The Grant assessment manual

The Grant assessment manual sets out rules and procedures that grants officers follow when assessing applications under our main grants programmes: Community involvement and Poverty and disadvantage. We have similar manuals for all our programmes. Their procedures are based on those in this manual.

The Charities Board is publishing the manual on the Internet as part of our commitment to transparency. Some sections have been omitted. These sections are marked in the text. The reasons why this text has been removed vary, but it is generally because we do not wish to publish information that may enable fraudulent applications to be made, or because we are concerned that some applicants may base their applications too closely on the general advice we give to staff in the manual, rather than on the needs and context of their project.

Please note that you should not rely on this manual when you are completing your application form as some parts may be in the process of being revised. The application form and pack contain all the information you need to make a successful application.

Staff assess all applications on their merits against the assessment criteria published in the application pack. They refer to local guidance and specific factors such as the priorities set out in country and regional strategic plans that apply to individual applications and are enclosed in the application packs.

We hope that you find this useful. Please send us any comments you have on the website version of the manual.