Funding Watch: The North Face Explore Fund

The fund is targeted specifically at not-for-profit organisations that work to improve children and young people’s engagement with nature and the outdoors. It was established to promote the benefits of an active lifestyle and encourage engagement with, and education about, the natural world and the preservation of the environment. Grants are offered annually.

What will it fund? The money is primarily intended to fund projects that support child and youth participation with nature. It can only be used to cover direct project-specific costs. It cannot be used for indirect costs, overheads or salaries.

Successful applicants have to meet a number of conditions. They must actively encourage community involvement and target a specific audience, community or place of interest. Organisations will be able to prove that there is a good chance that they will achieve “measurable success” over the next few years.

Applications must set out goals and action plans, and demonstrate a strategy of how success will be evaluated. Proof of a clear communications strategy is also required, setting out how the organisation will market the project to the right people for maximum impact.

How much is on offer? Organisations can apply for up to 2,500 Euros (about £2,100) a year.

When is the deadline? Online applications are open until 28 February and recipients of the award will be announced by 1 April.

Find out more www.explorefund.eu