Grant Directories

The Rural England Prosperity Fund is part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and supports the aims of the government's Levelling Up White Paper and Future Farming Programme. The Fund provides funding for small businesses and community infrastructure in rural areas of England. It aims to improve productivity and strengthen the rural economy and rural communities. The Rural Fund provides capital funding for projects that support new and existing rural businesses to develop new products and facilities, and for new and improved community infrastructure that provides essential services and assets for local people and businesses. The funding can be used to fund capital projects that benefit businesses or communities in rural areas.

The Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund (PWCF) is a grant making organisation which aims to transform lives and build sustainable communities across the UK by funding a wide range of good causes within their core funding themes: Heritage & Conservation, Education, Health & Wellbeing, Social Inclusion, Environment and Countryside. Through the Small Grants Programme, the PWCF will award grants of up to £5,000 to not-for-profit organisations with an income of up to £1 million. The average award is £1,500. Priority will be given to organisations of which HRH The Prince of Wales is Patron. Applications can be made at any time and will be considered by the Small Grant committee at their quarterly meetings.

The Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund is a grant making organisation which aims to transform lives and build sustainable communities across the UK by funding a wide range of good causes within their core funding themes: Heritage & Conservation, Education, Health & Wellbeing, Social Inclusion, Environment and Countryside. The Major Grants Programme will award grants of over £5,000 to not-for-profit organisations. Organisations can apply for major grants by invitation only.

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 Wilmcote Charitrust gives grants to Registered Charities and voluntary organisations working for the relief of poverty, sickness, old age and distress, the advancement of religion and education and such other charitable objects as considered appropriate by the trustees. Grants are made to a range of organisations including those whose work benefits ex-service personnel, medical charities, young person's charities, colleges and schools, religious charities and those that help the aged.

Gloucestershire Community Foundation (GCF) is one of 48 community foundations across the UK. GCF supports local voluntary and community activity through a programme of constructive grant making targeting small, local, voluntary and community organisations where a relatively small amount of money can make a significant difference i.e. grassroots groups including those that do not have charitable status, but do make a local impact. Support generally falls under the broad heading of social welfare. GCF 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 such as venue hire, promotional costs, start-up expenses, activities or training.

Community Foundation for Wiltshire and Swindon (CFWS) is one of 48 community foundations across the UK. The Foundation's aim is to provide funding that will directly address the needs of Wiltshire and Swindon's most vulnerable people and communities. Support generally falls under the broad heading of social welfare with organisations funded working with the most vulnerable and disadvantaged or those with special needs. 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. CFWS is able to fund a wide range of project costs including capital projects (up to £5,000 and for one year), revenue and core costs.

Sussex Community Foundation (SCF) is one of 48 community foundations across the UK. The Foundation's aim is to provide funding that will directly address the needs of Sussex's most vulnerable people and communities. Support generally falls under the broad heading of social welfare; small charities are prioritised. 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. SCF is able to fund a wide range of activities with eligible project costs including capital purchases or revenue i.e. from a new tea urn for a village hall and kit for a local football team to food banks and homeless shelters.

Oxfordshire Community Foundation (OCF) is one of 48 community foundations across the UK. The Foundation's aim is to provide funding that will directly address the needs of Oxfordshire's most vulnerable people and communities. Support generally falls under the broad heading of social welfare. There should be a genuine need for the project, and its purpose and benefit to the community in Oxfordshire must be clear. OCF prefers to award funds to projects that will leave a permanent legacy and will continue after the grant is spent. OCF is able to fund a wide range of project costs including capital purchases or revenue costs such as venue hire, promotional costs, start-up expenses, activities or training. Applications for core costs will be considered.

Kent Community Foundation (KCF) is one of 48 community foundations across the UK. The Foundation's aim is to provide funding that will directly address the needs of Kent's most vulnerable people and build strong and vibrant communities throughout the county. Most awards are made to small community and voluntary groups that are charitable in purpose and are working for the benefit of people in Kent and Medway. Projects generally fall under the broad heading of social welfare. Some funds for individuals in very specific circumstances are also available as are loans to support existing and newly created social enterprises that benefit the local community and enhance the economic, social and environmental vibrancy of Kent.

