Crowdfund Norfolk
Eligibility Criteria
Version dated: [25.10.2024]
Introduction
The Crowdfund Norfolk Fund will support environmental, sustainability and net zero projects in Norfolk, protecting our economic and natural assets from climate change and projects supporting Norfolk’s Net Zero Targets. The fund’s total is £50,000 and will support projects by up to 50% up to the value of £10,000. The types of projects we would expect to see could include but not exhaustive to:
● Converting or restoring community greenspace to wildlife habitat
● Environmental improvements to a community centre or village hall grounds
● Coastal and marine projects
● Local wildlife training and monitoring schemes
● Reduction of invasive species, litter, noise or light pollution in the environment
● Initiatives to help local people to connect with their environment
● Activities which encourage people to grow nature and increase the public understanding and enjoyment of wildlife and heritage
● Nature – works to improve habitats or conserve species, as well as helping people to connect to nature in their daily lives
● Designed landscapes – improving and conserving historic landscapes such as public parks, historic gardens and botanical gardens
● Improving landscapes for people and nature by, for example, restoring habitats and celebrating the cultural traditions of the land
● Replacing community infrastructure structure fossil fuel reliance – for example air or ground source heat pump upgrades to oil heating systems.
● Solar systems to reduce running costs of community assets
● Innovative carbon reduction aspects of new build community buildings like cobbauge, strawbuild or insulation techniques
● EV infrastructure at community centres and village halls
We will not support projects that don’t match the description of the Crowdfund Norfolk Fund and Norfolk County Council will have the final say as to which projects are selected.
Crowdfunder project set up
In order to be eligible to apply, your project must be set up in Crowdfunder as a “keep what you raise” or an “all or nothing” project.
Selection process
All projects that meet the criteria set out above will be assessed to determine which will receive match funding. We will focus on ensuring funding is distributed equitably, particularly in terms of types of beneficiaries. A range of projects will be selected to achieve this. Project owners will be informed whether their application has been successful or not.
The offer of match funding will be valid for 4 weeks after the date of notification, if you do not launch your crowdfunding campaign within this period, the offer will be rescinded.
Match Funding Criteria
If your application is approved, you’ll be offered match funding of up to 50% towards your initial crowdfunding target, up to a maximum of £10,000.
Following approval for funding, if you wish to make any changes to your campaign target, or any significant changes to your rewards or other page content you must notify us.
To secure a pledge from the Fund, you will need to do the following:
1. Apply to, and be approved for, the Fund.
2. Receive a provisional pledge from the Fund, by reaching at least 25% of your
fundraising target from a minimum number of 25 unique supporters*.
3. Receive the Fund pledge by reaching at least 100% of your fundraising target.
*The provisional pledge which will be for up to 50% of your target (up to £10,000) will be made on to your crowdfunding campaign once you have raised at least 25% of your initial target from the required number of unique supporters and will count towards your target. This means in most cases the campaign will then be at 75%. You must then raise the remaining 25% from your crowd, to achieve 100% of your funding target and receive the Norfolk County Council Funds.
To verify whether Supporters are unique we will take account of information including, but not limited to: name, address, email addresses and payment card used.
If the project fails to reach 100% of the target the provisional pledge will be cancelled. The Project owner will be encouraged to review what went wrong and, if appropriate, to attempt to crowdfund again.
Norfolk County Council reserves the right to vary these match funding criteria; projects will be notified if their match funding criteria will vary from the stated terms above.
Additional Requirements
You will be ineligible for funding from Norfolk County Council, at Norfolk County Council’s sole discretion, if it is not satisfied that all the supporter pledges on your project are genuine pledges.
Projects will be required to agree to the Terms and Conditions.