The third Round of the Third Sector Capacity Fund is closed to new Expressions of Interest. A fourth round will be launched in the summer.

Only third sector organisations*, or partnerships involving third sector organisations in service delivery and design, will be eligible to apply for a grant. Local authority led partnerships are eligible to apply so long as third sector organisations are both core project partners and they (or their members) are the beneficiaries of project funding.

* The third sector encompasses voluntary and community organisations, charities, social enterprises, cooperatives and mutuals. The defining characteristics are that they are:

- non-governmental;
- value-driven – that is, are motivated by the desire to further social, environmental or cultural purposes rather than to make a profit per se; and
- principally reinvest their surpluses to further social, environmental or cultural objectives

The Third Sector Capacity Fund will only support projects within the North East region, that benefit people of the North East.

The Third Sector Capacity Fund is expected to provide total grant funding of £6million over the next 4 years. Grants are available for between £25,000 and £150,000 and may run over more than a year up to a maximum of three years.

The purpose of the Grants Panel’s involvement is to draw upon their additional and specialist knowledge of local issues within the North East in the assessment process, particularly issues concerning geographical coverage, candidate organisation’s track records and potential synergies that applicants may have with other projects and funding streams already known to Panel members. Each round of EOIs and full applications are objectively scored by Rocket Science, who then make recommendations to the Grants Panel with the final decision regarding which applications are subsequently funded resting with the Panel themselves.

The full terms of reference for the Grants Panel, in addition to a list of current members, is available to download in the resources section.

Although it possible for grants to be awarded to cover 100% of a project’s total costs in most cases we would expect applicant organisations to contribute towards the costs of the project themselves – either from their own resources or from project partners’ contributions. This must be cash, rather than in-kind, contributions.

Although the overall target is for the Fund to generate match funding equivalent to 35% each funding application will be assessed individually on its merits. It is anticipated that some applicants will be able (and expected) to make a higher proportional contribution than others.

Yes. However, for projects that draw down additional match funding from public sources such as local authorities, applicants must be aware of the need to avoid ‘double counting’. Applicants will not be able to claim (i.e. ‘double count’) the same outputs for each source of funding and may need to apportion outputs across different funds.

ONE North East, working through the Fund’s managing agent, reserves the right to link projects together at EOI stage (for example to create beneficiary progression routes or address a particular strategic priority) and invite organisations to submit joint or complementary Full Applications.

Yes, organisations can only apply once in each funding round. The maximum grant is £150,000.

Funding will be to cover revenue costs only. However, applicants will be permitted to spend small amounts (up to £1000) on essential capital equipment. Funding may also be available to support capital project feasibility studies.

Yes. Successful applicants will be required to:

- acknowledge One NorthEast in all publicity and all materials produced, and use the One NorthEast branding guidelines;
- participate in press and PR events;
- provide information to the managing agent for use in publicity materials, including the Third Sector Capacity Fund website; and
- participate in applicant workshops and ‘showcase’ events.

Most of the information and help you will need is located on the website. For any additional information or support please email info@thirdsectorfund.org.uk and we will respond within 48 hours.