Grant Directories

The Garfield Weston Foundation is a charitable grant-making foundation, which supports a wide range of causes across the UK, donating over £90 million annually. Through the Projects/Specific Activity Grant programme the foundation provides funding for a specific project or area of the applicant organisations work. It will have a defined scope of work and timetable, for example: a theatre’s outreach project with marginalised communities over a nine month period; a health organisation’s advice and information service over two years. Grants vary depending on the total cost and scope of the project however grants tend to be 10–20% of the  total project cost.

The Garfield Weston Foundation is a charitable grant-making foundation, which supports a wide range of causes across the UK, donating over £90 million annually. Through the Operating/Core Costs grants programme the foundation provides funding towards the general costs of running an organisation. This means they can be used to help pay the organisations bills or rent and provide support towards salaries.

The Garfield Weston Foundation is a charitable grant-making foundation, which supports a wide range of causes across the UK, donating over £90 million annually. Through the Capital Projects grant programme the foundation provides funding of no more than 10% of a total project cost. However, for local community projects (e.g. village halls, community centres, places of worship, etc.), grants are unlikely to be over £30,000 regardless of the project size. 

The Castle Studies Trust is a UK based charity which awards funding to individuals and organisations for study and research projects that increase the understanding and knowledge of castles. The Trust will award grants of up to £10,000 (incl. VAT) for projects which will, at first, focus on new work, such as architectural and geophysical surveys, radio-carbon dating, or projects that enhance the general public’s understanding of castles. The funding will cover costs specific to carrying out research and site work, such as travel to and from a castle site, and can be used in conjunction with other funding sources to co-fund large-scale projects.

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.

Foundation Scotland exists to benefit disadvantaged communities by making grants to support relevant charitable or voluntary organisations, which make a difference to their local communities. Through the RWE Bad á Cheò Wind Farm Community Fund the foundation provides grants of up to £10,000 to supports charitable activities or services that benefit people living in the Community Council area of Halkirk & District in Caithness. 

Foundation Scotland exists to benefit disadvantaged communities by making grants to support relevant charitable or voluntary organisations, which make a difference to their local communities. Through the Annandale and Nithsdale Community Benefit Company the foundation provides grants of up to £20,000 to support charitable activities that support the rural regeneration and sustainability of communities within the area of benefit. Applications that address any of the following issues are particularly welcomed: Community facilities, services, rural transport, affordable housing, community development; Community or local events; Environmental projects; Heritage; Skills, employment, tourism, reducing poverty and disadvantage, improving rural business opportunities, building the capacity of community and voluntary organisations, supporting innovation and social enterprise; Sport, recreation and improving the health of residents; Youth and education, tackling out-migration of young peop...

Foundation Scotland exists to benefit disadvantaged communities by making grants to support relevant charitable or voluntary organisations, which make a difference to their local communities.  Through the Achlachan Wind Farm Community Fund the foundation provides grants of up to £10,000 to support community activity and development in the Halkirk & District Community Council area, with priority given to projects within a four-kilometre radius of the Achlachan Wind Farm (Fund Priority Area). Grants are available to support the charitable activities of constituted not-for-profit groups working to benefit the communities therein.

The purpose of the Shetland Charitable Trust is to use its available funds to benefit and improve the quality of life of all people living in Shetland. Through the Small Grant's programme the trust will provide up to 75 per cent of project costs and will be open to constituted community groups with a turnover of less than £50,000 a year involved in the fields of social care and welfare, arts and culture, heritage and the environment or sport and recreation. Grants of £500 to £5,000 are available.

The Rothschild Foundation Hanadiv Europe aims to ensure that Jewish culture and heritage are actively supported, valued and looked after for generations to come. Through the Museums Core Exhibition programme the foundation provides grants of up to £75,000 per year (maximum of two years) for new museums developing their core exhibition or for existing museums revamping their core exhibition. Funds are available for curating the exhibition, the acquisition of professional equipment, exhibition building and design, as well as outside consultants. Funds are not available for building renovations, new buildings or operational costs. 

