Grant Directories

Deutsche Bank Awards for Creative Entrepreneurs (DBACE) supports visionary creative entrepreneurs between the ages of 18-30 who are driven by a mission to create and sustain social value through their enterprise. Through the programme Deutsche Bank aims to reach ambitious individuals from all backgrounds with ideas that will improve the lives of others and the communities we live in. An award from DBACE includes up to £20,000 investment to start or grow the enterprise; 12 months business support with MeWe360 and Deutsche Bank’s high calibre industry & business mentors; recognition and the opportunity to raise your profile within the industry; access to peer and influential industry contacts; leverage to bring in additional funding and access to further investment opportunities; specially tailored business and leadership training for the cohort of winners.

The Cornwall Community Foundation was established in 2003. It awards funding to local charities, community and voluntary groups and social enterprise for projects which strengthen and make a real difference to communities in Cornwall. Through the Cornwall Social Enterprise Fund, the Foundation provides two forms of investment to social enterprises: Start-up support will offer grants of around £5,000 to new start-ups in the early stages of their trading; and Step-up support will offer grants averaging £20,000 to help established social enterprises grow their businesses. Higher awards for both streams are available. Organisations are encouraged to submit expressions of interest.

The Society of Merchant Venturers work with and support people and communities from the wider Bristol area through education, care for older people, charitable giving and social enterprise. Registered charities and organisations with a charitable purpose within the greater Bristol area can apply for grants of between £500 and £5,000 through the Society of Merchant Venturers Charity. The Charity will consider applications from organisations addressing the following needs: Social Needs; Youth; Education; Social Enterprise; Health Care; Culture and the Arts; Environment; Bristol – projects, preferably those associated with the Society’s spheres of interest and achievement which will benefit Bristol and its economic development. 

The Community Business Trade Up programme is run by School for Social Entrepreneurs, in partnership with Power to Change. It is based on an innovative funding model where grant money of up to £10,000 is allocated in equal proportion to the additional income which the Community Businesses can generate from trading. It will help the leaders of up to 80 community businesses across England. The learning programme will take place in 8 locations across England: Cornwall, Dartington in Devon, Hampshire – Winchester, Liverpool, London (two cohorts), Midlands, York.

Charities and social enterprises in England working in either the homelessness or youth sectors can  apply for grants to develop or grow their enterprising activity and earned income. Feasibility grants of between £5,000 - £10,000 will enable organisations to investigate and develop an enterprise proposition from the very earliest stage into a proposed delivery plan. Development grants of around £50,000 offer support for enterprise propositions. In addition, leaders of established charities and social enterprises can apply to a leadership development programme. 

The £3 million Community Shares Booster programme supports groups in England seeking to launch community shares offer. Successful applicants receive a business development support grant up to £10,000 in advance of launching their community share offer. After that, their organisation could have access to up to £100,000 match funding when the share offer goes live. Match funding will be in the form of equity held on equal terms with other community shareholders. For further information on the programme and how to apply please click on the link below.

The Fore is a UK open access funder that believes that any organisation with the talent and drive to create social change should be able to access the support it needs to fulfil its potential. Grants of up to £30,000 are available over 1-3 years to charities and social enterprises with an income of less than £1million to help them develop their organisations and to help it do something that it couldn't previously do. The Fore will also match successful applicants with friendly professional support - ongoing mentoring, strategic advice, governance support or other assistance.

The Reach Fund is a two year £4million grant programme that is funded by Access - The foundation for Social Investment and is available to social enterprises in England. The programme aims to test a new model for investment readiness support. Investment readiness has long been recognised as an issue that prevents charities and social enterprises from accessing social investment. This programme provides grant funding of up to £15,000 to pay for the support required for these organisations to become investment ready. To be eligible for funding organisations must be referred to Reach by their social investor (an approved access point) and complete the diagnostic tool on the website.

The Transform Foundation offers grants of £5000 to charities to spend on Facebook advertising. In addition, successful charities will receive an agency-managed service through a technology partner who will create content, deploy and optimise the adverts. The most successful organisations i.e. those who achieve the highest return on the initial investment, may receive a further grant of £10,000. Successful applicants will be expected to have a clear, measurable plan for deploying the funding to generate income or impact.

