Grant Directories

The Mortgage Advice Bureau Foundation funds sustainable community projects throughout England, Scotland and Wales by making grants to support charities and community interest companies. The Foundation, has teamed up with Crowdfunder to make £100,000 in funding available. Organisations can apply for up to 50% of their crowdfunding target, up to a maximum of £5,000, to support projects that match one or more of the following themes: the environment and conservation; health and wellbeing; and the prevention or relief of poverty. Projects could include rewilding projects, community gardens, social inclusion and mental health projects, sports projects, community food banks, money management and budgeting skills, and educational projects for communities to reduce their carbon footprint. No deadline given.

London Community Foundation (LCF) is one of 48 community foundations across the UK. LCF is dedicated to improving the lives of disadvantaged Londoners. Through the Greener Futures Fund the foundation provides grants of up to £20,000 per year to support work enabling communities to take climate action in Westminster and North Southwark. Applications must clearly be about local climate action and should meet at least one of the following priorities: Have a positive impact on the local environment; Encourage local people to get involved in grass roots environmental activities; Raise awareness of climate change and changing behaviours leading to more local environmental action; Develop and share knowledge about the environment with others locally; Provide skills, training or job opportunities for local people connected to the climate response; Improve access to nature and nature-based climate solutions.

The Ocado Foundation is the charitable arm of Ocado Group, working for the benefit of communities across the UK. Through the Ocado Foundation for Good programme, the Foundation provides grants of up to £1,000 to charities, community organisations, community interest companies, academic institutions, and local authorities for community projects which focus their efforts on three core areas: skills for the future, natural resources and responsible sourcing. 

The People's Postcode Trust is a grant-giving body funded by players of the Peoples Postcode Lottery. The small grants scheme distributes funds to small organisations, community groups and registered charities in the South of England, through grants ranging from £500 - £20,000. The Trust funds projects that: Improve mental wellbeing; Enable community participation in the arts; Support marginalised groups and promote equality; Improve biodiversity & green spaces; Enable participation in physical activity; Respond to the climate emergency & promote sustainability; Increase community access to outdoor space.

The Trusthouse Charitable Foundation is a grant making foundation that give grants to small and medium sized local organisations in the UK with a demonstrable track record of success working to address local issues in communities of extreme urban deprivation and deprived rural districts. Through the small grants programme the foundation provides funding of between £2,000 and £10,000 to charitable organisations with an income of less than £250,000 for projects that focus on Community Support. Examples of the kind of projects that can be funded include: CommunityServices; CommunityCentres; Alternative Education; Training, mentoring, employment and volunteering opportunities; Youth; Counselling; Family Support Services; Substance Misuse.

The Linnean Society of London offers grants for youth-led projects in the UK, aiming to increase access to local natural spaces and encourage a deeper appreciation and understanding of nature. ​Some examples of possible proposals could be: running a school festival about nature; painting community murals showcasing biodiversity in the area; building a community garden; creating a nature walk; hiring a speaker to come and talk about local foraging.

The East End Community Foundation distributes grants to voluntary and community sector organisations in Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Newham and the City of London.  The Foundation distributes funding from their own funds as well as working with corporate and statutory partners, and individuals to manage and administer grants programmes on their behalf.  Through the Isle of Dogs Grants Chest & Millwall Park Endowment Fund, grants of up to £10,000 are available for projects that must be for the purpose of “carrying out improvements to the environment & the provision or improvement of public leisure amenities & activities or in the absence of such needs, other charitable provision to benefit the local community in the Millwall Park Area.”

The National Garden Scheme gives visitors unique access to over 3,700 exceptional private gardens in England and Wales, and raises money for nursing and health charities through admissions, teas and cake. Through the Community Gardens Award programme the scheme grants awards to help community gardening projects.

The Esmee Fairbairn Foundation aims to improve the quality of life for people and communities throughout the UK. The Foundation does this by funding the charitable work of organisations that are building an inclusive, creative and sustainable society.  Through the Environment programme the Foundation wants to support organisations that can move, engage and inform people, and connect with the bigger picture of policymaking, social justice, or quality of life.

Grants of between £5,000 and £50,000 are available to schools, charities and other organisations in London to improve access to green spaces and nature. This could include creating a community garden, improving parks and other green spaces for people and wildlife; greening school playgrounds to create natural play space and protect children from air pollution; and creating pocket parks in urban areas; etc. 

The National Lottery Community Fund distributes money raised by the National Lottery to support local communities. The Partnerships funding programme provides grants of over £20,000 for projects to increase collaborative working between organisations and can support many different types of partnership, including cross-sector partnerships, local place-based collaboration, local and national organisations working together around a theme. Projects must meet one of the following funding priorities: bring people together and build strong relationships in and across communities; improve the places and spaces that matter to communities; enable more people to fulfil their potential by working to address issues at the earliest possible stage.

The Prince's Countryside Fund gives grants to projects that have a positive impact upon rural areas. The Rural Four – Catalyst, collaborate, create and champion grant programme aims to: Reinvigorate community networks by assisting with rebuilding community assets; Improve the health and well-being of 200 socially isolated people through providing access to improved community assets and a network of support; Create a lasting legacy of support and community spirit in the areas where support is provided. The programme will support up to 10 rural communities a year with funding of up to £25,000

The Peabody Community Fund provides grants of between £500 and £30,000 for up to 2 years to fund local activities which improve the quality of life of Peabody residents and the wider community. Priority will be given to projects addressing the needs of the most disadvantaged members of the community, projects led by Peabody residents and youth led projects which run for a period of at least six months. Examples of the type of project that can be funded include After school clubs; Sports, dance, creative arts and leisure activities for young people; literacy and numeracy projects for children and young people

Persimmon Homes Charity Foundation is providing grant funding of up to £1000 to registered charities, clubs, schools and other organisations which have already raised vital funds themselves towards projects to enhance their local community.  The type of projects supported to date have included support for foodbanks; projects within schools; and sports projects; etc.