The Rothschild Foundation Hanadiv Europe aims to ensure that Jewish culture and heritage are actively supported, valued and looked after for generations to come. Through the Archives and Libraries Professional Training Programme the foundation provides grants for the training of staff at all levels, including archivists, librarians, conservators, photographers, etc. This may include consultation visits by archival or library experts to European Jewish institutions, as well as learning trips by archival or library staff members seeking to visit experts based at other European institutions. This may also cover visits by professionals to help seek strategic advice for the future of their archive or library.

The Rothschild Foundation Hanadiv Europe aims to ensure that Jewish culture and heritage are actively supported, valued and looked after for generations to come. Through the Professional Development Language Grant programme the foundation provides funding of up to £2,000 to enable Jewish heritage professionals to take an online course in Hebrew or any Jewish language (e.g. Yiddish, Judeo-Spanish). The course must be administered by an institution, whether university, community centre or language school, and must deliver a certificate of attendance.

The Schroder Charity Trust is an independent grant-making Family Trust that has been supporting the charitable and voluntary sector for over 70 years.   The Trust makes grants in the areas of Arts, Culture and heritage; Environment and Conservation; Strengthening Communities; Education, Training and Employment; Health and Wellbeing.

The Arts & Culture Impact Fund brings together public, private and charitable funding to provide affordable repayable finance to the UK’s arts, culture and heritage organisations able to demonstrate measurable positive social impact. The funding could be used, among other things, to acquire new assets, improve built infrastructure, develop new ventures or scale up existing revenue streams.

VisitScotland is the national tourism organisation for Scotland with the aim of contributing significantly to the advancement of Scottish tourism. Through the Beacon Events programme VisitScotland aims to support uniquely Scottish events, which generate tourism benefits, contribute significantly to the Scotland the Perfect Stage impact areas and act as examples of best practice.

VisitScotland is the national tourism organisation for Scotland with the aim of contributing significantly to the advancement of Scottish tourism.   Through the International Events Programme, EventScotland fund major, world-class events which are raising the profile of Scotland’s Perfect Stage around the world.

VisitScotland is the national tourism organisation for Scotland with the aim of contributing significantly to the advancement of Scottish tourism.  The aim of the Scottish Clans & Historical Figures Event Fund is to support the growth of events taking place in Scotland that publicly celebrate clans, recognised families and historical figures using their stories and legacy to bring communities together.

The British Academy is the UK’s national body for the humanities and social sciences – the study of peoples, cultures and societies, past, present and future. Through the Neil Ker Memorial Fund programme the British Academy provides financial support to promote the study of Western medieval manuscripts, in particular those of British interest; that is enabling investigation of their production (including decoration), readership and use in particular.

The British Academy is the UK’s national body for the humanities and social sciences – the study of peoples, cultures and societies, past, present and future. Through the Stein-Arnold Exploration Fund the British Academy provides financial support to encourage the research on the antiquities or historical geography or early history or arts of those parts of Asia which come within the sphere of the ancient civilisations of India, China, and Iran, including Central Asia.

The Dulverton Trust is an independent grant-making charity that supports UK charities and Charitable incorporated Organisations tackling a range of social issues, protecting the natural world, and preserving heritage crafts.  Through its Heritage funding strand, the Trust supports the development of craftsmanship in the traditional techniques of repair and restoration and have a strong interest in heritage skills training, particularly where it may benefit a disadvantaged group; Cathedrals (Trustees generally make one award to a cathedral per year).

The Wolfson Foundation awards grants to support and promote excellence in education, science & medicine, the arts & humanities and health & disability. Through its Funding for Public Engagement with Science Organisations funding stream the Foundation aims to support organisations that are in possession of significant scientific or natural history collections to improve public engagement with science through projects related to the history of science. Grants are generally awarded towards refurbishing or creating new galleries and, occasionally, education and learning spaces.

The Wolfson Foundation awards grants to support and promote excellence in education, science & medicine, the arts & humanities and health & disability. Through its Funding for Libraries and Archives funding stream the Foundation aims to support organisations caring for nationally significant collections and which have a clear emphasis on public access and engagement. Grants are generally awarded towards collection storage facilities and research, education or interpretation spaces.

