We receive about 2,000 applications each year. The applications come from near and far and all applicants receive an answer.
VILLUM FONDEN and VELUX FONDEN have established a working procedure and an approval process that ensure all applications are thoroughly reviewed. Normally, applications must be reviewed during two meetings of the board of directors. The approval process typically takes between four and nine months depending on the grant area. Please see graphic below.
An exception is applications (below DKK 150,000) that VELUX FONDEN receives for the programme "Active senior citizens". These applications are solely reviewed by the secretariat. Read more about "Active senior citizens".
In dialogue with a wide network
The foundations’ advisers are in regular contact with the various organisations with which applicants are affiliated, such as universities, research institutes, NGOs or other social organisations.
From idea to expression of interest
This type of on-going dialogue may lead to potential applicants submitting an expression of interest in which an idea for a project is briefly described. But it may also lead to an application.
If you want to find out whether your project is within the charter and grant areas of the foundations, you can contact an advisor and ask about the opportunity to submit a 1-2 page expression of interest. In this expression of interest, you briefly outline your project idea describing the purpose, impact and potential. This way you will get preliminary feedback from the foundations whether it would be appropriate to send a full application.
In some funding areas, an expression of interest is the first step of the process towards funding (e.g. within areas with focus on human science).
For these areas, the foundations will, either by notice or by invitation from their collaborators, invite applicants to submit an expression of interest. The foundations will thereafter invite selected applicants to send fully prepared applications.
The application process, from start to finish
Application
We receive both letters of interest and applications all year.
1st working group meeting
The next step is that a working group within the specific grant area reviews the letters of interest/applications before they proceed to the next stage.
1st board meeting
At the 1st board meeting the board decides which applications should be rejected and which should proceed to the 2nd working group meeting.
Next step
If a project is approved for further consideration during its first review by the board of directors, the working group will discuss the project further with the applicant. External experts will also be consulted. The project will then be reviewed for a second time by the board of directors and it will be either approved or rejected.
The foundations always consult with two external experts. The experts are requested to evaluate applications. External experts are asked to evaluate applications for research grants and all other applications for grants in excess of DKK 2.5 million.
2nd working group meeting
The working groups and the advisers prepare and evaluate the application for the 2nd board meeting.
2nd board meeting
The application with the external experts' evaluations is included in the 2nd board meeting at which the decision of rejection or a grant is made.
Rejection
We aim to provide prompt replies if the board evaluation results in a rejection. All applicants receive an answer to their grant applications, sent by e-mail. We do not provide arguments as to why an application has been rejected.
Grant
If you receive a grant from one of the foundations, you will also receive a grant letter. In the letter there are a number of requirements and guidelines, such as a time and payment plan and information about accounting, evaluation, transparency and disclosure procedures, which you should be aware of in connection with your grant.