Frequently Asked Questions

• You can see if you can apply here .
• Our Open Fund is now open - you can start your application now. See information including the questions we ask and a link to our online form is here
• The deadline to apply is 25 September 5pm

• If you've read the information on our website including our application form and still have a question, please email info@peterminet.org.uk.
• Meet the Funder webinar video recording and slide presentation here.
  • We explain Peter Minet's open fund and share slides
  • Tracey (Chair) and Rachel (Director) answer questions

• We plan to give grants to around 7 new partners
• These partners will get funding for up to 3 years
• We will open another round in 2027

• We know many community groups, charities and CICs are doing great work
• But we give large, flexible grants for 3 years and we've learned that groups need to have strong leadership, good governance and finance systems to handle this kind of funding.
• We are a small funder, so we can't give extra support to help small groups build these skills.
• We want to be honest about who we can and cannot fund, so you don't waste time applying if it's not the right fit.

Need Help to Build Good Governance and Finance Management?

• If your organisation is in Southwark, contact Community Southwark. They give free advice and training to community groups
• If your organisation is in Lambeth, contact Integrate.
• Do It Now Now have capacity building training and funding up to £3k available now for Black and Global Majority-led groups with incomes under £30k. Contact them here.

Looking for Other Funders?

• Some funders give small grants to grassroots groups
• You can find a list of some of these funders here

• In 2022, about 4 to 5 out of 10 eligible charities got a grant
• In 2025, we are also accepting applications from CICs Limited by Guarantee for the first time.
• This means more groups may apply, so the chance of getting a grant may be lower.
• We don’t know the exact chances yet, but we will share updates and numbers as we go.

1. First Check
   • The Director and an independent expert check if your group meets the eligibility criteria
   • They read your application, look at your annual accounts, and other documents.
   • They also check your website or other public information.
   • If something is not clear, they may contact you.
2. Trustee Review
   • Peter Minet's Trustees meet to discuss applications.
   • They check how well your work matches the Trust’s priorities.
   • Trustees have personal and professional experience with charities and community groups - you can read about them here .
   • If your group is not shortlisted, you will get written feedback.
3. Stage 2
   • A shortlist of groups is invited to fill out a Stage 2 form.
   • A visit is arranged with a Peter Minet Trustee and the Director.
4. Final Decision
   • Trustees meet again to make final decisions.
   • Groups that do not get a grant will receive written feedback.

• We will choose about 10 to 14 applicants to go to Stage 2.
• We give you feedback if you don't go to Stage 2
• Stage 2 includes:
  • A form with 3 more questions
  • A visit from us
  • After Stage 2, we will give grants to around 7 groups.

Open Fund Round 1: March 2020: 

• 29 groups applied
• 11 were invited to Stage 2
• 10 were visited
• 7 groups got a grant
• About 39% of eligible groups received funding - about 4 out of 10 applicants

Open Fund Round 2: January 2022: 

• 26 groups applied
• 11 were invited to Stage 2
• 11 were visited
• 8 groups got a grant
• About 44% of eligible groups received funding - about 4 to 5 out of every 10 applicants

Why Some Applications Were Turned Down: 

• Most were turned down because they did not meet the eligibility criteria. For example,
  • Their income was too high or too low
  • Their work was not mainly in Lambeth or Southwark
• Some groups were eligible but:
  • Their plans were not as strong as others
  • Their governance (how they run the organisation) or finance systems needed to be stronger to manage a large, flexible grant

'In recent years, our reflections, combined with the sobering realities brought to light by events such as the murder of George Floyd, the disproportionate impacts of Covid-19 on racially minoritised groups, and the global calls for racial justice, have further sharpened our focus. After months of careful consideration, learning and strategic planning, we have made the deliberate and important decision to direct our funding to Black-led organisations in Lambeth and Southwark'  Tracey Fletcher,  Chair. Read our full Chair's Message here.

What We Mean by Black-Led Organisations:

• A Black-led Organisation means
  • More than half of the Trustees or Directors identify as Black, African, Caribbean, Black British or Any Other Black, African or Caribbean background
  • More than half of the Staff identify as Black, African, Caribbean, Black British or Any Other Black, African or Caribbean background

We Respect All Identities

• We know people have different experiences and identities.
• We are always thinking about how we use language.
• If you have any thoughts or feedback,  please email us 

• If you got a grant in Round 1 (2020), you can apply if you meet the eligibility criteria.
• If you got a grant in Round 2 (2022), you cannot apply in 2025 because you are already funded until Sep 2026.

• Yes, you can read our Strategy 2025-2028 on our website here
• You can also download it here as a PDF

• No, we cannot accept full applications by video or audio right now.
• But if you already have a video about your organisation, you can email us a link to it
• If the online form is difficult for you, please, please email us your questions. We are happy to help.

• We know that some places of worship run great programmes for everyone in the community — people of any faith or no faith.
• But we give unrestricted grants (money that can be used for many things).
• Some activities in places of worship, like prayer services, are only for people of one faith.
• Because of this, we do not fund places of worship.

• We have limited money, so we must focus our support.
• Some other local funders already help schools.
• We do not fund:
  • Nurseries
  • Schools
  • Colleges or universities
  • Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs)

• Yes.
• If you are not successful at Stage 1 or Stage 2, you can apply again in future rounds.
• We will give you written feedback to help you understand why your application was not successful.
• This may help you decide if you want to try again.

• Please email us your question.
• We will update this list of questions and answers in response what people are asking us