Contents
1. Overview
2. Principles
3. Procedure

		DOCUMENT CONTROL
Owner		FTS Board
Version		1.0 – Final
Board Approval Date		6th February 2010
Author		Robert Woolley
Amendment Date		5th February 2010
Amendment Reason		Final amendments made at  Board Meeting 6th February 2010
Next Review Date

1. Overview

The Foundation for Theosophical Studies is a Registered Charity which promotes education, study and research in religion, philosophy and science.  In furtherance thereof, it is empowered to advance the recognition of the fundamental unity of all people through a knowledge of the theosophical principles of unity evolution and perfectibility.

One of its charitable activities is to provide funding to enable individuals to undertake study and/or research which they would otherwise be unable to undertake.  The Foundation can pay all or part of the fees for relevant courses, workshops or seminars (e.g. Summer School, Theoversity), or contribute to the cost of relevant research.  However, there is an unlimited supply of courses and candidates, and only limited funds in any one year.

In order to manage this activity effectively, it is necessary to establish what courses and studies are relevant to the Foundation’s purposes, which people are eligible for support, how to allocate funds across courses and people, and on what authority funds may be disbursed.  This document sets out the principles on which these decisions will be made and the controls to be applied to the process.

2. Principles

2.1 The Foundation wishes to support study and research which is consonant with its aims and strategy.  Such study and research

• Centres on theosophical principles, especially those of unity, evolution and perfectibility
• Compares and relates religious, philosophical and scientific approaches to a topic,
• Establishes or assesses scientific evidence for (or against) assertions contained in the theosophical and other esoteric teachings.
• Provides understanding and experience of various methods of spiritual development.

2.2 The Foundation would not wish to support study and research which

• Has no relevance to its objects and aims
• Has adequate alternative sources of funding.

2.3 The Foundation wishes to support students and researchers who

• Are capable of  participating effectively in the proposed activity
• Would otherwise not be able to undertake the proposed activity.

2.4 The purpose of this activity is to encourage relevant study and research which would not otherwise happen.  Therefore, the Foundation will let it be known that bursaries are available.

3. Procedure

3.1 The Board will each year appoint a Bursar, who will be a Member or Director of the Company, to manage the process in accordance with this policy.

3.2 The Bursar shall draw up a list of activities (courses, seminars, workshops etc.) for which bursaries may be available, and this shall be ratified (or amended) by the Board.

3.3 The Bursar shall, in conjunction with the Treasurer, propose a budget for the bursar and bursaries which shall be part of the annual budget agreed by the Board.

3.4 Wherever possible the Bursar shall arrange that publicity for listed activities mentions that support may be available from the Foundation.

3.5        a) The Bursar shall have authority to decide requests within the budget up to £500 in any one instance, and shall make a recommendation on which the Board shall decide for amounts over £500.
            b) No one recipient may receive more than one Bursary in any one 12 month period, irrespective of amount, unless specifically authorised by the Board.

3.6 In determining requests for support, the Bursar shall
a) take reasonable care that applicants satisfy the criteria under paragraph 2.3 above, and keep reasonable, auditable records of this.
b) ensure that applications and payments are kept confidential
c) ensure that any conflicts of interest are dealt with in accordance with the Board’s Conflicts of Interests policy.

3.7 The Bursar shall use whatever process he/she deems best for gathering and recording the information needed to determine requests, provided that it is consistent, fair and reasonable, and complies with anti-discrimination and data protection legislation.

3.8 The Bursar shall use methods which have been agreed with the Treasurer, for making and recording payments

3.9 The Bursar shall report regularly to the Board on the conduct of this process, and its contribution to the Foundation’s Objects and Aims.