The Wolfson Foundation awards grants to support and promote excellence in education, science & medicine, the arts & humanities and health & disability. Through its Funding for Historic Buildings and Landscapes funding stream the Foundation aims to support organisations managing sites of outstanding historic, architectural and cultural significance and that have a clear emphasis on public access and engagement. Grants are awarded towards conservation and restoration work, interpretation, and education spaces.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund uses money raised by players of the National Lottery to fund projects that connect people and communities to the national, regional and local heritage of the UK. This could include oral history; cultural traditions; nature; natural and designed landscapes; community archaeology; historic buildings, monuments and environments; collections of objects, books or documents in museums, libraries or archives; etc. Funding is available for repairs and conservation, digital technology, new staff posts, paid training placements and professional fees.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund uses money raised by players of the National Lottery to fund projects that connect people and communities to the national, regional and local heritage of the UK. This could include oral history; cultural traditions; nature; natural and designed landscapes; community archaeology; historic buildings, monuments and environments; collections of objects, books or documents in museums, libraries or archives; etc. Funding is available for repairs and conservation, digital technology, new staff posts, paid training placements and professional fees. Grants range from £3,000 to £5,000,000.

The National Churches Trust is the national charity dedicated to supporting and promoting places of worship of historic, architectural and community value used by Christian denominations throughout the UK through advice, support and funding. The Cornerstone Grant Programme offers grants of between £10,000 and £50,000 towards the cost of urgent structural repair projects costed at more than £80,000 including VAT. The trust will also consider projects that introduce kitchens and accessible toilets (costed at more than £30,000 including VAT) to enable increased community use.

The National Churches Trust is the national charity dedicated to supporting and promoting places of worship of historic, architectural and community value used by Christian denominations throughout the UK through advice, support and funding. The Gateway Grant programme offers grants of between £3,000 and £10,000 towards project development and investigative work up to RIBA planning stage 1, providing support to churches preparing for a major project, and in developing the project to the point at which major grant funders can be approached. Grants will never exceed 50% of the project costs for this phase. Grants are also available to local church trusts to fund projects that support organisational development, increase their capacity to churches in their area or that deliver new ways of supporting churches in their area.

The National Churches Trust is the national charity dedicated to supporting and promoting places of worship of historic, architectural and community value used by Christian denominations throughout the UK through advice, support and funding. The Foundation Grant Programme offers grants of up to £5,000 towards urgent maintenance works and small investigative works costing up to £20,000. Grants will never exceed 50% of the project costs.

The Association of Independent Museums support and champion independent museums, galleries and heritage organisations in the UK. The AIM Training Grants Programme helps to support member museums in developing the skills and expertise of their staff and trustees. Grants of up to £300 are available for course fees, conferences, museum study visits and mentoring placements. Priority will be given to smaller museums receiving fewer than 20,000 visitors per year. Funding can be used for fees, accommodation and travel costs

The Scottish Power Foundation provides support for charities and not for profit organisations across the UK. Funding is available for the following purposes: the advancement of education; the advancement of environmental protection; the advancement of the arts, heritage, culture or science; the prevention or relief of poverty and the relief of those in need by reason of disability or other disadvantage; the advancement of citizenship and community development.

The Cruach Trust is a small Scottish charity that aims to make a difference with its donations. Although the Trust has a preference for supporting gardeners, retired gardeners and for preserving gardens throughout the United Kingdom, donations can be made to a wide range of organisations with charitable objectives in the UK and abroad. Previous grants have been awarded to support horticultural apprenticeships; gardens, wildlife and the natural environment; music, the arts and cultural charities; medical research and support and to organisations working with children, the elderly and vulnerable.

The National Manuscripts Conservation Trust is the only UK grant-giver that focuses solely on the care and conservation of manuscripts in the UK. Grants of £2,000 to £10,000 are available for the cost of repair, binding and other preservation measures, including reprography. Grants may also cover the cost of conservation by commercial conservation studios or the salaries and related expenses of staff specially employed for the project and expendable materials required for the project.

