Below are listed possible sources of alternative funding and support for charities, Christian organisations, churches and community projects. Please note: while we strive to keep this information up-to-date, grant programmes change frequently.
We have also started a new section of the list of particular relevance to those with, or serving those with, disabilities.
If you know of a possible funding source that we’ve missed, please email.
All links are to external websites:
Andrews Charitable Trust
Christian Community Grants are available under two main programmes: Speaking Volumes offers grants for Christian books to any library whether it’s in a school, prison, hospice or church; partners with the Cinnamon Network (see below), which provides micro-grants for starting up an approved social action project.
Benefact Trust
Introduced a new grants framework in January 2023, and has 5 programmes: Community Impact Grants; . Building Improvement Grants; Heritage Skills for Christian Buildings Grants; Methodist Grants and Crisis Response Grants.
Charles Hayward Foundation
Makes grants to charities and charitable organisations which are registered in the UK.
Community Fund
The National Lottery Community Fund distributes over £600m a year to communities across the UK.
Church Urban Fund
Near Neighbours brings diverse people together to make a positive difference in their neighbourhood and strengthen society, including through providing grants.
Cinnamon Network
Cinnamon Micro-Grants of £2,000 are available in some areas to help churches start Recommended Projects.
Clive Richards Foundation
Hereford based charity committed to supporting Education, Healthcare, Heritage and Arts.
Comic Relief
Developing a new funding strategy launching in early 2023, which will focus on: alleviating poverty’s consequences and grip on people’s daily lives; tackling the injustices that keep people in poverty; and standing with those in poverty who are most harmed by climate change.
Community Foundation in Wales
Welcomes applications from local charities, community groups and voluntary organisations that are engaged in tackling social need and economic disadvantage at a grass-roots level.
The Dulverton Trust
An independent grant-making charity supporting UK charities tackling a range of social issues, protecting the natural world, and preserving heritage crafts.
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
Founded in 1961, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation is one of the UK’s largest independent funders. It makes unrestricted, core and project grants for charitable work in the UK.
FCC Communities Foundation
Awards grants to community projects from funds donated by FCC Environment through the Landfill Communities Fund and Scottish Landfill Communities Fund.
Funds Online
[Subscription required]
A database with over 8,000 funders, produced by the Directory of Social Change.
Garfield Weston Foundation
A family founded grant-maker that gives money to support a wide range of charities across the UK that make a positive difference, including welfare, youth, community, environment, education, health, arts, heritage and faith.
G C Gibson Charitable Trust
Offers grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 to a wide range of charities. Priority for support is given to charities that the trustees have previously worked with, however the trust adds a few new charities each year.
Global Giving
Global crowdfunding community connecting non-profits, donors, and companies. GlobalGiving Accelerator programme provides a permanent fundraising spot on the GlobalGiving platform if you raise at least $5,000 total from a minimum of 40 different donors. The programme includes an optional one-week training curriculum.
The Goldsmiths’ Company Charity
Charity Committee makes large grants (up to £30,000) and small grants (up to £5,000). Main focus areas are prisoner resettlement, youth and an ageing population. The Small Grants are awarded to charities working along similar themes but with a slightly broader remit.
Good Finance
Provides a guide to social investment, including a list of places to go for finance and investment.
Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland
The Community Grants Programme can support day to day activities of a charity and new/existing projects. Average grant is approximately £4,500. Grants are only open to charities operating in Northern Ireland.
The Hedley Foundation
Provides grants to smaller charities operating across the spectrum of social need.
Heritage Fund
Funds projects of all sizes that connect people and communities to the UK’s heritage. It is launching a new strategy in early 2023.
The Idlewild Trust
Awards grants of up to £5,000 to UK registered charities working in arts or conservation (works of art and objects).
Jill Franklin Trust
Due to Covid, the trust is using all its income to relieve poverty and distress among its clients and says it has no money to spare at least until December 2022 for other groups. It has limited grants for church restoration. Formerly grants were typically £500 to £1000, in these areas: Self-help groups, advice, training, and employment; to support people with a mental illness or learning difficulties, and their carers; respite care and holidays; organisations helping and supporting refugees and asylum-seekers; and the restoration of churches of architectural importance.
