1. Introduction

Moments is a registered charity operating in England. Our mission is to support organisations working in the areas of mental health, bereavement, and suicide prevention. We provide grants ranging from £500 to £5,000 to charities and not-for-profit organisations that align with our objectives.

This policy sets out our approach to grant-making, ensuring compliance with Charity Commission guidance, transparency, and effective use of charitable funds.

2. Guiding Principles

Moments is committed to:

• Ensuring all grants align with our charitable purpose and benefit communities in England.

• Acting with fairness, transparency, and integrity in all grant decisions.

• Complying with Charity Commission guidance, particularly CC20: Charity fundraising: a guide to trustee duties and CC30: Finding new trustees and making grants.

• Ensuring effective monitoring and evaluation of funded projects to maximise impact.

3. Eligibility Criteria

To apply for a grant, an organisation must:

• Be a registered charity or not-for-profit organisation operating in England.

• Demonstrate a clear commitment to mental health, bereavement support, or suicide prevention.

• Have a governance structure with at least three trustees or directors.

• Have a bank account in the organisation’s name with at least two authorised signatories.

• Provide a recent set of accounts or evidence of financial sustainability.

• Demonstrate measurable outcomes and a clear plan for how the funding will be used.

4. Exclusions

We do not fund:

• Individuals or personal expenses.

• General fundraising appeals.

• Organisations that do not operate in England.

• Activities that promote a particular political or religious agenda.

• Projects that are already fully funded or do not require additional financial support.

• Retrospective funding (projects that have already taken place).

5. Application Process

1. Submission: Applications must be made through our online form or by completing a Moments Grant Application Form.

2. Initial Review: Our team will assess applications against the eligibility criteria.

3. Assessment & Due Diligence: Shortlisted applications will undergo further scrutiny, including financial and impact assessments.

4. Decision Making: The Moments trustees will review applications and make funding decisions.

5. Award & Agreement: Successful applicants will receive a grant agreement outlining terms and reporting requirements.

6. Monitoring & Evaluation: Grant recipients must provide periodic updates and a final report on the impact of the funding.

6. Decision-Making Process

Moments is committed to a fair, transparent, and structured decision-making process. Grant applications are assessed based on merit, alignment with our charitable objectives, and the potential impact of the proposed project.

Step 1: Initial Review (Eligibility Check)

• Applications are screened to ensure they meet our eligibility criteria (e.g., charitable status, location, focus area).

• Incomplete applications or those failing to meet basic requirements will be declined at this stage.

Step 2: Detailed Assessment

Eligible applications are evaluated based on the following:

• Relevance & Impact: How well does the project align with Moments' mission? What are the expected outcomes?

• Financial Viability: Is the budget clear, realistic, and proportionate to the impact?

• Delivery Plan & Feasibility: Does the organisation have the capacity and experience to execute the project effectively?

• Sustainability: Will the project have a lasting impact beyond the funding period?

Step 3: Panel Review & Scoring

• Applications are presented to the Moments Trustees.

• Each application is scored against a set evaluation criteria ((e.g., impact, financial sustainability, feasibility) see appendix)

• Trustees discuss shortlisted applications, considering risks, innovation, and alignment with Moments’ strategic goals.

Step 4: Final Decision

• Grants are awarded based on a combination of scores, available funds, and strategic fit.

• The trustees may:

• Approve the application in full.

• Approve with conditions, requiring clarifications or modifications.

• Offer partial funding, if deemed appropriate.

• Decline the application, providing feedback where possible.

Step 5: Notification & Agreement

• Applicants are informed of the outcome within 8 weeks of submission.

• Successful applicants must sign a grant agreement, outlining funding conditions, reporting requirements, and expected outcomes.

7. Monitoring & Reporting

To ensure accountability, grant recipients must:

• Submit an interim progress report (if the project runs longer than 6 months).

• Provide a final impact report detailing how the funds were used and the outcomes achieved.

