Aviva Community Fund to help People Face Future with Confidence (UK)

Deadline: 26-Jan-21

Applications are now open for the Aviva Community Fund to help people face the future with confidence.

The Aviva Community Fund has learnt that the charities that make the biggest impact are those that are given the opportunity to innovate and test new ideas without fear of risk. That’s why they are focusing on funding small charities with forward-thinking ideas.

Funding Information

Funding of up to a maximum of £50,000.

Eligibility Criteria

Fall within one of their two key funding areas:
- Financial capability and inclusion: giving people the tools to become more financially independent.
- Community resilience: tackling inequality and improving environments to build more connected, more resilient communities.
Be raising funds to develop a new approach, product or technology, pilot a new scheme, implement a new initiative, or expand existing services to a new area or beneficiary group within the UK.
If submitted in connection with a religious organisation, have an outcome that is accessible to persons of any religious beliefs.
To submit a project, you must be:
- age 18 or older;
- a UK resident;
- using a UK IP address and a non-disposable email address.
Your organisation must:
- be a UK registered charity, a registered community interest company or a registered community benefit society.
- be based in the UK.
- have existed for at least 12 months at the time of submission.
- have an annual income of no more than £1,000,000, as evidenced by information submitted to the Charity Commission, HMRC or Companies House.
- have a bank account in its own name.
- be a living wage employee (if the organisation employs people).
- have an active board of trustees or directors.

Setting your target

You have the option to set your project target up under one of two models:

Keep what you raise – meaning you get all pledges made by the end date, regardless of whether your initial funding target has been met, but you cannot continue fundraising beyond this date.
All or nothing – meaning you have to reach your funding target by the end date but do have the option to continue fundraising if your target has not been met.

It’s therefore vital that you consider carefully what funding target you want to set. Too low and you won’t be able to realistically bring your idea to life; too high and you may be needlessly pushing your ambitions out of reach.

Telling your story

Your Crowdfunder page is your platform for sharing your story to potential donors. Take care to explain your idea as clearly and succinctly as possible. Consider what photographs would help tell your story and whether a video would help you explain. Key points you’ll need to articulate are:

What your organisation does?
What your project is and the challenge it aims to address?
How your project is an innovative step forward?
How much funding you need and how it will be spent?

Here’s how the Aviva Community Fund will work

Step 1: Take part: Applications are open all year, with quarterly funding rounds for eligible charities. Funding is available for fresh ideas looking to secure up to £50,000. Plus, their Knowledge Library, Facebook Group and volunteer opportunities are available to all.
Step 2: Take a close look: Submissions for round 5 close at 23.59 on 26 January. When applying, you’ll see their new requirements – check these closely to make sure your idea meets the new criteria.
Step 3: Ready to take off: Submissions will be reviewed for eligibility. You can use this time to look through the support and resources on offer to help you prepare and make the most of your campaign.
Step 4: Take it away!: All Crowdfunder pages go live on 16 February. Causes can share projects with their networks of supporters to raise public donations.
Step 5: Take advantage of the fund: On 23 February projects open to Aviva Community Fund employee donations. Aviva employees will be able to view projects and between them will share out £250,000 of funding.
Step 6: Take your time: You have until 17 March to receive Aviva Community Fund donations. But don’t worry if you’ve not reached your fundraising target. You can keep your page open and continue public fundraising.
Step 7: Take it to the next level: Reached your fundraising target? Congratulations! You’ll have the funds and a whole bunch of new supporters all wanting to help you make your idea a reality.
Step 8: Take them on a journey: People have donated, they’ve connected with your cause. They’ll be interested to see how things progress so be sure to keep your donors informed and engaged with the great things you’re achieving.