# Government to match fund overseas aid appeals - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2011/07/13/government-match-fund-overseas-aid-appeals/ - Published: 2011-07-13T08:15:26+01:00 - Author: Howard Lake **UK Aid Match** The Government’s Department for International Development has launched a one-year pilot programme called UK Aid Match. Worth an initial £30 million, the scheme will match fund substantial new donations from the public for work that focuses on poverty reduction in developing countries and the pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals. A £1 for £1 match will be provided up to £5 million. The minimum match will be £100,000. ## 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/) UK Aid Match is open to not-for-profit UK-based organisations running an appeal in the UK for public donations (not company donations) from the UK public for poverty reduction projects in the eligible countries (see above). But, unfortunately, not all organisations can apply. You must have a successful track record of having run substantial appeals in the past three years. Apparently this restriction is there to help the DFID assess applications and make judgements about which applicants are most likely to meet their income targets. You can’t help but believe that it also plays into the hands of existing development organisations that have seen their income from the DFID slashed by spending cuts. Restricting the fund in this way closes the door on new organisations that could use this route to shake up the sector and inject some new energy. Applicants do not need to be registered charities. Applications can be made by organisations currently receiving other DFID grants but with any money from this scheme the total your organisation can get from the DFID must not exceed 40% of your income. The pilot will run to the end of June 2012 and during that time you must run an appeal over a maximum of three months to donate money to your organisation or a specific project. The appeal must have a substantial public awareness, with a minimum reach of 400,000 ‘opportunities to view’. Not all appeals are eligible. They must involve what the DFID calls a Media Partnership. This requires an agreement between you and the organisation that will help you deliver the appeal to the general public, for example a newspaper, broadcast company, internet provider, major UK retailer with public reach etc. The advertising of the appeal must be provided free by the Media Partner. No guidance is given about relationships with News International businesses or public retailers subject to boycotts or campaigns by organisations working overseas. UK Aid Match is open to not-for-profit UK-based organisations running an appeal in the UK for public donations (not company donations) from the UK public for poverty reduction projects in the world’s most deprived countries. But, unfortunately, not all organisations can apply. You must have a successful track record of having run substantial appeals in the past three years. Apparently this restriction is there to help the DFID assess applications and make judgements about which applicants are most likely to meet their income targets. You can’t help but believe that it also plays into the hands of existing development organisations that have seen their income from the DFID slashed by spending cuts. Restricting the fund in this way closes the door on new organisations that could use this route to shake up the sector and inject some new energy. The pilot will run to the end of June 2012 and during that time you must run an appeal over a maximum of three months to donate money to your organisation or a specific project. The appeal must have a substantial public awareness, with a minimum reach of 400,000 ‘opportunities to view’. Not all appeals are eligible. They must involve what the DFID calls a Media Partnership. This requires an agreement between you and the organisation that will help you deliver the appeal to the general public, for example a newspaper, broadcast company, internet provider, major UK retailer with public reach etc. The advertising of the appeal must be provided free by the Media Partner. No guidance is given about relationships with News International businesses or public retailers subject to boycotts or campaigns by organisations working overseas. **Eligibility details, other background information and details of how to apply to the UK Aid Match are available at [www.dfid.gov.uk/Working-with-DFID/Funding-opportunities/Not-for-profit-organisations/UK-Aid-Match/Submit-a-proposal/](https://www.fundraising.co.uk/Closing date: Applications can be made until the end of June 2012 unless the money runs out before then.).** **Closing date: Applications can be made until the end of June 2012 unless the money runs out before then.** **_This piece is an abbreviated version of one of many funding opportunities first published this week at [www.fundinginformation.org](http://www.fundinginformation.org), the resource for up to date information about new grant making trusts, and new sources of grants, loans and donations for voluntary organisations, charities, social enterprises and the public sector throughout the UK._**   * **[BHF warns public of misleading commercial charity bag collectors](https://fundraising.co.uk/2011/08/31/bhf-warns-public-misleading-commercial-charity-bag-collectors/)**( 31 August 2011) * **[British Heart Foundation – commercial collectors misleading the public](https://fundraising.co.uk/2011/09/14/british-heart-foundation-commercial-collectors-misleading-public/)**( 14 September 2011) * **[Funding the Future conference to feature government ministers and funders](https://fundraising.co.uk/2012/01/19/funding-future-conference-feature-government-ministers-and-funders/)**( 19 January 2012)