Funding Applications

Glasgow 2024, A Worldcon for Our Futures
Funding Applications 

Overview

Please find below some guidelines for individuals and groups seeking support from Glasgow 2024, A Worldcon for Our Futures. We have developed these to enhance transparency and build awareness around how funding can be applied for, against what criteria applications will be considered, and what we will require of successful applicants. 

Our aim is to ensure clarity, fairness, and shared understanding in how decisions are made and resources are allocated—supporting accountability while making the process more accessible and inclusive for all involved. 

Importantly, our actions and criteria are grounded in the core ethos of Glasgow 2024, A Worldcon for Our Futures: we strive to support welcoming, imaginative, and creative ventures. We are committed to kindness, accessibility, and celebrating difference. These values also include our rejection of exclusionary or elitist attitudes and our dedication to fostering a community of fans that values respect, compassion, and community care. This framework ensures that our funding decisions uphold the inclusive, thoughtful, and values-driven culture we are working to create. 

Our disbursement of our remaining surplus funds also fulfils 2.9.3 of the World Science Fiction Constitution that, “Each selected convention Committee should dispose of surplus funds remaining after accounts are settled for its convention for the benefit of WSFS as a whole.” In our approach we are aiming to support the whole ecosystem of the SFF community both present and future. 

Guidelines

Please read the guidelines and requirements carefully. If you have any questions, or need help filling in the form, please do not hesitate to ask by emailing: sponsorship@glasgow2024.org. 

If you are not sure if your request falls into any of the areas noted below please do not self-exclude but instead get in contact to enable us to help see if we can support it. 

Purpose of the Fund

This fund exists to support projects, events, or initiatives that reflect our shared values of inclusivity, care, imagination, and the ongoing welcoming and development of people and projects within our fan community. We wish to support sustainability both of the SF community and of ventures which engage with the UN’s sustainable development goals. Funding priority will be given to U.K. and European related fan and con-running activity. Funding applications will be considered alongside our Code of Conduct, Anti-Trash or Sustainability policies. 

Who Can Apply

We welcome applications from individuals, small groups, fan organisations, or grassroots collectives involved in fan activity who share our values. First-time applicants are especially encouraged. 

What We Fund

Applications should outline creative, inclusive, or community-minded fan activities. This could include (but is not limited to): 

  • Events* or gatherings 
  • Bursaries to attend conventions or other related events focussed on convention running. 
  • Publications or zines 
  • Workshops or outreach activities 
  • Accessibility improvements and initiatives 
  • Equipment or materials for inclusive fan activity

*Funding should add value to these events, but the event should be able to run without the funding source 

This is not an exclusive list. We welcome your ideas. 

How much we fund

Generally, applications will be considered up to the value of £2,500. This is a limit not a target. We may in certain circumstances be able to support applications of a higher value than this. If your application is of a higher value than this, we may be in touch to request additional information. 

When can you apply

Applications are welcome at any time – and we will continue to accept applications until the funding resource is exhausted. Acknowledgement of receipt of an application will happen before a decision is made. We aim to have a turnaround for decisions within 28 days. Please be cognizant of this timeframe when making your application. 

How to Apply

To apply, please submit the form, which is the equivalent of a Light-Touch Business Case. The points to cover are: 

  • Applicant Details: Who you are, and any relevant background information 
  • Funding Requested: Total amount and breakdown (e.g. £300 for venue hire, £150 for materials). Financial details only – no narrative. 
  • Timelines and Deadlines: The length of time you expect this initiative to take, and any specific deadlines within your plan we should be aware of. 
  • Purpose of the Funds: What will the money be used for? This speaks to the funding requested but provides a narrative as to how it will be used. 
  • Beneficiaries: Who will benefit (e.g. local fan group, underrepresented fans, newcomers)? 
  • Impact: What will this funding enable that otherwise wouldn’t happen? 
  • Alignment: How does this support our guiding vision of inclusive, caring, imaginative engagement, sustainability, and development of fans and fan initiatives? 

All applications should be submitted via our Funding Application form. (Form opens July 4, 2025.)

Assessment Criteria

To understand how decisions are made we want to explain the criteria that we will consider. Each application will be reviewed using the following criteria: 

  1. Previous Funding
    • Has the applicant received funding from us before? 
    • If yes, was that funding used appropriately and were outcomes clearly communicated? 
  2. Alignment with Glasgow 2024’s Values and Vision 
    • Does the proposal demonstrate a commitment to our core values of creating a diverse and welcoming community? 
    • Is the project inclusive, caring and imaginative and does it align with Glasgow 2024’s policies? Code of Conduct, Anti-TRASH, Sustainability policies 
    • Does it contribute to sustainability or the development of others? 
  3. Potential Impact 
    • Who will benefit? How many people will benefit and in what ways? 
    • Does the project have the potential to create long-term or ripple effects in the community? 
  4. Feasibility & Funding Level 
    • Is the budget clear and reasonable? 
    • Can we fully or partially support this request within our available resources? 
  5. Equity of Distribution 
    • Are we supporting a diverse range of applicants and communities?

Requirements for Fund Recipients

Glasgow 2024 is required in line with WSFS constitution (2.9) to report the use of any its surplus funding. The level of detail we provide will still ensure the privacy of those applications i.e. “A grant was provided to help XX convention with their accessibility requirements”. 

If your application is successful, we require that you agree to the following:

  1. Acknowledgement 
    • Please publicly acknowledge Glasgow 2024, A Worldcon for Our Futures as a supporter in any materials, posts, or announcements related to the funded activity. 
  2. Use of funds
    • Funds must be used only for the purposes outlined in the application. 
    • If plans change, please notify us in advance. You will not necessarily be required to return the funding but we would want to be assured that the new plan still complies with our criteria and ethos of inclusivity. 
  3. Transparency
    For our own record keeping and ability to demonstrate the benefits gained by these funds we require each recipient to provide: 
    • A short report or email update after the activity concludes (and where appropriate including photos, attendee feedback, or other relevant reflections). 
  4. Unspent Funds 
    • If there is any leftover funding this should be communicated with Glasgow 2024 fund administrators, who will decide the treatment of that underspend. These will likely include either: 
      • Returned to Glasgow 2024 for redistribution, or 
      • Donated to a recognised fan fund, or 
      • Used to support future fan activity in the spirit of “passing it on” (with approval from the fund administrators). 

If you have questions or want to discuss your idea before applying, please contact sponsorship@glasgow2024.org.

We are here to help—and we’re excited to hear what you’re planning!