The Joseph Rank Trust
Independent Christian grant-maker with an interest in projects that: demonstrate a Christian approach to the practical, educational and spiritual needs of people of all ages; and the adaptation of Church properties to provide improved facilities for use by the church and its work in the community.
Laing Family Trusts
Giving of the Laing Family Trusts reflects the values espoused by Sir John Laing, seeking to promote Christian faith and values; care for those in need; encourage young people to realise their potential (especially, but not exclusively, in the field of science and engineering and through Christian youth activities).
Landfill Communities Fund
Tax credit scheme enables operators of landfill sites to contribute money to enrolled Environmental Bodies to carry out projects that meet environmental objects contained in the Landfill Tax Regulations.
Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme
Makes grants towards the VAT incurred in making repairs and carrying out necessary alterations to listed buildings mainly used for public worship. The Government has confirmed funding is available for the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme until 31st March 2025.
Lloyds Bank Foundation (England and Wales)
An independent charitable trust funded by the profits of Lloyds Banking Group. Specialist programme supports small specialist charities with an annual income between £25,000-£500,000 that work with people to help them overcome complex issues.
The London Community Foundation
Grants are typically made to small charities and community groups who understand issues at a local level. Grants can address a range of community-related issues such as: food poverty; isolation, homelessness, domestic abuse and violence affecting young people.
Heritage Funding Directory
Guide to financial and other support for anyone undertaking UK related heritage projects.
My Funding Central search tool
A database of grant funding and social investment sources. Aimed at organisations with an annual income below £1m and is free for organisations under £30k.
National Churches Trust
Grants are available to any Christian place of worship in the UK that is open for regular worship, for example to repair a roof, install a kitchen or accessible toilets, clear asbestos or help undertake regular essential maintenance to the building.
NCVO
Practical tips and step-by-step guides on how to find the money you need for your community group, organisation or charity.
The Owen Family Trust
Grants are available for the preservation of Christian and secular historic buildings in West Midlands and North Wales.
Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Invests around £30 million each year across six funding priorities: supports organisations to influence migration system reform, improve access to support services, strengthen civic participation and inform public understanding of migration and integration narratives; supports organisations whose main purpose is working with and for young people (aged 14-25) who face complex transitions to adulthood; supports people with a vision of a better society, helping them to explore the potential of their ideas for change; arts access and participation; education and learning through the arts; and supporting people and communities in India.
The Pilgrim Trust
Grant-making across the UK to improve life chances for the vulnerable and preserve the best of our past.
Power to Change
Power to Change is an independent charitable trust, set up in January 2015 with a £150 million endowment from the Big Lottery Fund, to support, develop and grow community business across England.
The Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts
18 endowed grant-making trusts which fund registered charities or activities with clearly defined charitable purposes.
Social Investment Business
Specialist grant and loan products, including the Community Enterprise Fund and the Youth Investment Fund.
Sport England
Invests in organisations and projects that will get more people taking up and continuing to play sport and creating opportunities for people to excel at their chosen sport.
Wales Council for Voluntary Action
Website includes a Third Sector Funding Portal for Wales with funding advice and details of funding opportunities.
Willats Trust
Makes grants to enable lay workers to minister to the most disadvantaged members of society.
The Wolfson Foundation
A wide range of funding programmes and activities with a fundamental aim to improve the civic health of society, mainly through education and research. Supports excellence in the fields of education, science and medicine, health and disability, and heritage, humanities and the arts.
UnLtd
Through funding and support, helps social entrepreneurs to realise their potential and create lasting change. Focus areas are access to employment and healthy ageing.
You can search for your local community foundation which may offer funding opportunities.
Funding resources related to those with disabilities
Possible funding sources for disability groups and voluntary organisations.
Help for disabled entrepreneurs, including specialist business funding, opportunities for grants, as well as local resources, advisory bodies and the possibility of mentorship.
Benefits for ill or disabled people. Information provided by UK Government and the Money & Pensions Service.
