Question 1

How do we write a good grant application?

Accepted Answer

You can maximise your chances of success by ensuring you meet eligibility criteria and priorities, engaging the grant maker, if possible, and submitting a succinct application that is urgent, compelling and emotionally engaging, and supported by facts and evidence.

Question 2

How can we secure grant funding quickly?

Accepted Answer

Generally, small grants may have quicker turnaround times.  However, grant makers often consider applications quarterly, or even annually, so look for grant makers who process applications on an ongoing baisis, as well as those with frequent funding rounds or with approaching deadlines.

Question 3

Can a local community group apply for a charitable grant?

Accepted Answer

Some charitable grant makers will only make grants to registered charities but many will make grants to groups that are constituted (have a non-profit constitution) and a bank account in the group’s name.

Question 4

What are the best grants for local charities?

Accepted Answer

You can download local grant lists or search for grant makers using the Charity Excellence free Funding Finder County/City search, and each UK country and each English county has its own community foundation that makes a range of grants to local charities, as do many councils.

Question 5

What are the best grants for small charities and community groups?

Accepted Answer

For small charities and community groups, the best grants are probably local grants, as these are usually less competitive and more straightforward to apply for, or national grant makers that only fund or prioritise smaller charities and constituted groups.

Question 6

What are the best grants for new charities?

Accepted Answer

New charities have no track record and may not have experience in making grant applications, so small local grants may be best, as these are simpler to apply for and usually have less competition.  The National Lottery Awards for All is a good national grant to try, if you work with your local community.

Question 7

Where can we find grants to apply to?

Accepted Answer

Most charities search for grants using a grants directory.  Many have to be paid for but the Charity Excellence Funding Finder is optimised for small charities and is completely free. You can also contact your local community foundation of CVS and sign up to grant makers' newsletters.

Question 8

How can we ensure a grant application will be successful?

Accepted Answer

No grant application is guaranteed but you can maximise your chances of success by ensuring you meet eligibility criteria and priorities, engaging the grant maker, if possible, and submitting a succinct application that is urgent, compelling and emotionally engaging, and supported by facts and evidence.

Question 9

Which grants have quick turnaround times?

Accepted Answer

Generally, small grants may have quicker turnaround times.  However, grant makers often consider applications quarterly, or even annually, so look for grant makers who process applications on an ongoing baisis, as well as those with frequent funding rounds or with approaching deadlines.

Question 10

Where can we find small charity grants?

Accepted Answer

Most charities search for grants using a grants directory.  Many have to be paid for but the Charity Excellence Funding Finder is optimised for small charities and is completely free.  You can also contact your local community foundation and sign up for grant maker's newsletters.

Question 11

How can we get community group grants?

Accepted Answer

Most community groups search for grants using a grants directory.  Many have to be paid for but the Charity Excellence Funding Finder is optimised for small charities and is completely free.  You can also contact your local community foundation or CVS.

Question 12

How can we maximise our chances of securing grant funding?

Accepted Answer

No grant application is guaranteed but you can maximise your chances of success by ensuring you meet eligibility criteria and priorities, engaging the grant maker, if possible, and submitting a succinct application that is urgent, compelling and emotionally engaging, and supported by facts and evidence.

Question 13

How can we maximise our chances that a funding application will be successful?

Accepted Answer

No grant funding application is guaranteed but you can maximise your chances of success by ensuring you meet eligibility criteria and priorities, engaging the grant maker, if possible, and submitting a succinct application that is urgent, compelling and emotionally engaging, and supported by facts and evidence.

Question 14

How do we write a good funding bid?

Accepted Answer

To write a good grant funding bid, ensure you meet eligibility criteria and priorities, engaging the grant maker, if possible, and submitting a succinct application that is urgent, compelling and emotionally engaging, and supported by facts and evidence.

Question 15

What are the best grants for small charities?

Accepted Answer

Small charities may not have a lot of experience in making grant applications, so local grants may be best, as these are simpler to apply for and usually have less competition.  The National Lottery Awards for All is a good national grant to try, if you work with your local community.

Question 16

What are the best grants for local community groups?

Accepted Answer

Local community groups may not have experience in making grant applications, so small local grants may be best, as these are usually simpler to apply for and have less competition.  The National Lottery Awards for All is a good national grant to try, if you work with your local community.

Question 17

Can any organisation apply for a charitable grant?

Accepted Answer

Charitable grant makers can only make grants for exclusively charitable purposes but can make grants to charities, social enterprises, the public sector and even private companies sometimes.  However, they will normally not make grants to non profit groups that aren’t constituted (have a non-profit constitution) or that don't have a bank account in the group’s name.

Community Foundation Network	There are 46 UK community foundations, which support local charities and community projects. These are often a good place to start, if you're new to fundraising.
B&Q Foundation	Up to £5,000 available for local charities that support people experiencing bad housing or homelessness, as well as community projects looking to improve their spaces.
Aviva Community Fund	Small charities with forward-thinking ideas and to provide even more causes with resources and support. Projects that boost the resilience of communities in the face of uncertainty and will be supporting projects in two key areas: Community resilience: tackling inequality and improving environments by building inclusive and resilient communities; or Financial capability and inclusion: promoting financially inclusive communities.
Ashworth Charitable Trust	Registered charities, with an income under £1m pa. Wide range of causes including the vulnerable, disability, women, the homeless, human rights and young people. Usually up to £3k, sometimes £5k. Trustees hold meetings in May and November.
Betty Messenger Charitable Foundation	Grants to non profits that support people who fall through the cracks in society. One of the areas of focus is the small charity sector.
John Ellerman Foundation	Core Funding - small to medium non profits, whose work has national significance. They aim to advance the wellbeing of people, society and the natural world by focusing on the arts, environment and social action.
Leathersellers’ Company Charitable Fund	UK registered charities that are: supporting vulnerable people; working in geographical areas of high deprivation (within the UK); and have an annual income under £200,000. Up to £3k.
Woodroffe Benton Foundation	Core Funding - smaller UK registered charities for relief of hardship; care for the elderly; environment and conservation. Up to £2.5k.

