How to apply for funding

Who is eligible to apply for a Team Forces Grant?

The Foundation is able to make grants that further its mission in supporting Forces sport, challenge and adventure across the military community. From serving personnel to reservists, veterans and even some dependent groups are all potentially within scope and applications considered on their individual merits.

Will individual sports be compelled to raise money only via Team Forces?

No. It is the choice of each sport or planned activity to decide whether to raise sponsorship through Team Forces or not. However, if a sport chooses to benefit from the programme, it is considered a partnership to achieve the best outcome. However, working independently with simultaneous approaches to industry is discouraged and quickly becomes unmanageable and dilutes the overall Team Forces proposition.

Would my sport/event/activity appeal to sponsors?

If your planned activity offers a value-exchange that provides some form of business benefit then potentially yes, but every company has different business objectives albeit with many common themes. For example: are there potential opportunities for brand promotion? (to both service personnel and/or the public); place adverts in relevant literature?; publicise their products or the opportunity to attend networking events? If so, then sponsorship may be an option for acquiring additional funding through membership of the Team Forces programme. In the first instance please contact enquiries@teamforces.org to discuss your requirement and the opportunity. Should it prove suitable, we will help you develop your proposition and market it on your behalf.

I have existing sponsors, how will becoming a Team Forces sponsor affect my relationship with them?

We will accept you into the Team Forces scheme if you have the capacity to support additional sponsors. Whilst we would encourage you to consider discussing the Team Forces option with your existing sponsors it is not a requirement and we would fully respect any existing arrangements.

How often can I apply for a grant?

There is no set limit but you are highly unlikely to be awarded more than one in any given year.

When are the grants made?

Tying in with the Team Forces financial year and also trustees’ meetings and approvals most awards are made either May/Jun or Dec/Jan. However, this is not a hard and fast rule and just like applications can be accepted at any time, there is flexibility in payment timings too.

Do I need to do anything in return for the grant?

Sponsorship is clearly defined by an agreed value-exchange but grant awards from the charity are just that and do not come with the same explicit list of obligations. However the charity’s trustees are keen to monitor grants are used and so it is expected that all beneficiaries of grants take the time to write brief resumé as to how the funds were spent and the benefits that resulted. Be aware that we cannot make additional grants without this key feedback.

I am planning a unit AT expedition, does this qualify for funding?

Generally no, as there are simply too many routine unit expeds that would swamp the charity if all were supported across all three services. There are also a number of other funding support channels to pursue. However, there are some exceptions which will be considered when such an exped is very much out of the ordinary, has a very strong USP in its contribution to military life or clearly espouses a higher purpose of some sort.

What is Team Forces?

Team Forces represents the collective appeal of sport, challenge and adventure in the serving armed forces and the wider military community. The Team Forces Foundation is our registered public-facing military charity whilst Team Forces Funding Ltd represents the trading entity, acting as a not for profit company and the principal source of funds for the charity. Through this brand, we aim to increase the opportunity for sport, challenge and adventure, encourage excellence and aid recovery. The programme was developed in response to a number of factors:

• The squeeze on public funding.
• The inherent inefficiencies involved in each sport or activity making its own sponsorship deals.
• The reputational risk implicit in sponsorship arrangements that are dependent on bi lateral relationships between specific senior military personnel and Industry.
• The untapped opportunities in “showcasing” sports and challenges for fundraising purposes.
• The need to move away from the reliance on key individuals to develop enduring sponsor relationships (given the inherent staff churn in the Services).

Who are the Trustees of Team Forces?

The Trustees are a mix of serving senior officers, ex-service and industry personnel.