CharityApply
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For CIO charities in England & Wales

Get your charity registered — in your own words, properly evidenced.

CharityApply turns a Charity Commission refusal, or a blank application, into a finished, ready-to-submit draft — through plain-English questions you answer yourself, not a form you stare at alone.

See services & pricing Read a sample case

You always review and submit the final application yourself, on the Commission's own site. We never do that step for you.

How it works

Five steps. You do the talking — we do the structuring.

Whether you've been refused, you're stuck after the Commission asked for more detail, or you're starting fresh — the process is the same shape.

Tell us what's happening

Refused, stuck, or starting from scratch — pick your situation and upload whatever you've already got: a refusal letter, an old application, your governing document, or just a link to your website.

We show you what we found

Before anything gets drafted, you see a plain-English summary of what the Commission actually said if it is refused (or what we understand about your charity so far if you are starting a fresh application) — and you correct it if we've got something incorrect.

Answer real questions, one at a time

No legal jargon, no giant form. Each gap becomes one plain question — i.e. "what actually happens when someone calls you?" — and you answer in your own words what you would do.

See your draft immediately

After every answer, you see the refined version soon after and can say if it doesn't sound like you. Nothing is invented — we only structure what you've actually told us.

You review, you submit

The finished draft is yours to keep, edit, and paste field-by-field into the Commission's own site. We never submit on your behalf — that step, and the legal declaration it carries, has to be yours.

The Benefits

The real alternative is your own time, or a much bigger bill

It's frequently stated that a charity application can take 40–80 hours to complete unaided, and solicitors may charge many thousands of pounds for a similar service. If you're refused, a rewrite can add another 10–20 hours of research and drafting on top. This is a cost-effective, rapid alternative to both. It's a complex and lengthy process to complete.

40–80 hours

Commonly cited time for a trustee to research and complete a charity application unaided, start to finish.

Many thousands

What a solicitor may charge for a comparable drafting service.

+10–20 hours

Typical extra research and redrafting time needed after a refusal — on top of the time already spent.

Charity Commission applications have climbed sharply — from around 9,800 in 2024–25 to over 11,700 in 2025–26, a rise of nearly 20% in a single year. Registrations haven't kept pace: roughly 5,000 of those 2024–25 applications were approved, falling to 4,650 the following year, as applications rose. A growing share of applicants are being refused or returned incomplete — more charities are applying than ever, most are struggling to get approved.

CharityApply exists for exactly this reason — helping trustees build a clear, evidenced application, or resubmission after refusal, without a solicitor's cost or delay. We don't advise on your charity's purpose, activities, or the strategic shape of your application — those decisions stay entirely yours as trustees. We simply help you present what you tell us clearly, in the way the Commission is more likely to accept first time.

Services & pricing

One fee. No subscription. You know the number upfront.

Registering a charity isn't a recurring task, so we don't charge like it is.

First-time or stuck

Registration Draft

£299
  • Full guided application draft
  • One revision round
  • Every field mapped to the Commission's own form
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Already refused

Fix My Refusal

£349
  • Point-by-point diagnosis of the refusal letter
  • A rewrite matched to every objection raised
  • Two revision rounds
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Governing document review

Checks your constitution matches your application and clears up leftover template placeholders.

£59
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Website consistency check

Flags where your own website says something different from your application — a common cause of refusal.

£69
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Best value — whatever happens

The Complete Package

Your full application draft, the governing document review, and the website consistency check — plus, if you're refused anyway, the refusal rewrite is already included. One price, whatever happens next.

£599

Save £177 versus buying separately

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What an engagement looks like

A sample case, start to finish

This is a composite example, built to show the shape of a real engagement — not a real charity, and not a real Commission decision.

"Riverside Debt Support" — a small CIO, refused registration

Refused
The problem

The Commission's refusal letter said the application didn't clearly show who the charity actually helped, or how it decided who to prioritise — it read as well-intentioned but vague.

