Your weekly funding news and deadlines update from GrantTracker.
Funding News
National Lottery Heritage Fund now offering up to £10m
National Lottery Heritage Fund have increased the upper limit of their National Lottery Grants for Heritage to support larger-scale heritage projects across the UK. This increase, the first increase in twenty years, aims in part to offset some pressures of inflation and the cost-of-living crisis as well as enabling investment in more ambitious heritage projects that share their belief in the power of heritage to bring people together, build pride in place and connection to the past. 2023–2024 is a transition year ahead of full implementation of Heritage 2033. They will be making changes to their approach in stages - this increase is their first change.
Arts Council NI: National Lottery Arts and Older People
The National Lottery Arts & Older People Programme aims to strengthen the voice of older people and promote positive mental health and emotional wellbeing through the arts. Open to non-governmental organisations, Local Authorities and arts organisations demonstrating partnership approach with the target groups they plan to engage with and have the support from them in the delivery. To ensure a strong advocacy message there will be an opportunity to showcase the projects funded throughout the year. Applicants should endeavour to build this into their project programme and budget. Grants from £1,000 to £10,000 are available. Deadline 17 July 2023 (noon).
International Tree Foundation: UK Community Tree Planting
ITF’s UK Community Tree Planting Programme supports grassroots community engagement in tree planting. ITF provides financial support for community tree planting projects, with expert consultation and advice for projects that need it. This may include help with project design, species selection, ground preparation, and so on. There are two funding levels: Small scale: A maximum of £1,000 for projects of up to 1 year in duration. And Larger scale: Projects to range from 1000 - 10,000 trees, with a maximum price equivalent to £1.50/tree (inclusive of tree protection).
Inclusive Communities: The Phoenix Green Community Fund
In 2023, they're utilising the Green Community Fund to support community groups and organisations across the licence area with funding to help them deliver activity that helps to improve our environment and tackle the climate crisis in some way, no matter how big or small. The Green Community Fund is currently open, with applications reviewed and funding awarded on a monthly basis. Activities must be scheduled to take place between 1st June 2023 – 1st April 2024.
The Fibrus Play It Forward Fund exists to support non-profit voluntary and community groups, organisations, and charities in Northern Ireland and Cumbria to provide financial support for their children’s sports projects or initiatives. The Fund strives to encourage children to switch off from their devices more often, get active, and get outdoors – improving their health and wellbeing. Organisations can apply for up to £1000 of funding. Deadline 27 June 2023.
Community Foundation Northern Ireland: The Cooper Richardson Fund
Jack Cooper and his son-in-law Paul Richardson both died in 2022. This fund was set up by their family to honour Jack and Paul and the generous nature that they shared. With a shared love of sports, the fund offers applicants grants ranging from £1,000 to £2,000. The fund also supports arts and music. Deadline 19 June (1pm).
The Rural Action Awards offers rural community-based organisations in Northern Ireland or the border region of Ireland the opportunity to apply for and secure £1000 or €1000 towards one volunteer led community action project. Deadline 20 June 2023.
Upcoming Deadlines
National Express Foundation: Community Grant Scheme now UK wide for 2023
To help groups that support young people continue to build back from the pandemic, the trustees of the Foundation have chosen to make their 2023 funding UK wide. They are asking community groups to apply for specific sums of money, saying what they could deliver for either £1,000, £2,500 or £5,000. Your application should clearly set out what you could achieve if you were awarded the money. Deadline 6 June 2023.
The Slieve Rushen Wind Farm Fund is a community fund managed in conjunction with the Fermanagh Trust. The fund is open to community and voluntary organisations/projects which are not politically affiliated, and which are located within a 12 km radius of the Slieve Rushen Wind farm. For 2023, applicants can apply for one-off grant aid up to a maximum of £2,000 to support community initiatives taking place up to 31 March 2024. Or capital projects up to a maximum of up to £8,000 per annum in any financial year, over a 3 year period which will have a lasting legacy on the lives of people living in the area. Deadline 9 June 2023 (noon).
W G Edwards Charitable Foundation
The W G Edwards Charitable Foundation is an independent grant-making charity, which assists with the provision of care for older people. The Foundation assists with capital projects, refurbishment and equipment in addition to innovative schemes for ongoing care. Grants usually between £1,000 to £3,000, with the average grant being £1,700. Next deadline 10 June 2023.
