THE MONEY SAVING EXPERT (MSE) CHARITY
Grants of up to £10,000 are available to not-for-profit organisations in the UK for projects that focus on building financial resilience and capability skills.
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o Application deadline: FRIDAY 31st JANUARY 2025 for Outline Proposals (the Fund opens to applications on Monday 13th January 2025).
o Funder: THE MSE Charity (founded 2006. Charity number 1121320. Total value of all grants awarded in the year ended 31 March 2024: £105,348 (2023: £100,446)).
o Who can apply: small to medium-sized UK non-profit organisations limited by guarantee, including registered charities, Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs), Community Interest Companies (CICs), Credit Unions and other forms of social enterprise. Applicants must have a constitution and an annual income of under £750,000 and been operating for at least 18 months.
o Key words: Financial Resilience, Financial Capability, Changing Attitudes towards Managing Money, Improving Money Management, United Kingdom.
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In 2023/24 the Money Saving Expert (MSE) Charity replaced its themed rounds with two open grant rounds each year, while the maximum grant award available was increased from £8,000 to £10,000 (of which, £500 can be used for essential IT equipment that will assist project delivery). Up to 10 applications are expected to be supported in each funding round. Grants, which are for revenue only (the Charity does not fund capital works), can be used for any activities that improve financial capability.
The Charity has retained its interest in applications which use memorable, innovative and or creative ways of delivering financial capability and life skills which will make a lasting impact on the way people think, behave and manage their money.
The Charity defines financial capability as influencing the attitudes, skills and knowledge around the ability to manage money well. This can be from day-to-day or through significant life events, such as:
o Bereavement.
o Inability to work through disability or injury.
o Major long-term illness.
o Moving house.
o Pregnancy, and
o Redundancy.
During the year ended 31st March 2024, the Charity awarded grants totalling £105,348 to 15 projects. Projects supported are listed on pages 3 and 4 of its annual accounts, while a number of case studies are available on its website.
Funding is not available for:
o Applications that only providing debt advice/management.
o Capital costs (the MSE Charity only funds revenue projects)
o Individuals.
o Schools, or
o Statutory agencies.
Following its review of its grant-making, the Charity has introduced a new 3-stage application process, as follows:
1. Stage 1: Grant Eligibility Quiz – to determine if the organisation and project meets the Charity’s general grant criteria. If successful, applicants will be able to proceed to Stage 2.
2. Stage 2: Outline Proposal – this consists of a brief application that gives applicants the opportunity to tell the MSE Charity about their organisation and the activities they would like funded. This should provide sufficient detail for the Charity to assess whether the project proposal meets its grant-making objectives.
3. Stage 3: Full Application – invited short-listed applicants will be sent a link to complete a full application form with approximately one month to complete. This will require more detailed information to be provided about their organisation; evidence of need, the project activities; the team’s experience; the outcomes they are hoping to achieve; a detailed project budget; and submission of supporting documents including their accounts and a recent bank statement.
The deadline for Outline Proposals (Stage 2, above) is Friday 31st January 2025. Please note that the fund opens to applications on Monday 13th January 2025.
Further information, guidance, Frequently asked Questions (FAQs) and the Eligibility Quiz can be found on the Charity’s website.
Contact details for the MSE Charity are:
Katie Davies
Operations Manager
MSE Charity
c/o Tesciuba Limited
72 Cavendish Road
Manchester
M7 4WA
Email: info@msecharity.com