Sustainable Hertfordshire Fund

Eligible projects must:

• Be local to Hertfordshire and benefit people who live or work in the county

• Be inclusive and accessible to everyone

• Have strong local support shown through a vibrant crowdfunding campaign

• Be completed within a year of the grant being awarded unless otherwise agreed

• Meet at least one of the desirable criteria

• If you are approved for funding, you will need to continue crowdfunding to meet your initial target.

• Serve communities within the council’s administrative area of Hertfordshire, with at least 75% of the people benefiting from the project living or working in that area

Who can apply?

• UK registered charities, CIOs, CICs and constituted not-for-profits, voluntary and community organisations (this can include PTA/‘Friends of’ registered charities, but we will not fund statutory school services)

• Your organisation must be properly constituted with appropriate governance and policy documents and a management committee.

• Your bank account should be in the name of the organisation with a minimum of two cheque signatories.

What kind of projects will be funded?

Your project will need to support Hertfordshire’s climate emergency response by supporting one or more of the following:

• Enabling your community to reduce their carbon emissions through better energy choices.

• Supporting your community to understand and tackle the effects of climate change.

• Improving the natural environment and protecting nature in your community.

• Initiatives to help local people to connect with their environment.

• Environmental improvements to community spaces.

• Reducing pollution and improving air quality.

Click here to see examples of projects we might fund.

Projects should aim to achieve at least one of the following Community Benefits:

• Making new connections – engaging with people who would not normally be involved in sustainability issues.

• Being more active – encouraging people to become more active or try a new activity.

• Learning – developing new skills or delivering a programme of education about the environment and/or impact of climate change.

• Volunteering – providing opportunities for people to engage with their local community through volunteering.

The funds cannot be spent on:

• Projects not delivered in Hertfordshire.

• Projects that have not secured all necessary permissions to proceed eg planning consent.

• Retrospective funding to fill funding gaps not identified before the project starts.

• Salary or routine administration costs.

• Political activities, lobbying or projects where the sole/majority of beneficiaries are animals (e.g. charity, rescue or therapy).

• Projects which in the assessment of Hertfordshire County Council show actual or potential unlawful discrimination within the terms of the Equality Act 2010.

• Statutory activities/requirements.

• Hospitality (catering and refreshment costs).

• Contributions in kind through volunteer time.

• Directly benefits individuals, (e.g. ongoing salary costs), or ‘for profit’ organisations.

• Outings, trips, holidays or excursion costs, except for additional costs specific to the needs covered, e.g. support/care staff, adapted transport or accommodation

• Reversing public sector policy or providing services which are the statutory responsibility of public sector agencies.

• Food, drinks or alcohol.

• Organisations set up as trusts (including charitable trusts) are not currently eligible to participate in the Fund.

Please visit our Help Centre for generic answers.

Firstly you will need to register and add your crowdfunding project by clicking the 'start crowdfunding' button above. Once you have added your project you will be able to fill out the application form in the ‘+Extra Funding’ section of your project dashboard. Shortlisted projects will be notified on the 9th October.

Take a look at the following resources designed to help you make the most of your campaign:

Webinars and weekly drop-in sessions

Knowledge Hub

Online learning platform

Help Centre

How to get your page ready for +Extra funding

It needs to go live at 12pm on 30th October and close on/by 12pm 4th December (5 weeks maximum).

Your project will need to close on or before Monday 4th December.

HCC The Sustainable Hertfordshire Fund pledges will be matched by the Crowd using pound for pound live match funding. You are able to choose between Flexible Funding or All or Nothing, however in order to secure the HCC The Sustainable Hertfordshire Fund match funding you will be required to hit 100% of your project target before it closes (this may be different from other funding partners at Crowdfunder, so always check if you are looking to pursue or have been accepted for other extra funds).

For every donation made towards your project we'll match it up to £250, so if your project receives a donation of £20 we'll add another £20, if your project receives a donation of £600 then you'll receive an additional £250. Please read the full match funding conditions and Live Match Funding - Activation Campaign Terms and Conditions before applying.