How applicants can work with a charity as part of a Medical Research Council (MRC) funding application.
Charity co-funding is optional and doesn’t change how MRC assesses your application.
Find a charity to work with
You are encouraged to identify charities whose priorities align with your research and contact them early to discuss potential co-funding.
MRC is currently onboarding charity co-funding partners. We will publish a list of participating charities when it is available.
If you already have a charity you would like to work with, you do not need to wait for the list to be published. Email partnership@mrc.ukri.org with the name of the charity and MRC will explore eligibility with the charity directly.
Charities normally need to be members of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC). MRC will consider charities that are not AMRC members on a case-by-case basis.
If more than one charity wants to contribute, one charity must act as the lead and be the main contact with MRC. Name the lead charity in your funding application.
You can still apply for MRC funding if you do not secure a charity partner.
Discuss your research with the charity
You should discuss:
- whether your research aligns with the charity’s priorities
- whether the charity is willing to co-fund your application
- how much the charity could contribute
- other ways the charity could support your research
You can discuss your research with the charity, but the design and delivery of the research must remain independent and be decided by you.
Share costing information with the charity, so they understand the level of funding you are looking for.
Make sure you and your research organisation understands the charity’s intellectual property policy. There may be an additional condition in your grant offer letter if your application is successful.
Agree an indicative contribution
If the charity is willing to co-fund your application, agree an indicative contribution with them before you apply.
MRC normally funds 80% of the full economic cost of a research project. The charity must be able to contribute between 25% and 50% of that MRC-funded amount.
The charity’s agreement at this stage is in principle. They will decide whether to formally commit funding if the application is shortlisted.
Submit your application
Submit your application through the UK Research and Innovation Funding Service.
Include:
- the name of the charity, or the lead charity if more than one is involved
- the agreed indicative contribution
Guidance on how to provide this information will be included in your application in the Funding Service.
After you submit your application
Your application will follow MRC’s standard assessment process.
If your application is not shortlisted, you are responsible for notifying the charity.
If your application is shortlisted
MRC will contact the charity if your application is shortlisted to confirm the charity’s commitment.
The charity will also be invited to observe your assessment interview online at the scheduled date and time.
If the charity decides not to co-fund your research at the shortlisting stage, your application will continue through MRC’s standard assessment process without the charity contribution.
If the charity commits to funding but then withdraws at a later stage, MRC cannot guarantee that it will cover the resulting funding shortfall if your application is successful.
Conflicts of interest
A conflict of interest may arise if:
- you have a direct connection with the charity, for example if you are a trustee
- the charity is a co-applicant on your application rather than only providing co-funding
A conflict of interest may affect whether the charity can take part in the assessment process, including observing your interview. In some cases, the charity may not be able to continue as a funding partner.
Email partnership@mrc.ukri.org if you think there may be a conflict of interest.
Successful applications
We will notify the charity if your application is successful.
MRC Finance will arrange payment directly with the lead charity. You and your research organisation do not need to handle the charity’s contribution.
Your research organisation should continue to follow standard award management procedures.
The charity may be contacted about extensions or changes to the award where its approval is needed.
Working with the charity after your award starts
We will share relevant reports and outputs from your research with the charity. We may also share the award offer letter with the charity for financial auditing.
The charity may ask to work with you on additional activities, such as promoting the research through its networks. Any additional activities should be proportionate to the award and the charity’s contribution.
Unsuccessful applications
We will notify the charity if your application is unsuccessful after being shortlisted.
The charity may choose to continue working with you, for example by helping you reflect on feedback or keeping you involved in its research networks.