• Be open to site visits or further assessment by Moments if required.

Failure to comply with reporting requirements may affect future funding eligibility.

8. Conflicts of Interest

• Trustees and panel members must declare any conflicts of interest before reviewing applications.

• Individuals with a conflict must recuse themselves from the decision-making process for that grant.

9. Compliance & Risk Management

Moments is committed to responsible grant-making and will:

• Conduct due diligence checks on all applicants, including financial and governance reviews.

• Ensure grants are used exclusively for charitable purposes in line with UK charity law.

• Monitor compliance with Charity Commission guidelines and update this policy as needed.

10. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed annually to ensure it remains aligned with best practices and regulatory requirements.

Approved by: Moments Board of Trustees

Appendix 1 – Criteria scoring

Criteria

Weight (%)

Scoring Range

1. Alignment with Moments' Priorities

20%

0-20

2. Impact & Outcomes

25%

0-25

3. Financial Viability & Budget

20%

0-20

4. Delivery Plan & Feasibility

20%

0-20

5. Value for Money

10%

0-10

6. Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

5%

0-5

Total Score

100%

0-100

Detailed Criteria & Scoring System

1. Alignment with Moments’ Priorities (20%)

• 20-16 – Strong alignment with Moments’ focus on mental health, bereavement, and suicide prevention. Clear evidence that the project addresses a critical need in England.

• 15-11 – Moderate alignment; the project contributes to the focus areas but lacks a compelling link.

• 10-6 – Limited alignment; overlaps with Moments’ mission but does not directly address core funding priorities.

• 5-0 – Poor or no alignment with Moments’ objectives.

2. Impact & Outcomes (25%)

• 25-21 – Clear, measurable outcomes that significantly improve mental health, bereavement support, or suicide prevention. Strong evidence of community need and long-term impact.

• 20-16 – Good impact, with measurable outcomes and a logical approach to addressing the identified need.

• 15-10 – Some impact, but lacks measurable targets or long-term sustainability.

• 9-5 – Limited impact, with vague outcomes or weak community benefit.

• 4-0 – No clear impact or outcomes.

3. Financial Viability & Budget (20%)

• 20-16 – Budget is clear, realistic, and demonstrates good financial management. Co-funding or match-funding enhances sustainability.

• 15-11 – Reasonable budget, with some minor gaps or ambiguities.

• 10-6 – Budget has inconsistencies, lacks justification, or is unrealistic.

• 5-0 – Poor financial planning, unclear budget, or evidence of financial instability.

4. Delivery Plan & Feasibility (20%)

• 20-16 – Well-structured project plan with clear timelines, milestones, and an experienced team. Risks are identified and mitigated.

• 15-11 – Feasible plan, but some areas (e.g., timelines, risk management) need improvement.

• 10-6 – Delivery plan is unclear, with concerns about execution or organisational capacity.

• 5-0 – No credible plan for delivery.

5. Value for Money (10%)

• 10-9 – Excellent value for money, demonstrating cost-effectiveness and maximum impact per pound spent.

• 8-6 – Good value for money, with reasonable costs.

• 5-3 – Questionable value; some budget areas appear inflated or inefficient.

• 2-0 – Poor use of funds, excessive costs, or lack of justification.

6. Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (5%)

• 5 – Strong commitment to inclusivity, reaching underrepresented or high-need communities.

• 4-3 – Some consideration of diversity but lacks specific actions.

• 2-1 – Limited focus on inclusion, with minimal engagement strategies.

• 0 – No consideration of inclusivity.

Scoring & Decision-Making

• 80-100 (Strong Application) – High-impact project with strong delivery potential. Likely to be funded.

• 60-79 (Moderate Application) – Good project, but may require additional conditions or partial funding.

• 40-59 (Weak Application) – Limited viability, requiring significant improvements before consideration.

• Below 40 (Not Recommended) – Does not meet funding priorities or quality standards.