A: Yes. Providing a quote, screenshot or web link helps our Grants Committee clearly understand exactly what you are applying for and the cost involved. For example, this could be an official quotation for building work or repairs, or simply a screenshot or link to an item for sale online. Please upload files as PDF, JPG or PNG where possible. Please do not upload Microsoft Word documents.

Where possible, we encourage applicants to obtain quotations from local businesses. While online prices can be useful as a guide, preference may be given to applications that support local suppliers and businesses, rather than simply choosing the lowest online price.

Quick Tip: Applications are often delayed, or even rejected, if they do not include a quote, are too vague, or do not clearly identify the specific item(s) and cost being applied for.

Q: Who decides which organisations will get a grant?

A: Applications are considered by the 3R Foundation Grants Committee, made up of volunteers from our Board of Trustees and charity shop team. As the people who help raise the funds through the success of the charity shop, they decide where those funds can make the greatest difference in our local community.

Q: How soon will I hear from you after I apply for a grant?

A: The 3R Foundation Grants Committee meets every month, so your application will normally be considered at the next meeting. You should usually hear from us within 2 to 6 weeks. If your application is successful and you accept the grant offer, payment is normally made by bank transfer within a few days.

Q: What do you expect from us in return if we are successful?

A: We would love to meet you, present you with one of our famous giant presentation cheques (or post one if that's easier), and take photographs showing how the grant has been used. These are shared on our website and social media to celebrate your success and to show our supporters how money raised through the charity shop benefits local organisations.

We also ask successful applicants to help spread the word by sharing our grant award post on their own website or social media, following our social media pages, encouraging others to donate to or shop at the 3R Foundation Charity Shop, and telling other eligible organisations about our grants.

We'd also be very grateful if you could leave us a google review

Q: Our organisation works with people who are vulnerable and cannot be photographed, what do we do instead?

A: That's absolutely fine. We only photograph people with their permission. We would simply ask to photograph our presentation cheque with one or two representatives from your organisation, usually the person who submitted the application, together with the item(s) we have funded where possible. If anyone who benefits from the project is happy to be included, that's entirely their choice. Have a look at how we use these photos in our successful grant award reports.

Q: How will we receive payment if we are successful?

A: Grants are paid by bank transfer to your organisation's bank account using the details supplied on your application. We hope it would be obvious but just to be very clear, we cannot make payments to a personal bank account.

Q: Is there a timescale for completing a a grant funded project?

A: We understand that projects can occasionally be delayed. However, as our grants are generally for specific items or smaller projects, we would normally expect them to be completed within a few weeks.

If your project is likely to take longer than two months, we simply ask that you keep us updated. If there has been little or no progress after three months, we reserve the right to ask for the grant to be returned so it can be redistributed, and you would be welcome to apply again once your project is ready to proceed.

Q: Can we reapply if we are unsuccessful?

A: Absolutely. We would love to support every organisation that applies, but the amount we can award each month depends entirely on the profits generated by our charity shop. If your application is unsuccessful, we would encourage you to review our FAQs, wait a few months and apply again.

Quick Tip: Applying for a smaller, more specific item may improve your chances of success.

Q: Can we apply again after we have received a grant?

A: Yes. We simply ask that you allow a reasonable amount of time before applying again so other organisations also have an opportunity to benefit. We would normally suggest waiting 3 to 6 months.

Q: I don't want to apply for a grant, but I'd still like to help. What can I do?

A: We'd love your support! You could:

• Visit the charity shop and pick up a bargain.
• Donate quality items for us to sell.
• Tell other local organisations about our grants.
• Leave us a Google review.
• Volunteer in the shop, sorting room or on our delivery van.
• Help PAT test donated electrical items (training provided).

Whether you can spare a few hours a week or simply help spread the word, every bit of support helps us award even more grants to local good causes.

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​Ready to apply for a grant?

If you've read these FAQs and think your project is eligible, we'd love to hear from you.