The Voctech Impact Fund aims to raise the skills level of the UK workforce through digital solutions for vocational learning. The fund will offer grants of £150,000 plus, for projects up to 18 months long. The emphasis of the project must be on new learning tools which use genuinely innovative methods to raise the skills levels for a significant number of learners.

The Shackleton Foundation Leadership Award offers early stage venture capital funding for social entrepreneurs with the will to make a difference to young people in challenging circumstances. Grants of up to £10,000 provide seed funding and support to enable aspiring leaders and social entrepreneurs to establish their own ventures to help young people in challenging circumstances. Priority is given to projects that are not solely reliant on grants and donations.

Bethnal Green Ventures (BGV) is an accelerator programme, early-stage investor and support network for ambitious technology start-ups that are tackling problems in the areas of health, education, sustainability, civic engagement, tech to support young people, workertech. BGV's accelerator programme invests in and supports teams with new ideas through an intensive three-month programme. Supported teams may include software developers, designers or people with personal experience of something they want to change - from teachers and doctors, to patients and carers. BGV looks for early-stage ideas with the potential to help millions of people. Teams of between two and four people selected to be part of the BGV programme will benefit from a £60,000 investment in exchange for 7% equity. BGV also provides a three month programme of support and advice to help build, test and launch each start-up.

Organisations that have a Community Directplus account with the Co-operative Bank can apply for funding from the Customer Donation Fund. Grants can be used to support special projects and fundraising activities. The fund grows in relation to the deposits made; for every £100 increase in collective deposits across Community Directplus accounts the Co-Operative Bank adds 20p to the fund and promises to distribute a minimum of £5,000 twice a year.

As part of BT's Community Fibre Partnerships programme eligible communities in the final 5% of the UK not covered by fibre broadband rollout plans can apply for a match-funded grant of up to £30,000 toward the cost of their new fibre infrastructure where that new infrastructure could also serve their local school. Community Partnerships must first register to find out if they are eligible to apply.

The H&M Conscious Foundation Global Change Awards fund early stage ideas that present new environmentally friendly approaches that reinvent the fashion industry. This means changing the way garments are designed and produced, shipped, bought, used and recycled. The competition has three categories: circular business models, circular materials and circular processes. Global Change Award is open for anyone over 18 to apply. It is also open for institutions, organisations and social businesses. Five winners, will share a €1 million grant and get access to an innovation accelerator provided by H&M Foundation, Accenture and KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm.

Funded by Wiltshire Council and managed by Community First, the Wiltshire Community Transport Development Fund has been set up to enable existing community and voluntary transport groups to provide a wider range of services; enable communities to trial new services which assist local people to better access local facilities and to support the establishment of wholly new community and voluntary transport groups. The fund will give priority to voluntary and community transport projects that provide services for the general public; particularly where public transport is no longer financially sustainable.

Through the Scaling Up Awards UnLtd supports social entrepreneurs looking to scale up their venture by providing tailored support, access to workshops and networks and up to £18,000 in cash. Applicants must have identified a social issue, developed a business model and demonstrated effectiveness through compelling performance evidence and a track record of creating social impact. Applicants must be experienced, ambitious and capable of growing the venture through a realistic growth plan - nationally or internationally - that they can deliver by working full time on the venture. The venture should be; more than one but less than 5 years old; ready to grow; planned for rapid growth; not be looking for major investment for the year ahead; target UK based beneficiaries.

Somerset Community Foundation (SCF) is one of 48 community foundations across the UK. The Foundation's aim is to provide funding that will address the needs of Somerset's most vulnerable people and communities by: Tackling disadvantage, transforming people's lives and strengthening local communities. Support generally falls under the broad heading of social welfare with grants and loans available to eligible organisations and groups. SCF is able to fund a wide range of project costs including capital purchases, revenue costs and some core costs. The Foundation also operates the Somerset Social Enterprise Fund (SSEF) established with initial funding from Somerset County Council to provide loan finance to support new and established social enterprises.