The British Council's Cultural Protection Fund aims to protect cultural heritage in conflict-affected countries. The Fund is designed with UK organisations in mind, but any organisation is eligible to apply. Organisations must be working with; or be in the process of developing partnerships with local partner organisations in one or more of the Fund's current target countries within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, specifically: Afghanistan, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Iraq, Palestinian Territories, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey and Yemen. Application for Small Grants will be assessed on a quarterly basis.

The Rhododendron Trust makes grants of £1,000 to £2,000 to registered charities supporting the disadvantaged in the developing world and the UK and to those supporting the arts and wildlife. Smaller Charities are prioritised. In the developing world, the Trust prefers to support charities benefitting people affected by poverty and, for example, disability, age, gender, ethnic status, poor medical, welfare or educational infrastructure. In the UK, support is given to charities working with those disadvantaged by disability or mental illness; prisoners and ex-offenders; drug addiction; homelessness; carers; the elderly; disadvantaged children. Arts and Nature funding is mainly through the National Churches Trust and Fauna and Flora International, however proposals for small theatre and music projects, for the protection of cultural and natural heritage or environmental sustainability are accepted.

Foundation Scotland is one of 48 community foundations across the UK. The Foundation was established to help people and organisations give to good causes effectively and inexpensively, it is able to support registered and non-registered charities. Support generally falls under the broad heading of community benefit. Foundation Scotland is able to fund a wide range of project costs including revenue and capital cost for small projects, start-up, development and expansion grants for social enterprises and community organisations and mixed grant and loan packages to enable established organisations to play a more meaningful role in community regeneration. The Foundation also manages Community Benefit funds for a number of wind farms across Scotland.

The Foyle Foundation is an independent grantmaking trust that distributes grants to UK charities. It provides grants primarily in the areas of Arts and Learning. The Main Grants Scheme - Learning programme supports charities with projects that facilitate the acquisition of knowledge and which have a long term strategic impact. Key areas for support are: libraries, museums and archives; special educational needs; projects that encourage sustainability by reducing overheads or which help generate additional revenue. Examples of previous funding include: Imperial War Museum - redevelopment of First World War galleries; Lakeland Arts Trust, Kendal - replacement facilities for the Windermere Steamboat Museum and re-open it to the public. The majority of grants will be in the range of £10,000 to £50,000.

The Medlock Charitable Trust makes grants to organisations is the areas of Education &Training ; Medical & Health/Sickness ; Disability & Special Needs ; Accommodation & Housing; Arts & culture; Sport & recreation; Environment, Conservation & Heritage; and Economic, Community Development &Employment. Both primary and secondary schools in the eligible areas are able to apply.

The Historic Environment Support Fund is a small fund used to support various non-recurring heritage related events throughout the year. The fund can support many diverse projects such as providing grants to training, travel and study costs associated with the use of traditional materials, producing heritage publications and supporting community outreach. Applications are considered three times a year (April, August and December).

First World War: then and now is a Heritage Lottery Fund Scheme (HLF)  that provides grants of £3,000 to £10,000 for communities to mark the Centenary of the First World War. HLF want to fund projects which enable communities to understand more about the heritage of the First World War and benefit a wide range of people. In particular,  HLF would like to help young people aged 11–25 to take an active part in the  Centenary commemorations.

Events Scotland is part of Visit Scotland, the National Events Programme plays an integral role in developing domestic tourism across Scotland. Through the programme funding is available to support events (outside of the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow) that showcase Scotland and help to generate tourism. The Programme is a development programme therefore it does not provide long-term or core funding. It is designed to support additional elements or new activity specifically to help events grow. There are three funding deadlines per year, see funders website for details.

The Steel Charitable Trust is a grant-making trust supporting general charitable purposes. The trustees make grants where they believe that their contribution will make a real difference, grants are made to registered charities in the UK within the areas of; arts and culture; environment; health; education; disadvantaged. Grants are made at regular intervals during the year and the total level of grants is approximately £1,000,000, 30% of these grants will be made to organisations in the Luton and Bedfordshire area. Grants are generally made as single payments between £10,000 and £25,000.