Supporting projects that help make communities fairer for everyone, you can apply if you're a not-for profit group, wanting to fund a specific project that benefits your local community. If your funding application is successful, they'll work with you for 12 months which is also the period of giving for their members. The more members that shop with Co-op and choose to support your project, the more funding you will receive. Apply by 11 June 2023 (midnight). To estimate how much funding you could receive, enter the postcode on their website.
Poundland Foundation: Kits-for-Kids
The Poundland Foundation supports organisations working to transform communities and change lives across the UK. Grants available to support sport kits for children. Grants of up to £750 each to provide kits for local kids' sports teams. Deadline 13 June 2023 (5pm).
Fundraising Training
Cost of Living Fundraising Series for May and June – FREE
NICVA's Fundraising Advice is delighted to be able to offer a wide range of FREE training sessions as part of our response to the Cost of Living Crisis throughout May and June. With a wide range of topics and a variety of trainers, you can sign up to any or all of the sessions and enhance your fundraising knowledge. One person per organisations (additional people will be added to the reserves list).
- Developing a Case for Support - 8 June 10am-1pm In-person at NICVA with Jocelyn Horton, Fundraising Advice Officer, NICVA
- A Practical Guide to Completing Funding Applications - 14 June 1pm-4pm ONLINE with Jocelyn Horton, Fundraising Advice Officer, NICVA
To read more about past training events visit:
On 9th May 2023, Glenn Oakes, Caboodle Fundraising, facilitated two training sessions as part of the Cost of Fundraising series, supported by the Department for Communities. Below is a summary of these two events including a PDF of the slide presentation from each.
- Developing a Fundraising Strategy - summary and presentation
- Building Support from Donors and Volunteer Fundraisers - summary and presentation
On 25 May 2023, Denise Cranston, Head of Partnerships Practice at 2into3 and Louise Heatley, Head of Alice Public Relations NI, delivered a training session on Developing Corporate Partnerships and the Importance of Communications.
Described as an “excellent session to gain understanding of what the funder wants” and “helpful insight to prospective funder,” by two of the attendees, NICVA Fundraising Advice had the pleasure of hosting Sonja Forbes Grant Manager at Pilgrim Trust on 16th May to give an overview of the Trust and their Young Women’s Mental Health programme.
On 31 May 2023, Stephen McGarry, from Work West Enterprise Agency led the session Introduction to Social Enterprises.
Fundraising Clinics – June 2023
These popular, free fundraising advice clinics provide members with an hour-long chance to discuss and address specific fundraising needs and can be delivered online, over the telephone or face-to-face.
In June, there will be three slots available in total on the following dates – 20th, 21st, 27th or 28th June 2023. Find out more and secure your slot here.
These Clinics are part of our response to the Cost of Living Crisis, supported by the Department for Communities.
Fundraising Hub
NICVA Fundraising Advice has a range of articles from contributors supporting fundraising alongside a range of topics. See a few below:
Guest Blogs
Celia Currie, Stakeholder and Policy Manager for Northern Ireland, reflects on the importance of volunteers in fundraising and why it's important for charities to understand what type of fundraising is being carried out.
Paul Montgomery, Chair of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising Northern Ireland gives an overview of the work they do and how you can get involved. Plus, Paul invites you to celebrate and recognise the incredible work of local fundraisers in the Northern Ireland Fundraising Awards 2023.
Mark Creaney, from The National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF), talks about how the largest community funder across the UK is supporting communities who are seeking to minimise their impact on the environment.
Digital Fundraising
NICVA hosted the #Digitalfundraising series in December 2021, consisting of 6 webinars. This article provides the webinar recordings and resources as well as other resources linked to the topic of digital fundraising. Many of the tips, concerns, and advice are still relevant, so if you are looking to gain insights into developing your digital fundraising from Cancer Focus NI, Concern Worldwide, the Fundraising Regulator, Chartered Institute of Fundraising, ProfileTree, Supported Giving and more visit the link below.
Get ahead with GrantTracker and access over 1000 funding schemes in NI's leading database. Just £100 a year for NICVA members and £145 for non-members. Sign up here.