Quartet Community Foundation (QCF) is one of 48 community foundations across the UK. QCF awards grants to support community-based work that has a charitable purpose. Primarily grants are awarded to projects which benefit local people and where a relatively small amount of funding can make a significant difference. Grant awards cover a broad range of issues with applications welcomed from both new and established groups. Support generally falls under the broad heading of social welfare, projects should demonstrate a strong case for support, have clear aims and objectives, and, wherever possible, be user led. QCF is able to fund a wide range of project costs including capital purchases e.g. equipment, maintenance or improvement of community buildings, or revenue costs.

Dorset Community Foundation (DCF) is one of 48 community foundations across the UK. The Foundation's aim is to provide funding that will directly address the needs of Dorset's most vulnerable people and communities. Support generally falls under the broad heading of social welfare. Applications must demonstrate a strong case for support, have clear aims and objectives, be sustainable, be good value for money, support the maximum number of beneficiaries possible and, wherever possible, the applicant organisation or project will be user led and make a real difference to people within the community. DCF is able to fund a wide range of project costs including capital or revenue and also offer two bursary schemes for young people aged 16 - 21 years.

Cornwall Community Foundation (CCF) is one of 48 community foundations across the UK. The Foundation supports local charities, community and voluntary groups in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. CCF invests in grassroots, front line, volunteer led organisations who are making a positive impact in Cornwall aiming to overcome challenges of disadvantage, exclusion and poverty for all ages. Applications are welcomed from both new and established groups who can demonstrate a strong case for support, have clear aims and objectives, and, wherever possible, are user led. CCF is able to fund a wide range of project costs, capital or revenue, and holds specific funds that provide support to individuals.

Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Community Foundation (HIWCF) is one of 48 community foundations across the UK. The Foundation's aim is to provide funding that will directly address the needs of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight's most vulnerable people and communities. HIWCF specialises in awarding grants to smaller, lesser known charities and community groups who offer the support, services and activities that can really make a difference to local people's lives. Applications must demonstrate a strong case for support, have clear aims and objectives, and, wherever possible, the applicant organisation or project will be user led and make a real difference to people within the community. HIWCF is able to fund a wide range of capital or revenue project costs.

The Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland Social Entrepreneurs Programme offers social entrepreneurs the best possible chance of success by providing access to support and funding. To date 1,000 social entrepreneurs in the UK have been supported via this programme. The Programme is a package of support that includes three different elements; an inspirational and practical 14-day course, a business mentor from Lloyds Banking Group and a grant. The content of the course and the size of the grant award will vary depending on whether the applicant joins Start Up or Scale Up. Eligibility for each depends on the stage of development of the applicant's organisation.

Social Business Trust is a registered UK charity that supports and provides business advice to social enterprises based in the UK, in order to support the growth of selected social enterprises and help them to achieve greater social impact. Applications for support are welcome from social enterprises across all sectors. Applicants must have annual revenues of at least £1m or robust plans to achieve that soon, this should include a significant proportion of earned income; a minimum of 1,000 people per year must benefit, directly or indirectly, from the organisation's goods or services and the organisation should be based predominantly in the UK, serving UK beneficiaries. Funding from SBT can provide both capital investment and professional expertise.

This Fund is managed by Social and Sustainable Capital, and invests between £250,000 and £3 million in charities and social enterprises across the UK. The Fund can support organisations across all social sectors, focused on improving the economic and social well-being of individuals, particularly those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged.

Big Potential, a National Lottery Community Fund grant fund, will deliver approximately £20m of grant funding over 3 years to eligible Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations with the aim of improving the sustainability, capacity and scale of VCSE organisations in order that they may deliver greater social impact. The programme aims to raise awareness of the social investment market and support VCSEs who want to prepare themselves for social investment or winning contracts.

Big Issue Invest (BII) is the social investment arm of The Big Issue. BII exists to further the Big Issue's activities and reach, its ultimate aim is to actively empower the marginalised, through employment and entrepreneurship; to help people, to help themselves. Its mission is to dismantle poverty and inequality by investing in business solutions to social and environmental challenges. BII provides loan finance to scale up social enterprises and charities throughout the UK by providing loans and investments, not grants, from £20,000 to £1.5 million. BII can also work with partner social investors to provide finance above £1.5 million.