FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

Do you award grants to individuals?
No, our grants are not intended for individuals. We only fund projects run by non-profit organisations operating for public benefit.

Is it possible for a representative from a commercial company to apply?
No, we award grants only to non-profit organisations. We have funded joint projects involving collaborations with or contributions from a limited company, but the applicant must be from the non-profit sector. 

Is it possible to combine funding from Signatur with financing from other sources?
Yes.  Signatur supports both projects with multiple funders and projects where we are the sole funder, but our grant making criteria stipulates that a project should preferably be co-financed.

Projects based on multiple sources of funding must supply a detailed budget specifying the contribution of each funder.

For what time duration do projects in your programme run?
Most of our projects run for 1-2 years and we usually do not fund projects extending more than 3 years. We do, however, focus on long term relationships – we welcome long-term collaborations and partnerships and support projects that have sustainability beyond Signatur’s involvement.

Our team is international, may I submit the application in English?
Yes, the Signatur board operates in both English and Swedish and you may choose to submit the application in either language. To change language on the website, click on the appropriate flag in the top menu banner.

Do you fund projects that include partner organisations outside of Sweden?
Our funds are for the benefit of music in Sweden and other Nordic countries. We therefore welcome projects involving partners in the Nordic countries, but we do not award grants to organisations outside of these countries.

Are there any specific kinds of projects that you particularly welcome?
No, we welcome all projects that fulfil one or several of our grant making criteria, outlined here.

Where do I find the application form?
When the system is open, you will find the online form here.

Can you provide an overview of the application process?
First, you submit a concept note application using our online form. The board evaluates the proposals after the final submission date, and we aim to inform applicants of the board’s decision within two months of the submission deadline.

If your concept note application is rejected, you will be notified of this.

If your project is invited into the second round for assessment, you will be asked to supplement your initial application with a detailed project plan, a full budget and other supporting materials.

When should I submit my concept note application?
New applications are accepted and reviewed by the board once a year. When the application system on our website is open, you may submit your concept note at any time, but it will not be evaluated until after the deadline stated on the website. In order to support you appropriately in case of technical problems, we advise you to submit your application during office hours (Monday-Friday 9AM-5PM), well in advance of the final submission date.

When does the application system open?
Usually in early spring, but this may change from year to year.  Right now, we are preparing a change of application system, and therefore the application form may not open until early September this year.

When does the application system close?
The deadline may change from year to year and is announced in advance of the new application round. In 2023, the deadline for submitting applications is Friday 15 September.

May I apply for funding for a project that has already started?
No, unless a representative of Signatur has invited you to apply for supplementary funding for a project already in receipt of support from Signatur, the autumn deadline is for projects starting early the following year.

Can I submit more than one application?
No, we will only consider one application at a time.

I have problems with the digital application form. May I submit my application as a Word or PDF document by email instead?
Please contact us if you experience technical problems. We will do our very best to help you solve the issue. Do not submit your application via email unless expressly invited to do so by a Signatur representative.

Do I have to supply a budget with my application?
Yes, please attach a preliminary budget already with your project proposal to provide us with an initial overview.  If your project is invited for further assessment in the next step of the application process the board will request a full detailed budget.

How much can I apply for?
Most of the applications approved for funding by Signatur in the last two years received grants ranging between SEK250,000-SEK700,000. However, our projects vary greatly in terms of size, scope and duration and the funds available for new projects vary from year to year. When we have several ongoing projects extending into a second or third year, there is less funding available for new projects.

May I submit important supplementary material after the deadline?
The board must have time to read the concept note application material before their meeting. Unsolicited supplementary material submitted after the deadline may not be considered.

Do I have to complete the application form in one sitting?
No, but if you wish to continue later you must use the same computer and web browser. The system saves the information you enter in your browser, but currently it is not possible to save the information and access it later from a different browser or computer. 

What browser should I use when completing the application form?
The concept note form is compatible with all common browsers but make sure to update your browser to the latest version to avoid technical issues. Also please note that as of June 2022 Internet Explorer has been retired and disabled by Microsoft – so if you are still using that browser, you should change.

Is my application visible to you before I submit it?
We can only see your application once you have clicked ”submit”.

How will I know that my application has been submitted?
After you have submitted an application, you will receive a confirmation email including a copy of your application in PDF format. We strongly recommend that you keep this email for your records.

If my application is rejected, may I apply again?
Yes, but if you submit a new application for the same project, it will not be considered again, unless you have been explicitly encouraged by a Signatur representative to re-submit.

What happens once I have submitted my concept note application?
After the deadline, all applications are considered at a board meeting where the board decides which projects appear to have the greatest potential to serve the aims of Signatur. We aim to inform applicants of the board’s decision within two months following the final submission date. If your project is rejected, you will be notified of this. If your project is invited into the second round for assessment, you will be asked to supplement your initial application with a detailed project plan, a budget and other supporting materials.

My concept note application was rejected at the first stage. Can I find out why?
We are a small foundation with few employees and board members who have many other duties apart from their contribution to the work of Signatur. Therefore, unfortunately, we are not able to provide a detailed explanation for each rejected application.

What is the time frame and the process for the second round?
If your application is selected for further assessment, we will contact you via email and provide feedback on your project. At this stage, you will need to supply a more detailed description of your project, including your project plan, schedule and budget. We may also ask for other information including references, annual reports, governing documents and policies. The discussions with the Signatur team will usually begin in October with a final decision in January or February, and therefore the earliest project start date is March.

What happens if my application is approved by the board in the second round?
If your project is approved, we enter into a contract that governs our commitment to support the project and your commitment to implement it and provide narrative and financial reporting. Once this is completed, the project can commence.

What happens if the content or scope of an approved project changes?
If you find that it is necessary to amend the project outline or budget, you should immediately contact the Programme Manager. The board may authorize changes that do not alter the project’s fulfilment of Signatur’s grant making criteria, but you must seek approval from Signatur in advance.

Do I have to return the grant if the project does not deliver the results outlined in the application?
Yes. We try to select trustworthy partners who we expect will use the funds in accordance with our mission, but we do monitor the progress of each project and should a partner breach our contract or fail to comply with our reporting requirements, Signatur may, as a last resort, require the funds to be reimbursed.

Do you have a template for interim reports and/or final reports?
There is no specific template but you will find the information we expect to see in a final report outlined here.