OUR GRANTS PROGRAMME -
3. THE APPLICATION PROCESS

If successful at first stage, applicants will be required to complete a more detailed second stage form. This will include specific questions to be answered; a detailed budget breakdown of costs and the uploading of supporting documents. The second stage form will be emailed to eligible applicants for completion by a set date.

For small grant applications (up to £30,000) applicants will be contacted by the Racing Foundation’s Grants Manager to discuss the project further and identify additional information that might be required.

For requests over £30,000 applicants will be contacted by the Racing Foundation’s Grants Manager to arrange a meeting or conference call to discuss the project further, assist with completion of the form and provide guidance on what the Racing Foundation’s Trustees are likely to consider when discussing grant awards.

A printable list of the questions asked by the application will be available on the Registration/Log-in page when you start your application.

All Open Grants Programme applications are discussed by Racing Foundation Trustees at their regularly scheduled Board Meetings where awards are agreed. Any Trustees with a conflict of interest based on applicants or specific projects, are unable to vote on these requests.

The Small Grants Committee typically meets ahead of scheduled Board Meetings to discuss small grant applications and agree awards.

All applicants will be contacted within 2 weeks of the meeting to be advised of the outcome.

To see what aspects the Foundation’s Trustees will focus on when considering grant applications, please click here to see our Guidance Notes.

The Racing Foundation accepts and considers applications for funding three times a year. Grant applications must be received before the stated deadlines, otherwise the application will be carried forward to the next funding round. For information on deadlines for the next funding rounds please see below.

Please note that the Foundation is unable to enter into any correspondence with charities seeking to appeal against a decision to reject a funding application.

The dates for the 2025 funding rounds are as follows:

An applicant’s governance structure, staff development policies and alignment with industry strategies may be considered as part of the assessment process.

An applicant may be asked to provide a business plan and fundraising strategy – both for the project for which they are seeking funding and also for the charity as a whole.

We prefer to support projects that will involve, or lead to, collaboration with other industry stakeholders; that are aligned with industry strategies (where available and appropriate); that will help build understanding and that have the potential to achieve a substantial impact.

The Racing Foundation reserves the right to conduct an independent evaluation of projects, at any stage, to assess progress and outcomes. Any concerns regarding performance of a project may result in partial repayment of a grant and/or multi-year pledges being deferred or withdrawn.