npower Business Solutions Foundation

The npower Business Solutions Foundation will provide funding to not-for-profit organisations such as local charities, community interest companies and educational institutions. A full list of eligible organisations is below:

• Not-for-profit company
  A company limited by guarantee - registered with Companies House and might also be registered as a charity 
• Registered charity (unincorporated)
  A voluntary or community organisation that's a registered charity but not a company registered with Companies House 
• Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO or SCIO)
  A registered charity with limited liability. But is not a company registered with Companies House 
• Community Interest Company (CIC)
  A company registered with Companies House and the CIC Regulator. 
• Religious organisation 
  Only if the project benefits the wider community and does not include religious content.  Parish Councils are currently NOT eligible to apply.
• Co-operative or community benefit society (formerly industrial and provident societies) 
• School, College, University, Academy Trust or other education establishment 

Your project should be located within a 50 mile radius of our offices in Solihull (B91 3ES) and Leeds (LS15 8ZB) or both. Or, if it is a national organisation, you should have operations within these areas.

As well as being in the designated catchment area, your organisation must have been operational for two years and can provide accounts to confirm your turnover/income. The project applied for must be completed within 12 months after funding has been received.

Our video, ‘Is my organisation eligible to apply?’ explains who can submit a project for consideration.

Funding is available in three bands, up to £100,000.

If your organisation’s turnover is more than £50,000, it can apply for:

• £Up to £19,999
• £20,000 to £39,999
• £40,000 to £100,000

If your organisation’s turnover is less than £50,000, you can apply for:

• Up to £19,999
  
  

No, at the moment there is no deadline. The fund launched in April 2024 and is planned to continue for two years. The panel aims to make award decisions on a quarterly basis.

You can apply now through our application page. Here, you will find out all the information and documentation you will need to complete your application.

Our video, ‘How can my organisation apply for funding?’ also provides more information.

Our video, ‘How can my organisation apply for funding?’ explains more about what you will need to submit. 

Additional information that may be required includes:

• Safeguarding policy
• Financial accounts
• Project plan (if amount requested is over £20,000)
• Risk register (if amount requested is over £20,000)
• Your supporting video, if relevant

​No, you do not.  If you fill in your email address on the first page of the application form and then close it, you will be emailed a link that will enable you to return to your application as many times as required before submitting it.  Once submitted you will be sent a link to upload your supporting documents.

For funding applications less than £39,999

No, it is not compulsory, however, if it would help the panel to visualise your project and/or the impact your project would have on its recipients, then this would be recommended. 

For funding applications £40,000 or more

Yes, a short video (2 mins max)  is required to help the panel to visualise your project and/or the impact your project would have on its recipients.

This doesn’t have to be a high-value production, a simple phone recording will be more than suitable.

Therefore, if you submit your application at the beginning of a quarter, it may be up to 16 weeks until you receive a response.

If successful, funding will be sent within one month of award. For larger projects, two-thirds of the funding will be distributed at the beginning of the project, with the remaining third subject to a successful mid-project review.

If you have any queries about the status of your application, you can contact us at nBSFoundation@charisgrants.com and one of our team will get in touch.

You can find all details in our Foundation Terms and Conditions

Yes, of course. If your project is unsuccessful, there is no limit to the amount of times you can reapply, allowing you to make the necessary changes to your application to stand a better chance of being successful, or to apply for a similar or different project.