My organisation does not meet one or more of the eligibility criteria, can Impetus still consider us for this Open Grant Round?

Our eligibility criteria have been calibrated to ensure that our partner organisations are of a sufficient size to benefit from our focused and hands-on support package and are aligned with our funding objectives. We do not want to waste your time filling in the application. As such, we are not able to make exceptions for organisations that do not meet all the eligibility criteria.

My organisation is neither a charity nor a social enterprise, can I still apply?

On very rare occasions we may consider investing in organisations with structures other than charities or social enterprises (e.g. a company limited by shares). In these instances, we would need to see a clear and formalised commitment to achieving positive impact for young people, evidenced by mechanisms such as:

• A commitment to impact in an organisation’s articles of association
• An asset lock
• Majority ownership by a charity

If you believe your organisation meets this description, please email investment@impetus.org.uk

I have completed the application form and would like the opportunity to give further detail and context on some of our answers, can I book a call to discuss our application?

If you progress to the shortlist, we will arrange a phone call with your CEO and have a chance to learn about your work in more detail. Our process for reviewing applications has been designed to allow us to assess multiple organisations on a consistent basis. Unfortunately, we are not able to conduct informal conversations with applicants before the shortlisting stage of our investment process.

I have made a mistake on the application form and would like the opportunity to correct it. Can I do this?

If you have made a mistake on the application form and need to make a correction, please email investment@impetus.org.uk with your organisation’s name and outline clearly the changes you want to make.

Do I need a Google account to complete the eligibility or application forms?

The forms allow anyone to apply, with or without a Google account.

I submitted an application and have not yet heard back, when will I know the outcome of my application?

We will try to respond to all applicants with an update on our decision as soon as possible after the open call closes. However, depending on the number of applications we receive, the process of assessing applications may take longer than we expect. We will aim to communicate the outcome of your application by the week commencing 6th May at the latest.

How do you define young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in your eligibility criteria?

We understand definitions of socio-economic disadvantage vary between and within organisations. At Impetus we commonly use several definitions including: 1) Young people eligible for Free School Meals or Pupil Premium; 2) Young people from low-income households; 3) Looked After Children (LAC) and children who have been adopted or fostered from care (post-LAC). Measures such as IMD or POLAR are also relevant.

Do you provide feedback for unsuccessful applicants?

Due to the number of applicants, we are unable to provide feedback on all applications at the first round. However, if your organisation progresses to the first-round interviews or beyond, we will provide feedback on why your application was unsuccessful.

I have a question regarding the eligibility or application form that is not covered by the above.

Please send your query to investment@impetus.org.uk