The Trust for London is an independent charitable foundation that aims to tackle poverty and inequality in London.  The Trust does this by funding voluntary and charity groups.  Currently the Trust makes grants totalling around £8 million a year.  Through its Good Homes and Neighbourhoods funding programme aims to ensure that Londoners have access to genuinely affordable housing, which is also good quality and secure and live in communities where people can feel safe and can participate.

Enovert Community Trust (formerly Cory Environmental Trust in Britain) is an Environmental body which supports community and environmental projects. The Trust awards grants under the terms of the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF), providing funding to a broad range of projects that have a positive impact on local communities. The Trust is committed to supporting community and environmental projects across the UK. These include improving community halls, the creation of new play areas and skate parks, and restoring green spaces. Fundraising by applicants is looked upon favourably by the Trustees. Applicants will need to secure a 10% third party contribution which will be payable to Enovert Limited prior to the project commencing.

The Metropolitan Public Gardens Association (MPGA) is a long established Charity that over the years has played a vital role in the preservation and improvement of gardens, neglected sites and green open spaces across London. The MPGA provides modest grants to those who want to improve the environment and quality of life for the local community. The MPGA works with a wide variety of groups, including local councils, schools, hospitals, hospices, museums, voluntary organizations and community groups on a range of projects. Example projects supported include: The Drop-in Bereavement Centre in the London Borough of Newham granted £500 to create a meditative garden; Christ Church School, Wandsworth, granted £359 for an outdoor gardening classroom.

National Aquarium Ltd is a charity which gives small grants to organisations or individuals that operate projects to further the goals of the National Marine Aquarium. The projects may be science based, research based, conservation focussed, educational or community events; but could equally be based around arts or drama as long as they make a contribution to raising awareness of the marine environment. All projects should fit with the stated aim of the charity, driving Marine Conservation through Engagement.  Grants awarded so far have been between £1,200 and £5,000 and future awards are likely to be of similar amounts.

Tesco Stronger Starts programme supports thousands of schools and  local community projects across the UK, helping to fight holiday hunger, tackle mental health, support young people, host community events and much more. The scheme has supported over 40,000 community groups with more than £90 million in grants. Tesco Community Grants is open to charities and community organisations to apply for a grant of up to £1,500. Every three months, three local good causes are selected to be in the blue token customer vote in Tesco stores throughout the UK.

The Woodland Trust has free tree packs to give away to schools, community and youth groups. The free tree packs are available for planting on one publicly accessible site. Packs will be awarded on a first come first serve basis. All applicants need to do is find a suitable site and supply the volunteer planters and tree protection. Tree packs for schools and communities offer the perfect opportunity to bring people together to plant trees - encouraging local wildlife, protecting our landscape against tree disease and creating beautiful wooded areas that people can enjoy for years to come.

Artists Project Earth (APE) funds projects that tackle the effects of climate change.  Applications are welcomed from organisations working to prevent the causes of climate change; defend communities and ecosystems against the impacts of climate change; and support and build resilience for communities affected by natural disasters.

The Chestnut Fund is an independent charity, making grants available to encourage and enable community groups to carry out conservation activities. Groups must be part of the BTCV Community Network to qualify. The grants fall into two categories: Start-up grants - these are for groups who have no money when they are first set up and are available to groups in their first year of existence. The grant will enable them to begin practical work and will cover administrative expenses, e.g. postage, publicity, hire of meeting rooms, telephone bills and/or the first year of BTCV Community Network Membership plus Insurance fees. The maximum grant will be £150, and Support grants - these are for groups who have no money for tools, equipment and training. The maximum grant will be £350. Preference will be given to resources selected from BTCV sources. This grant is available to all BTCV Community Network groups, regardless of how long they have been members.

Grants are available to support projects that increase the understanding and appreciation, particularly among young people, of the environmental, social, and economic potential of trees, woodlands and forests and of the link between the tree and everyday wood products. Eligible project costs include hire of people, for example, supply teachers, advice, training hire or purchase of materials, machinery or services and paying for printing and publicity for projects. There is also a special grant for development work. Only Forest Education Initiative Cluster Groups are eligible to apply.

UnLtd is the leading provider of support to social entrepreneurs in the UK and supports individuals who have their social ventures firmly rooted in delivering positive social change. It operates a unique model by investing directly in individuals and offering a complete package of resources; from awards of funding to ongoing advice, networking and practical support. UnLtd resource community entrepreneurs to start-up; support those with more established social ventures to scale up; and are committed to developing an eco-system of support to make it easier for those who need help to find it. UnLtd offers a number of programmes with varying levels of funding and support. Please refer to the funder's website for details.

The Quartet Community Foundation is an independent charity that supports small, community-based charities and voluntary groups in the West of England (Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire) whose work benefits local people. The Foundation gives grants to a broad range of causes and welcome applications from both new and established groups. The Foundation runs its own grants programme called the Express Programme which awards grants of up to £5,000. The Foundation also manages a range of other grants programmes with their own priorities, criteria and closing dates.

Community Foundations support community and voluntary sector activity through grants to local groups and organisations. There are 48 Community Foundations of different sizes within the UK. Although all Community Foundations operate according to common criteria, they vary in terms of size and nature of grants available. Some Community Foundations will fund both organisations and individuals whilst other foundations will only fund organisations. Each community foundation covers a specific geographic area and will not normally be able to support work outside its area.