Funding News – 19 June 2023

Your weekly funding news and deadlines update from GrantTracker.

Funding News

Special EU Programmes Body: PEACE PLUS 2021-27 – 7 calls now open

PEACEPLUS funding supports 6 themes aimed at investing in efforts to inspire, equip and connect people to establish sustainable projects. The Programme will help to address long standing social and economic challenges which have, and continue to impact on communities, particularly those in rural border areas whilst recognising the ongoing challenges that exist in urban settings throughout the region. Seven calls are currently open including Youth Programme, Shared Learning Together, Re-Imagining communities, and more. More open calls to be announced. Deadlines vary.

The Henry Smith Charity: Strengthening Communities

This grant programme supports small, grass roots organisations with an income of between £20k – £500k. Organisations are embedded in the community, working within the most deprived areas of the UK. They fund established organisations with a track record of delivering services directly to beneficiaries and want to fund work that enables: People from across the community to participate in activities which improve connectedness, opportunities and wellbeing, People who are excluded, vulnerable or facing other forms of hardship to have access to community-based services that support positive lasting change, and A stronger, active, more engaged community. Grants £20k – £70k per year over 3 years with no deadlines to submit applications. Funding covers running costs. They primarily fund registered charities but are willing to make grants to other types of not for profit organisations, such as Community Interest Companies (CICs) or constituted community groups.

Sports Governance Academy (SGA): Board Development Fund

The SGA Board Development Fund enables UK organisations to access development training from SGA which can be customised, if required, and delivered in-house. The fund allows organisations successful in the application process to identify areas of need or areas of particular focus for them which not catered for by existing training provision. Fund now open. Closing date will be announced shortly.

Matthew Good Foundation: Grants for Good Fund

Grants for Good invites local charities, voluntary groups or social enterprises that have an average annual income of less than £50,000 to apply to them for funding. Every three months, the Foundation will share £15,000 between 5 shortlisted projects that have a positive impact on communities, people or the environment. Next deadline 15 September 2023.

AIM’s New Stories New Audiences now open

Funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund, New Stories New Audiences is open to all AIM members in the small museum category (up to 20,000 visitors). They will fund projects up to £15,000. Funding will support projects that result in a wider range of people being involved in heritage in an organisation, and projects where a new story has been identified and some research into identifying a new audience has already been undertaken. 

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: Transformational Grants programme

The Transformational Grants programme is a highly specialised programme. It will make a small number of grants to create systemic change for Armed Forces communities. Grants of up to £300,000 are available. Round 2 Expressions of Interest deadline 14 August 2023 (5pm).

Upcoming Deadlines

RURAL ACTION AWARDS 2023/2024

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.

ESB: Hunters Hill Wind Farm Community Fund

Applicants must be within a 7.5km radius of Hunters Hill Wind Farm, Fintona, County Tyrone.   The fund will prioritise applications from local community groups and organisations from within the area of benefit. Typically, the award value is between £500 and £5000. Deadline 23 June 2023 (noon).

QBE Foundation Grants

The QBE Foundation is inviting eligible charities working to address Climate Resilience and Inclusion to apply for a grant of up £25,000. The Foundation offers grants to registered charities with a focus on the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 8: Decent Work & Economic Growth, SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, SDG 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities, and SDG 13: Climate Action. Deadline 27 June 2023.

National Lottery Heritage Fund: Heritage Development Trusts

This capacity building programme is a strategic partnership between the Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, providing resources to charities and social enterprises to make a positive and lasting impact on heritage in their areas. The type of support will vary depending on the stage of development of each Trust and its individual needs but, in summary: Revenue funding of between £55,000 and £70,000 per year, for three years, from January 2024; Access to support from consultants, eligibility to access other funding programmes, and mentoring. Expression of Interest deadline 26 June 2023 (9am).

Fundraising Training

NEW - Free Online Introductory Fundraising Workshops for NICVA Members

Throughout Autumn 2023, we will host a series of FREE workshops for NICVA members introducing a different fundraising topic or aspect of fundraising.

These sessions are an opportunity to find out about an area of fundraising that's new to you, top up your existing knowledge, or be a snapshot into an element of fundraising you'd like to explore. Each workshop is led by NICVA’s Fundraising Advice Officer.

Upcoming Topics

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

Resources

NICVA's Fundraising Advice provided a wide range of FREE training sessions as part of our response to the Cost of Living Crisis throughout May and June. You can read more about these events in our resources below:

Guest Blogs

NICVA Fundraising Advice has a range of articles from contributors supporting fundraising alongside a range of topics. See a few below:

Guest Blog: Fundraising Regulator - Volunteer fundraising: understanding the difference between ‘in aid of’ and ‘on behalf of’ | NICVA

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.

Guest Blog: The Chartered Institute of Fundraising in Northern Ireland | NICVA

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.

Guest Blog: The National Lottery Community Fund - remember to consider your environmental impact when applying for funding

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.

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