Funded by Power to Change and Access – the Foundation for Social Investment. In partnership with Locality
Booster Fund – application guidance
Jump to table of contents

How we make decisions

Expression of Interest applications

EOI applications are scored against our eligibility and priority criteria – those that clearly meet our criteria will be invited to complete a full application form. Those that fail our eligibility checks and/or clearly fall short of our criteria will be informed that they cannot continue. If an application is marginal, we will call the applicant to seek further information before making a decision.

All final decisions relating to applications to the Booster Fund grants and equity are made by our Booster Investment Panel. 

Pre-grant support

Pre-grant support applications are assessed by our programme management team with our funding partners and may be referred to the Booster Fund Investment Panel.

Grant applications

Each Grant application is given a score from 1-5 according to ‘Impact’; ‘Innovation’; ‘Viability’; ‘Grant request (analysis of costings)’.

Equity applications

Each Equity application is intensively assessed by an independent assessor, who makes a recommendation to the Booster Fund Investment Panel. 

All equity applications are also considered against:

  • Eligibility in meeting our definition of a community business

  • Fit with the aims of the Booster Fund

  • Community benefit

  • Relative deprivation of target community

  • Applicant willingness to engage with the Booster Fund and comply with community shares best practice standards

  • Geographical spread of our investments

  • Business sector / model innovative features of business model, offer structure, offer promotion etc

  • Availability of alternative sources of development finance, equity or loan

All final decisions relating to applications to the Booster Fund grants and equity are made by our Booster Fund Investment Panel. 

Some of our funding allows us to work with Community Shares ICOF (CSI) who can be sole or joint investors through the Booster Fund application process. Our partner Co-operative and Community Finance (CCF) can also provide any subscription underwriting or loan finance. Co-operatives UK and the Booster Fund Panel will work closely with CSI and yourself to determine the best investment options for you. Final decisions on financial support by CSI and CCF will ultimately be made by their own panel.