Funding for Charities
Funding Opportunities & Grants for Charities
Grants on this page are for charities, non-for-profit organisations, and community projects.
You will find below a list of links that can help you to find funding for your charity. We regularly update this page, so please check back for the latest information.
UK Wide Grant and Funding Providers:
King Charles III Charitable Fund – Small grants
This small grants programme offers non-profit organisations (with an income under £1 million per year) the opportunity to apply for grants of up to £5,000 per year for up to three years. The fund supports approximately 100 community-based organisations annually, with application windows opening in May, August, and February.
Each funding round focuses on specific themes:
May – Environment & countryside
August – Education & heritage conservation
February – Social inclusion & health and well-being
Priority is given to projects in areas of deprivation or those benefiting communities facing wealth disparity. Eligible applicants include charities, community interest companies, and parish councils with at least two years of operational activity. Individuals are not eligible to apply.
This grant provides core funding and, in some cases, project-based funding to UK-registered charities with an annual income between £100,000 and £10 million. The funding aims to support organisations that demonstrate national significance in one of three key areas:
- Arts – High-quality creative work with a lasting national or international impact.
- Environment – Conservation of species, habitats, and ecosystems with national importance or expandability.
- Social Action – Practical initiatives that can be applied across England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
Core funding covers essential operational costs, including:
- Staff salaries, training, and expenses
- Day-to-day running costs
- Monitoring and evaluation
- Communications and digital innovation
While core funding is preferred, project-based grants are available for organisations exceeding the £10 million income threshold or for those with specific operational needs. The fund prioritises effective governance, financial stability, and collaboration, ensuring long-term impact in their respective sectors.
The Woodroffe Benton Foundation is an independent grant-making foundation supporting charitable organisations and educational institutions across the UK. Grants are awarded in five key categories:
- Relief of hardship
- Care for the elderly
- Education & youth development
- Environment & conservation
- Human physical well-being
Small Grant Programme
The next funding round will be open from 1st to 31st March 2025, focusing on projects that:
- Help young people (18-25) engage with the natural environment
- Support employability skills & physical health or well-being
- Prioritise those facing barriers due to disability, disadvantage, or location
Tesco’s Stronger Starts Grant
The Stronger Starts grant, funded by Tesco and administered by Groundwork, provides support to schools, registered charities, and not-for-profit organisations, prioritising projects that offer food security and support for young people.
Eligible projects may include:
- Food provision – Breakfast clubs, snack programs, food banks, and initiatives addressing holiday hunger.
- Outdoor & indoor activities – Equipment for school activities, after-school clubs, and food-growing projects.
- Youth development – Support for Brownies, Scouts, and other community groups needing funding for play equipment or activities.
- Healthy eating initiatives – Programs helping families cook nutritious meals on a budget.
Tesco customers and colleagues can also nominate a local project for funding. Tesco colleagues in each store will shortlist causes, and customers can vote using blue tokens at checkout. The grant is administered across the UK by Groundwork, with Greenspace Scotland supporting projects in Scotland.
National Lottery Awards for All England
This grant supports community-led projects that promote social connections, well-being, and stronger communities across England. Funding ranges from £300 to £20,000 and can support projects for up to two years. Voluntary and community organisations in England can apply.
Projects must achieve at least one of the following goals:
- Bringing people together – Strengthening relationships within and across communities.
- Improving local spaces – Enhancing places that matter to communities.
- Helping people reach their potential – Providing early support to improve opportunities.
- Supporting those affected by the cost-of-living crisis – Helping individuals and organisations manage increased challenges.
The Ford Britain Trust provides funding to support education, environmental projects, youth activities, disability initiatives, and community development in areas near Ford’s UK locations. While applications supported by Ford employees are encouraged, the grant is open to all eligible organisations that meet the selection criteria.
The Trust offers small grants of up to £250, available three times a year, with application periods from April to June, August to October, and December to February. Large grants of up to £3,000 are available twice a year.
Eligible applicants include non-profit organisations and community groups focused on improving education, youth services, environmental conservation, disability support, and local community projects.
The Greggs Foundation Community Grants Programme provides £20,000 per year for up to two years to not-for-profit community organisations working to address local challenges. The funding is designed to support core costs, helping organisations maintain essential services.