The Drapers' Company aims to improve the quality of life and expectations of people and their communities within the UK, particularly those disadvantaged or socially excluded. Most of the support is focused in Greater London and covers the following areas: Social Welfare - including homelessness, prisoners, ex-service personnel, support for the elderly, carers, community and family services, disabled adults; Education and Training - projects which raise the aspirations or help to realise the full potential of disadvantaged young people under 25 years old; Textiles and Heritage - including textile conservation, projects within the textile industry, museums, memorials and monuments relating to the armed forces, history of London or the textile trade. There is no minimum or maximum grant; grants are normally awarded for sums up to £15,000.

The Old Possums Practical Trust Grants aim is to increase knowledge and appreciation of any matters of historic, artistic, architectural, aesthetic, literary, musical or theatrical interest. Grants are more likely to be given for projects that involve: children or young people, disabled or disadvantaged people and communities and those projects which fall within historic, artistic, architectural, aesthetic, literary, musical or theatrical criteria and which enhance the lives of others, rather than the well-being of the applicants themselves. The amount of each grant usually falls within the range of £500 - £5,000. Applications may be submitted at any time.

The Idlewild Trust is a grant making organisation that supports registered charities concerned with the encouragement of the performing and fine arts and crafts, the advancement of education within the arts and the preservation for the benefit of the public of lands, buildings and other objects of beauty or historic interest in the United Kingdom. The Trust awards around £140,000 each year in grants and considers making grants of up to £5,000. In 2020 Idlewild Trust awarded 33 grants totalling £128,055, an average of nearly £3,880.

The Charles and Elsie Sykes Trust Grant focuses on projects for the relief of need, particularly those related to youth, old age, welfare and medicine. It is available to Third Sector Organisations throughout the UK, but with a preference for those benefiting the people of Yorkshire. Applications from schools, playgroups, cadet forces, scouts, guides, and churches must be for outreach programmes, and not for maintenance projects. The categories to which monies have been distributed in 2008; all to registered charities were: Social and moral welfare, Medical research, People with disabilities, Children and youth, Cultural and environmental heritage, Medical welfare, Mental health, Hospices and hospitals, Blind people and those who are partially-sighted, Older people and their welfare and Deaf people and those who are hard of hearing or speech impaired. The grant amounts range from £3,000 - £93,000. Applications can be submitted at any time.

The Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts is the operating office of 18 grant-making trusts established by three generations of the Sainsbury family. Each trust works autonomously as an independent legal entity with a separate board of trustees, actively led by an individual member of the family.
The Headley Trust Grant funds many areas such as Arts, heritage and conservation projects in the UK of outstanding creative or architectural importance. They are also keen to help with repair work to cathedrals, restoration of buildings and development projects in sub-Saharan Anglophone Africa, and Ethiopia (This is not an exhaustive list, please see website). The amount of funding is discretionary and applications can be submitted at any time.

The Clore Duffield Foundation is a grant making charity which concentrates its support on cultural learning, creating learning spaces within arts and heritage organisations, leadership training for the cultural and social sectors, social care and enhancing Jewish life. Through its main grants programme, the Foundation makes grants of between £10,000 to in excess of £1 million to registered charities; the majority of support under this programme is directed towards the cultural sector. Funding is available for capital re-developments as well as project, programme and revenue funding. There is no deadline for the Main Grants Programme and applications are accepting on a rolling basis.

The Charles Hayward Foundation is a grant-making charitable Trust that makes grants to charities and charitable organisations which are registered in the U.K. The Foundation runs two grants programmes: Main grant programme, this focuses on Social & Criminal Justice, Heritage & Conservation and Overseas (UK registered charities undertaking projects in the Commonwealth countries of Africa) and is aimed at charities with an income of more than £350,000; Small Grant Programme, this focuses on Social & Criminal Justice and Older People and is for charities with an income of less than £350,000.