The Football League has made an open invitation for charities to submit a bid to become its Official Charity Partner for the 2012/13 season.

Previously, The League has worked with Help for Heroes (Season 2009/10), Marie Curie Cancer Care (Season 2010/11) and its current Official Charity Partner, Help the Hospices.

Charities have until midday on Monday 7 November to outline how their partnership would have a positive impact on The League's 72 member clubs, their fans and respective communities.

From the entries, a shortlist of six will be submitted to The Football League Board for approval. The shortlist will then be voted on by three groups: Football League staff, Football League Clubs and Football League fans via a public vote on www.football-league.co.uk.

For each of the three voting groups, the charity with the most votes will receive six points and the least, one point. The points from the three groups will then be added together and submitted to The Football League Board to ratify the winner.
The selected charity will be provided with opportunities including:

- Use of The Football League logo as the Official Charity Partner of The Football league
- Complimentary full page adverts in one edition of the 72 club programmes
- Complimentary full page adverts in Carling Cup Final, Johnstone's Paint Trophy Final and three Play-Off Final programmes
- Dedicated week of support at a home fixture during March 2013

Applicants should submit a proposal of no longer than two A4 pages setting out how the organisation would use the partnership to make a positive impact on the 72 communities across England and Wales.

Proposals should also a plan for managing the relationship with The League and its clubs.

Timetable:

14th October 2011: Invitation made to charities to tender
7th November 2011: Deadline for applications
16th November 2011: Shortlist approved
21st November 2011: Shortlist informed
28th November 2011: Voting opens
5th December 2011: Deadline for votes
8th December 2011: Winner confirmed to FL Board
Mid December 2011: Announcement of winning charity

Applications should be submitted by email to charity@football-league.co.uk or by post to Official Charity Partner Application, The Football League, 30 Gloucester Place, London, W1U 8FL.

The closing date for entries is midday on Monday 7 November 2011.

Click here for more details of The Football League's work with charities.