FAQs - Applicant organisations

DFID will consider applications from UK-based, non-governmental, not-for-profit organisations in a partnership with a not for profit organisation. Either the Not-for-profit organisation or the communications partner can apply.

DFID will not consider applications from:

Organisations based outside the UK (even if they are organisations which deliver development projects in developing countries)

Think tanks (sometimes known as policy institutes, which conduct or analyse research)

Academic institutions (including institutions which are eligible for funding from the Higher Education Funding Councils and equivalents in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland)

Research organisations

Governmental & inter-governmental organisations (or any other organisation which reports directly to government)

DFID will not accept applications from organisations that:

Undertake activities which may lead to civil unrest

Are linked to any terrorist organisation

Discriminate against any group on the basis of gender, disability, race, colour, ethnicity, sexual orientation or religion

No. The recipient of the funds raised by the appeal need only be a UK-based, non-governmental, not-for-profit organisation.  They do not have to be a registered charity.

A not-for-profit is any organisation that does not distribute its surplus funds to owners or shareholders, but instead uses them to help pursue its goals.

To qualify as UK based, the largest/main office of the receiving organisation should be in the UK. If the receiving organisation is part of a larger international family, we expect its UK office to demonstrate significant autonomy. The organisation must be registered in the UK and have its own UK constitution and board of trustees. We may request to see relevant documentation to support this.

Yes.  However, it will be a strong advantage for the applicants (i.e. the development organisation and/or communications partner) to have a track record of running similar public appeals within the last three years.. DFID will consider the track record of the applicant organisation to assess claims made about the likely reach and fund raising potential of any match funded appeal. You will need to produce a credible communications plan which explains how you are going to publicise the appeal widely and raise at least £100,000.

Yes. You do not have to have received any DFID support in the past to apply for funding. However, if the recipient organisation has not been subject to a recent due diligence assessment from DFID, which examines the capacity of the organisation to manage DFID funds appropriately and transparently, DFID will conduct a due diligence assessment of the organisation. Following the outcome of this assessment, DFID’s offer of support will either be agreed or withdrawn.

Yes.  There is no restriction on organisations that are already in receipt of another DFID grant (including a Programme Partnership Agreement) applying for UK Aid Match.  However, the total funds provided by DFID, including match funding, must not exceed 40% of the recipient organisation’s annual income (which is calculated by working out the average annual income of the intended recipient over the last two years).

No – this fund is for overseas development only.

No – this fund is for UK based organisations only.

No.  All applicants must be able to provide annual audited accounts for the previous year.

Yes, we are willing to consider providing funding to existing consortia of not-for-profit organisations and those which have recently come together around a particular initiative. The group of organisations receiving funding from UK Aid Match will have to elect one member of the consortium as the ‘lead’ organisation, i.e. the organisation through which all funding will be channelled and which will operate as the main point of contact with DFID for the duration of the project. All consortium members must be listed in the application and must meet the eligibility criteria. It will also be a strong advantage for the lead organisation and the communications partner to demonstrate a track record of running appeals for public funds.