Your weekly funding news and deadlines update from GrantTracker.
Funding News
Preference is given to appeals where the Foundation can meet a significant proportion of the funding required and to appeals where permanent equipment or building is required as opposed to funding salaries or the charity running costs. UK-based registered charities will have the opportunity to apply for grants ranging from £1,000 to £10,000 to enhance the lives of people facing social and economic challenges, particularly amongst the sick, elderly, disabled, and disadvantaged populations in the UK. Next application period for charities with an annual income of £250,000 or less 1 September 2023 (closes when 150 applications received). Following application period open to charities in all income brackets from 1 March 2023 (closing when 150 applications received).
Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council: Grand Choice in Castlereagh South DEA
Local residents or groups within the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council have the opportunity to take part in their ‘Grand Choice’ participatory budgeting initiative which offers £1000. The scheme operates throughout the year with varying District Electoral Areas chosen to participate. Your project should take place between and must be within Castlereagh South District Electoral Area. This includes Derriaghy, Harmony Hill, Hilden, Lambeg, Magheralave, Wallace Park. Deadline 17 September 2023.
The Big Give: Christmas Challenge 2024
The Big Give runs the UK’s biggest match funding campaign, The Christmas Challenge. For 7 days, it offers supporters of participating charities the opportunity to have their donation doubled. It has raised millions of pounds for thousands of charity projects since its launch. In 2022, £28.5m was raised for 1,021 charities. Applicants must be a UK-registered charity with a Charity Commission number or tax-exempt status and an annual income of at least £25,000 (as per last filed accounts). Charities must also be registered on BigGive.org (free to register). