# Baring launches £900,000 Strengthening the Voluntary Sector programme

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2006/04/28/baring-launches-900000-strengthening-voluntary-sector-programme/
- Published: 2006-04-28T23:00:00+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

The Baring Foundation has announced the application criteria for its 2006 Strengthening
the Voluntary Sector grants programme.
The Programme will distribute up to £900,000
in 15 to 25 grants to voluntary organisations working with people experiencing disadvantage
and discrimination. Applicants must be local, regional or second tier organisations
with an annual income in the last financial year of between £250,000 and £7 million;
national organisations with an annual income in the last financial year of between
£1 million and £7 million; or international organisations carrying out the majority
of their overseas work in Sub-Saharan Africa with an annual income in the last financial
year of between £1 million and £7 million.

The grants programme aims to support organisations to maintain or increase their
independence from government and to carry out organisational development activities
that strengthen core strategies, structures, systems and skills leading to a significant
and lasting improvement in effectiveness. The Foundation’s definitions of ‘independence’
and ‘organisational development’ can be found on the web.

The Foundation will consider applications from organisations seeking to improve 
independence themselves or from organisations providing services which help other
organisations become more independent. The programme will provide support in a variety
of ways, including:

## Advertisement

 [⌊Posthub advert. You create the campaign. We'll handle the postal journey. Get started at post-hub.co.uk.⌉](https://fundraising.co.uk/ads/posthub-20261007-300x250/)

Increasing legitimacy, for example involving users or beneficiaries in organisational
review, planning and management for the first time or in a significantly better 
ways

Building organisational confidence, for example by developing skills and capacity.

Grants can be used in many ways, including: paying for additional staff, providing
targeted training and development, meeting the costs of engaging users, making improvements
to relevant IT systems, buying in external advice and expertise or supporting the
dissemination of good practice.

The Foundation will consider applications for grants for between a total of £20,000
and £100,000. Grants can be for a package of activities spanning up to five years.
In addition to making grants, the programme will also provide a range of resources
and activities to enable the desired outcomes of the work.

Applications can be completed an on-line or sent by post. The deadline for submissions
is Tuesday 30th May 2006.

 * **[Charities to earn income from promoting contract mobile phones](https://fundraising.co.uk/2006/05/04/charities-earn-income-promoting-contract-mobile-phones/)**(
   4 May 2006)
 * **[Northern HQ for Big Lottery Fund opens in Newcastle](https://fundraising.co.uk/2006/05/07/northern-hq-big-lottery-fund-opens-newcastle/)**(
   7 May 2006)
 * **[July deadline for applications to Young People's Fund (England)](https://fundraising.co.uk/2006/05/12/july-deadline-applications-young-people039s-fund-england/)**(
   12 May 2006)