Eligible organisations must:
- Be a not-for-profit organisation with an annual income between £25,000 and £1 million.
- Have at least one set of annual accounts and be operating for over a year.
- Be located in one of Greggs’ geographical focus areas, which change each funding round.
- Have free reserves of less than six months’ running costs.
- Have a board of at least three unrelated trustees or directors and a safeguarding policy in place.
The grant supports organisations that:
- Address community needs, such as food provision and social support.
- Provide food and essential services for individuals in need.
- Reduce social isolation and strengthen community networks.
- Build knowledge, confidence, and opportunities for local people.
The Morrisons Foundation provides grants of up to £10,000 to registered charities in England, Scotland, and Wales that are delivering projects to improve lives in local communities. Since its launch in 2015, the foundation has donated over £42 million to good causes.
What Can Be Funded?
- To be eligible, charity projects must align with at least one of the following objectives:
- Tackling poverty and social deprivation—Supporting vulnerable individuals and families.
- Enhancing community spaces, facilities, and services— Improving local areas for the benefit of communities.
- Improving health and well-being—Promoting physical and mental well-being initiatives.
Match Funding for Morrisons Colleagues
In addition to grants, the Match Funding Programme provides financial support to charities that Morrisons employees fundraise for. Colleagues can apply for match funding twice a year to boost their fundraising efforts.
The Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust
This UK-based grant programme provides funding to registered charities that support those facing significant challenges. The funding priorities change annually, ensuring that limited resources are allocated to areas of greatest need. The programme aims to support diverse charities working within under represented communities and actively encourages inclusive initiatives.
This grant programme provides unrestricted, core, project, and delegated funding to support charitable work in the UK. The funder prioritises long-term support, with most grants lasting three to five years, and aims to create meaningful, lasting impact through flexible and adaptive funding. This grant supports UK-based charitable organisations working in areas that align with the funder’s priorities.
Types of Funding Available:
- Unrestricted funding – Grants that charities can use for any essential costs.
- Core funding – Support for operational expenses, including staffing and infrastructure.
- Project funding – Funding for specific initiatives aligned with the organisation’s priorities.
- Delegated grants – Funding managed in partnership with other grant-making bodies.
The Clothworkers’ Foundation
The Open Grants Programme provides funding to UK-registered charities, Community Interest Companies (CICs), and other non-profit organisations, including special schools. Grants are awarded specifically for capital projects, which include buildings, equipment, and vehicles.
What Can Be Funded?
- Buildings – Purchase, construction, renovation, or refurbishment of facilities.
- Fittings, Fixtures & Equipment – Office furniture, sports/gym equipment, digital/audio-visual tools, garden tools, and specialist therapeutic equipment (excluding medical).
- Vehicles – Minibuses, cars, caravans, 4x4s, and boats (but not vehicle leasing or community transport organisations).
Funding Criteria & Considerations:
- Grants vary based on organisation size and project scale.
- Applicants must demonstrate their project aligns with at least one programme area.
- At least 50% of service users benefiting from the project must come from eligible groups.
This grant programme provides core funding to registered charities with an annual expenditure of less than £40,000 that are working with priority groups. It does not fund new projects or one-off initiatives, only ongoing services that have been in place for at least a year. The programme prioritises charities working with marginalised, disadvantaged, or isolated people and those whose work is less likely to attract public or mainstream funding.
Who Can Apply?
- Registered charities that have been formally established for at least three years.
- Charities working in high deprivation areas or providing services that are underfunded.
- Organisations that utilise volunteers and incorporate self-sustainability (e.g., charging small fees for services where feasible).
Core funding for existing services that support:
- Elderly people
- Children and young people
- People with physical impairments, learning difficulties, or mental health challenges
- Social welfare – Helping individuals facing non-medical life challenges (e.g., addiction, abuse, offending)
- Education & learning – Particularly for those who are educationally disadvantaged
This foundation provides capital funding for special needs education, community transport, and educational facilities. Grants are awarded for new buildings, refurbishments, and adapted minibuses that serve individuals with disabilities and special needs. This funding supports projects that create long-term community impact and provide essential services for people with special needs and disabilities.
Who Can Apply?