Ford Britain Trust	Large grants for registered charities, community groups, Schools/PTAs and non-profit organisations, between £250 and £3,000 and up to £250 through the small grants programme. The local community, environment, young people/children, promote education/schools and to support special educational needs and people with disabilities.
Oak Trust	Registered UK charities supporting people who are disadvantaged, medical and environmental charities. Preference for small charities. Grants £250 - £4k.
People's Health Trust - Active Communities	For community groups and not-for-profit, with income under £350,000 pa or an average of £350,000 over 2 years, seeking between £5,000 and £40,000 for projects lasting up to 2 years to address health inequalities in the UK and create fairer places in which to grow, live, work and age. Small and local community projects.
Rank Foundation - Pebble Grants	UK registered charities and recognised churches, income under £500k pa, which are raising money for projects where the total cost is less than £150,000. For capital costs or a one-off short-term activity.
Lady Neville Charity	UK Arts and Heritage projects and any charitable activity in key areas of Company interest (specific London boroughs and West Kent). Grants of up to £1,000 for capital items. Registered charities or not-for-profit organisations in the UK with annual turnover under £100,000.
Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts	17 different independent grant-making trusts, which fund registered charities or activities with a clearly defined charitable purpose.
Tesco Community Grants	Core Funding. Projects that benefit the community - from improving community buildings and outdoor spaces to buying new equipment, training coaches or volunteers and hosting community events. Registered charities and not-for-profit organisations -£1,500, £1,000 or £500.
Truemark Trust	Small, local charity organisations addressing social distress and disadvantage, with a preference for neighbourhood-based community projects and for innovative work with less popular groups. Spend £650k pa.

Allen Lane Foundation	Small grants for start-up, core or project costs. Asylum-seekers and refugees, LGBTQI+, Gypsies and Travellers, Migrant workers, Offenders and ex-offenders, Older people, mental health problems and violence/abuse. Also supports non profits that are not charities.
Edge Fund	Core funding - up to £3k for unfunded grassroots communities, campaign groups and activists struggling for social, economic and environmental justice.
KFC Foundation	Registered charities, unincorporated clubs or associations or unregistered charities, with income under £300,000 pa, local to a KFC, empowering young people in the UK. Work that helps young people to create firm foundations, by addressing their needs through early intervention. Up to £2,000.
Lush Charity Pot -	Small volunteer-run grassroots organisations, and particularly campaign groups, working in environment, animal protection and human rights in the UK and overseas with priority for less popular causes that aim to create long-term change and struggle to find funding.
Matthew Good Foundation - Grants For Good	Small charities, community projects and non profits, with income under £50k. Every three months, they share £10,000 between 5 shortlisted projects that have a positive impact on communities, people or the environment.

Albert Hunt Trust	UK charities and community groups with income under £250k, capital, core/running costs, hospice, homeless, health & wellbeing, UK wide.
Lloyds Bank Foundation	Two year unrestricted grants of £50,000 to 190 small charities with an income between £25,000 and £1m across England and Wales. The priority is charities tackling complex social issues such as homelessness, trafficking and domestic abuse. No deadline.
Marsh Christian Trust	Social welfare, arts and heritage, environmental causes and animal welfare, healthcare, education and training. Max value £2k, long-term core funding for small registered charities.
Masonic Charitable Foundation	Disadvantaged and vulnerable children and young people (up the age of 25 years) or to reduce loneliness and isolation in later life. Small grants scheme for core funding, max £15k for up to 3 years, for small charities with income under £500k pa.
Newby Trust - Small Charities	Core Funding - or overheads, in particular for very small charities, but would expect a broad description of what the grant will be used for. May provide small grants for short-term emergency relief.
Sir Jules Thorn Charitable Trust - Ann Rylands	Core Funding – The Ann Rylands Small Donations programme makes grants of up to £1,500 to support small UK charities providing support for older people, people with disabilities or others facing difficulties in their lives.
Tudor Trust	Core Funding - smaller UK community groups that support people at the margins of society. Normally £10k plus, for up to 3 years. Will consider grants to help strengthen your organisation and may consider making short-term loans and multi-year grants.
YAPP Charitable Trust	Core costs and existing work, registered charities, with income under £40k pa. Prioritise funding work that is unattractive to the general public or unpopular with other funders and services that help to improve the lives of marginalised, disadvantaged or isolated people. Priorities: Elderly people, Children and young people, People with physical impairments, learning difficulties or mental health challenges, Social welfare, and Education and learning.

Ancaster Trust	Objectives of the Trust are non-specific, but it has a record of supporting disadvantaged people, social deprivation and the environment. Grants reportedly £100 to £300. Annual spend £100k.
Asda Foundation - Green Token Giving 2021	Each superstore will feature 3 community projects online that have been nominated by customers and colleagues. The one with the most online votes will receive a £500 donation with 2nd and 3rd place each receiving £200.
H D Wills	Registered general charities, which are small enough in size or are applying for support for a modest project such that the charity will benefit substantially from a donation of between £250 and £500.

Grants For Small UK Charities & Funding For Community Projects