The question
"When someone contacts you, what actually happens first?"
Their answer

"We ask about their debts, whether they own or rent, if they've had a letter from a creditor, and how urgent it feels — then we decide who needs a call back today versus next week."

The draft

"When someone contacts Riverside Debt Support, we assess their outstanding debts, housing situation, and any creditor correspondence to establish urgency. Cases involving imminent legal action or eviction are prioritised for same-day contact; others are scheduled within five working days."

Outcome
Resubmitted, matched to every point raised
How this works safely

No guarantees. Real transparency instead.

Nobody can guarantee a regulator's decision — including us. Here's what we do provide.

Your data stays yours

Export or delete everything, any time, in one click. Nothing you provide is ever reused to draft another charity's answers.

You always submit it yourself

We produce the draft; you review, edit, and submit on the Commission's own site under your own Commission login. That step is your responsibility, we provide the content based on the details you provide.

Every answer, evidenced

Generic, copy-and-paste-sounding applications are one of the most common reasons for rejection. Every answer here starts from details about your own charity — never invented, never generic — and you get to review and adjust it before it's used as your final draft, ready to apply.

Tips

Thirteen things that actually make a difference

Drawn from real refusals, real resubmissions, and what the Commission's own model reports do differently. Quick to read, worth keeping in mind whichever stage you're at.

Specificity & evidence

  • Use real numbers, not vague claims — "37 people helped last year" beats "we help many people."
  • Name your actual partner organisations specifically — never "various local charities."
  • State your true capacity honestly, even if it's small — assessors trust honesty over inflated claims.
  • If you missed a target, say so — admitting a shortfall reads as more credible, not less.
  • Show the size of the need, your honest capacity, and how you prioritise if demand outstrips it — all three, not just one.

Consistency

  • Make sure your website says the same thing as your application — mismatches are one of the most common reasons for refusal.
  • Reference the Commission's own public benefit guidance in your own words, tied to what you actually do — never boilerplate.

Process & timing

  • Don't submit before you're ready — early, unclear applications are a common, avoidable cause of delay.
  • Expect months, not weeks — the Commission's "specialist consideration" queue alone can run up to 6 months.
  • If the Commission comes back with questions, reply promptly and specifically — slow or vague replies add further delay.
  • If you've been refused, answer every objection individually and directly — never respond to a refusal letter as one vague block.

Safeguarding & access

  • State safeguarding as a concrete process — "DBS checks before any trustee or volunteer starts," not just "we take it seriously."
  • Make equal-access statements specific and checkable, not just claimed.
Questions

Before you get started

Do you guarantee I'll be registered?+

No — and be wary of anyone who says they can. Registration is entirely the Charity Commission's decision. What we guarantee is the speed and benefit of the drafting service itself. You can also cancel for a full refund any time before work on your draft has started. Full details in our Terms & Refunds.

Which charity structures do you cover?+

CIOs (Charitable Incorporated Organisations) only, for now — the Commission's own recommended structure for most new charities. Charitable trusts, charitable companies, and unincorporated associations are on the roadmap.

What if the Commission asks follow-up questions after I submit?+

That's common, and normal. Email support@charityapply.org.uk and we'll help you answer them — this is a lower cost service than a full refusal rewrite.

Will my answers sound generic, or like something copy-pasted?+

They shouldn't — that's the point of going through it question by question. Nothing is written until you've told us the real, specific answer yourself, and you approve everything before it's treated as final.

Can I appeal a Charity Commission refusal instead of resubmitting?+

Yes — a refusal can be appealed to the First-tier Tribunal (Charity), but the deadline is strict: normally 42 days from the date of the decision. We're not solicitors and don't handle tribunal appeals, but most trustees find a rewritten, stronger application faster and less involved than a formal appeal. Whichever route you're considering, don't let the 42 days pass while you're still deciding.

Contact

Any questions before you start?

Email us directly at support@charityapply.org.uk

Ready to see your draft?

Tell us what's happening — refused, stuck, or starting fresh — and we'll take it from there.

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