Find a Funder: Local and National opportunities
General Advice about Funding
There are many small and large sources of funding across the UK. But first you need to know exactly what you want to do. Many funders will only work with certain projects, like the arts, or young people, and so on. You also need to know how much money you are asking for. Funders often have restrictions on how much they’ll give. You’ll need to have a bank account for the group. You won’t always need to be a charity.
Groundwork has some excellent and simple advice about applying for funding. We also have our own advice in a separate document.
Government’s funding finder To find out about specific funding from your local council, in England and Wales, use the Governments funding finder and put your postcode in the box. It will take you to the right page on your local council’s website.
My Funding Central will email you regularly with funding news when you sign up for the free account.
Community Foundations covers most of the UK. Put your postcode in, and it’ll find your nearest Community Foundation. These are groups which help small organisations to find money.
First, you need to be clear about the outcomes of your project. Different funders have different priorities, and this means that they will fund your project only if you have the same goals as they do.
Funders need to be sure that your project really will make a difference. They don’t want to waste money. You must have evidence to show that your project is important. You can do this in a few ways:
- Ask people who are involved and record their answers. Use their quotes.
- Use statistical information (facts and numbers). Start with the websites for your local council, local authority, police or health authorities. Use reliable sources such as Government reports.
- Use letters of support from other groups, local councillors, the police, and schools.
- Show links with local and regional strategies or government project aims.
Local Funding Opportunities for community groups, small charities and not-for-profits
Last updated 12.09.24
Each listing shows how much the grant is, who can apply, briefly what it's for and the deadline.
Learn more about how to apply in the resources section below. Go for it and good luck!
Useful Links to Larger Funding Opportunities
The websites listed below are worth checking for funding opportunities. Housing associations around the UK also often fund local projects. Major banks all have various funds available for local and national projects and Crowdfunding might also be a choice for smaller projects.
Funding and Consultancy Advice
Lists of Funders & Crowd Funding
If you prefer to look at a book, you can use The Directory of Grant Making Trusts. It’s published every year by The Directory of Social Change, and it’ll usually be in your local library.
Grants Online lists new grants available across the UK. The list updates every day.
GrantFinder also lists funding across the UK. That link goes to their community development grants, but also look at other sections. These might be:
- Arts, Culture and Heritage Funding.
- Environmental Grants, Grants for Children.
- Young People and Families.
- …and maybe some of the others, depending on how specialist your project is.
Charity Excellence has a free Funder Finding Database.
Spacehive Crowd Funding: Spacehive help communities raise funds to improve their local areas: everything from spruced up playgrounds and new street markets, to city farms and learning hubs. Examples are shown on the link with advice throughout.
Resources
Hannah Bunn
National Lottery Heritage Fund
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