- Charities and Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs) registered in England & Wales.
- Exempt organisations, including specialist schools, scout & guide groups, housing associations, cooperatives, and community benefit societies.
The Wooden Spoon Charity funds capital projects across the UK to support disadvantaged children and young people through health, wellbeing, and education initiatives. Grants have no set limit, but projects under £5,000 are unlikely to qualify. Since 1983, they have committed in excess of £32 million to 1,626 projects, and supported over two million children and young people living with a disability, who are disengaged, or who are disadvantaged.
Eligible projects include sensory rooms, specialist equipment, playgrounds, and educational facilities, with a minimum lifespan of five years. Applications are open to schools, charities, and clubs, with co-funding encouraged. Exclusions are computers, minibuses (except in special cases), admin costs, and ongoing expenses.
Wolfson Foundation
The Wolfson Foundation provides capital funding for science, health, education, heritage, and the arts. Since 1955, it has awarded over £1 billion to more than 14,000 UK projects, supporting new buildings, refurbishments, and equipment purchases.
Grants range from £15,000 to £1 million, with match funding required for projects over £50,000. Eligible applicants include UK-registered charities, educational institutions, museums, and research centres. Funding cannot be used for salaries, running costs, or completed projects.
The Matthew Good Foundation was created in memory of Matthew Good from the John Good Group, supporting charities, voluntary groups, and social enterprises making a positive impact in communities, people, and the environment.
Every three months, £15,000 is distributed among five shortlisted projects, with funding amounts determined by employee votes from the John Good Group. Annually, £60,000 is awarded to 20 organisations.
Grant Amounts:
1st place – £5,000
2nd place – £3,500
3rd place – £2,500
4th & 5th place – £2,000 each
Eligible applicants include small charities, voluntary groups, and social enterprises in the UK with an annual income under £50,000. Funds are unrestricted and can be used for any organisational costs. Applications can be submitted at any time, with funding rounds held in May, August, November, and February.
The Percy Bilton Charity provides capital funding to UK registered charities that support disadvantaged young people (under 25), people with disabilities, and older people (over 60). Established in 1962, the charity aims to improve the lives of these groups through funding for housing, training, and recreational facilities.
Grants are available through two programmes: Large Grants of £2,000 to £5,000 for capital projects and Small Grants of up to £750 for specific equipment or furniture. Funding supports housing, respite care, training projects, and recreational facilities for young people, individuals with disabilities, and the elderly. However, it does not cover salaries, running costs, trips, general community projects, or research.
For building, refurbishment, or minibus projects, the charity will only consider funding if the organisation has a shortfall of £15,000 or less remaining. Applications are accepted year-round.
Educational Opportunity Foundation
The Educational Opportunity Foundation provides grants to UK charities supporting children and young people under 25 by improving access to and the quality of education. Funding is available for UK-based projects helping care-experienced young people and international projects supporting marginalised communities.
Grants range from £30,000 to £90,000 for UK projects and £10,000 to £60,000 for international initiatives, awarded over one to three years. Eligible organisations must be UK-registered charities with an annual income between £25,000 and £2.5 million. Funding supports educational engagement, teacher training, vocational education, and inclusive learning opportunities. It does not cover individuals, CICs, summer camps, international travel, bursaries, salaries, or running costs as the main expense. Applications are accepted year-round, with preference given to projects with matched funding.
St Giles & St George Education Charity
The St Giles & St George Education Charity provides grants to registered charities, schools, and community organisations in Bloomsbury and South Westminster, London to support education, well-being, and Christian education for children and young people. Grants range from £3,000 for small projects to £50,000 per year for three-year partnership initiatives.
Funding can be used for salaries, project costs, capital expenses, educational trips, youth activities, and organisational development. Priority is given to front-line projects directly benefiting children and young people. Certain large-scale building projects, international school trips, and organisations with large reserves are unlikely to be funded. Applications are open to UK-registered charities, social enterprises, schools, and parish churches.
Good luck with your funding. Need help with completing your application?
Download our Free Funding Guide for tips and ideas.
Please note: Able Canopies Ltd. have not been endorsed by any of the above charities/organisations in any way. Our previous customers have stated that they have successfully received funding from these sources, and we have mentioned them for your information only.
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