Here are some answers to questions we are frequently asked by voluntary sector groups when applying to us for support.
If you have any questions not listed below, please go to the Contact us page and mail us with your question.
- What do you fund?
- Do you only fund registered charities?
- Our school/playgroup/hospital has a special needs section. Can we apply?
- We are a national charity with local branches. How should we present the information?
- How much can we ask for?
- How will you assess my application and when will we hear?
- Do you visit projects?
- Will you sponsor our golf day/magazine/ concert…?
- If I am a Zurich Financial Services Group policyholder, will it make a difference?
- Could we display a poster about our charity?
- Do you sponsor individuals for educational purposes?
- Can I put a collecting tin on your reception desk for my registered charity?
Click here for How do I apply?
Major programmes –
Firstly, our Zurich Community Trust team will select an issue to support after lengthy research and consultation with the voluntary sector, the Trustees and employee committees.
We only accept applications from those who have been invited to apply, and DO NOT accept ad hoc applications.
We look for innovative projects which are sustainable and could be replicated elsewhere. Often this means that we fund core costs such as staff salaries. From time to time, we will fund capital projects for new buildings for the right project.
Employee fund programme -
Currently works in partnership with 17 organisations with committed funding and Skillshare, over a minimum 3-year period. In addition, we have local grant budgets to fund projects close to our main offices:
Core costs: for example, salary costs, office equipment.
Running costs: for example, telephone, rents and rates.
Capital costs: for example, building, specialist medical equipment, and computer equipment.
Typically, grants from these budgets would be in the region of £500-£10,000.
Openwork Foundation -
The Foundation has a theme, currently cares4 Kids, supporting disadvantaged children under 18 years of age.
Grants of £3,000 - £5,000 are only given to those organisations that have been nominated by a member of Openwork. We only accept applications from those who have been invited to apply.
The vast majority of the Openwork Foundation's funding is concentrated on capital funding. That means tangible things like bricks and mortar for new buildings, making buildings accessible, vehicles, equipment for specialist medical needs, transport and computer equipment. We will consider running costs, but this is unlikely to account for more than 25% of the funding of any grant award.
Back to top
No. However, all our grants must be for charitable purposes, benefiting disadvantaged people and helping them to move from dependence to independence. We prefer to make grants to registered charities as it helps us to ensure this is achieved, although we do award grants to other voluntary organisations.
Occasionally, we make grants to charities that have applied for but not yet received registration and where the constitution clearly describes charitable aims.
And, on occasions, we can make grants to small voluntary organisations, as long as the work is clearly charitable and meets all our other assessment criteria.
Click here to learn more Are you eligible?
Back to top
Yes, as long as what you are asking us to fund is specifically to support those children with special needs. We will take applications from mainstream schools, playgroups and hospitals in the areas around our main office locations.
Click here to see if you are eligible.
Back to top
Please complete the section relating to funding as a local branch. However, it will be helpful to enclose the national set of reports and accounts to give us a full picture of your organisation's financial situation.
Back to top
Please ring the local programme manager to discuss the outline of your application and he or she will be able to help you.
Click here to see if you are eligible.
Back to top
We will acknowledge your application when we receive it. At that stage we’ll tell you when the next grant committee will be meeting and when you can expect to hear.
Back to top
It’s our general practice to visit all our programme partners as part of the assessment process.
Much as we would like to visit all projects, it’s not practical to visit everyone who is seeking money from our staff charity funds. However, we will visit most asking for £1,000 or more, particularly those who are asking us for help from our staff for volunteering projects.
Back to top
No. While we appreciate that sponsorship of events and activities has its place in helping charities, we prefer to fund specific projects within charitable organisations.
As a registered charity ourselves, our objective is to help people achieve a more independent future for themselves. Whilst we like to have due recognition for the work of Zurich's Community Trust, we do not actively seek publicity for the company from our community involvement activities.
Back to top
No. All applications for funding are given careful consideration by our employee- and financial adviser-led committees. We make all grant awards on merit, whether applications are made by policyholders or not.
Inevitably, demand for grants always exceeds funds available. This means that sometimes we have to reject good applications that meet our criteria.
Back to top
No. We’re very sorry but there is strong demand for poster space on the walls in our buildings, mainly for internal information. We therefore have very strict guidelines about on posters.
Back to top
No. We work with community organisations to support a wide range of individuals. In this way, we aim to reach as many people as we can with the funding we have available. We do not provide direct support to individuals.
If you live in the UK, you could consult the 'Grants for Educational Purposes', which suggests sources of funding and is published by the Directory of Social Change. You may find a copy in your local library or Citizens Advice Bureau.
Back to top
No. We're sorry, but we get inundated with requests to put a tin, lapel badges or sweets on our reception desk for charity, and we’re simply unable to accept them all. With this mind, we have adopted the policy of just accepting the Poppy Appeal each year.
Back to top