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.

Community Foundation for Surrey (CFS) is one of 48 community foundations across the UK. CFS awards grants to community and voluntary groups for projects generally falling under the broad heading of social welfare. Surrey based community/voluntary groups who have a clear understanding of the needs of their community and are making a real difference can apply for funding to support changes that improve the quality of people's lives, build community capacity and empower local communities. Preference is given to projects working to become self-sustaining; and wherever possible, are user led. CFS is able to fund a wide range of project costs including core, revenue and capital costs for either new or existing projects or one-off initiatives.

Buckinghamshire Community Foundation (Heart of Bucks) is one of 48 community foundations across the UK. The Foundation's aim is to provide grant and loan funding that will directly address the needs of Buckinghamshire's most vulnerable people and communities. Support generally falls under the broad heading of social welfare and, wherever possible, the applicant organisation or project will be user led and make a real difference to people within the community. BCF is able to fund a wide range of costs for new and existing projects e.g. core running costs and capital expenditure. Loans of between £1,000 and £25,000 are also available with applicants required to submit a project/business plan to demonstrate community benefit to Buckinghamshire residents and the ability to repay the loan.

Berkshire Community Foundation (BCF) is one of 48 community foundations across the UK. The Foundation's aim is to provide funding that will directly address the needs of Berkshire's most vulnerable people and communities. Support generally falls under the broad heading of social welfare. Applicants must clearly demonstrate that the project will make a measurable difference to Berkshire residents suffering from disadvantage and the applicant organisation or project should be user led. BCF is able to fund a wide range of project costs including capital purchases or revenue costs and some funds for individuals are available.

Northamptonshire Community Foundation (NCF) is one of 48 community foundations across the UK. The Foundation is dedicated to funding community-based action, which improves the lives of the county's most disadvantaged people and communities. Child poverty, unemployment, homelessness, domestic violence and social isolation are just some of the issues NCF strive to tackle each year. NCF manages a range of funds from Northamptonshire County Council grants to wind farm community benefit funds and is thus able to fund a wide range of project costs including capital purchases and revenue costs.

Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation (BLCF) is one of 48 community foundations across the UK. The Foundation aims to be a catalyst for social change by awarding grants to organisations with charitable purposes that operate for the benefit of the community. In particular, the Foundation will support projects that enable the advancement of education, the protection of good health, both mental and physical, and the relief of poverty and sickness. Projects supported must directly address the needs of Bedfordshire and Luton's most vulnerable people and communities. BLCF 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 such as venue hire, promotional costs, start-up expenses, activities or training. Applications for core costs will be considered.

IGas Energy Plc, one of the UK's leading onshore hydrocarbon producers awards grants to help local communities located close to the oil and gas production and exploration sites where they operate. The fund covers specific areas of Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Cheshire, Manchester and Scotland.  Applicants will need to demonstrate need for their project, real community benefits and value for money. Projects funded in the past range from a primary school in West Sussex that engaged pupils to help elderly neighbours with their computers, to a project in the north of Scotland training unemployed people in building skills to support community groups and organisations. Money has also been allocated to several rural villages to buy potentially life-saving defibrillators.

The NFU Mutual Charitable Trust was set up in 1998 to promote and support charities in the UK working in agriculture, rural development and insurance. The Trustees are particularly interested in initiatives in the areas of education of young people in rural areas; the relief of poverty within rural areas; research into agriculture associated activities; to advance the education of the public in relation to agriculture and to promote the benefit and social welfare of inhabitants of rural communities. The NFU Mutual Charitable Trust also provides small grants of up to £1000 through the NFU Mutual's Community Giving Fund which supports worthwhile community events, charities, schools and community group activities that are local to their operations.

Reaching Communities provide grants to help improve local communities and the lives of people most in need, including hard to reach communities. There is a small revenue and a capital scheme and a larger buildings only fund. All projects must address one or more of the following outcomes. People have better chances in life, with better access to training and development to improve their life skills;  Stronger communities, with more active citizens, working together to tackle their problems;  Improved rural and urban environments, which communities are better able to access and enjoy; and Healthier and more active people and communities.