Trustees are bound to confine their support to projects with an interfaith content along the lines described in the statement of the Trust's Scope . In relation to academic applications, the Trust supports research into the great religions of the world, particularly projects that are comparative. The statement explicitly refers to ‘religious principles’, so applications need to have a primarily religious concern rather than a sociological or anthropological one. The Trust does not normally support those studying their own religion.

If you consider that your application comes within the terms of the Trust, the following information is needed for postgraduate interfaith study or projects. Applicants seeking grants for other projects relevant to the Trust’s aims should supply equivalent information. Please send all information by post to the Secretary of the Spalding Trust. (See Contact).

1. An outline of your proposal (if it is a course, please give details).

2. A copy of your curriculum vitae, with your own religious commitment, if any.

3. Details of your budget and of other sources of possible funding to whom you
have applied, by completing a hard copy of the financial statement.

4. Kindly arrange for the Secretary to receive at least one (preferably two) academic references on your behalf. The Trust will not itself seek references; applicants are themselves responsible for asking for letters of recommendation to be sent directly to the Secretary of the Spalding Trust.

Applications are considered monthly by Trustees but only after receipt of all the details requested. It is usual for Trustees to take three months to reach a decision on an application; applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application as soon as possible.

Trustees do not normally make grants retrospectively for a project that has already been undertaken.

In special circumstances Trustees will consider applications for recurrent grants that may extend over one year; normally they expect an application to be made on each occasion that a grant is requested.

It is helpful if day and evening telephone numbers, and email address, are enclosed with applications in case any additional information is requested by Trustees. Applications should be submitted by post.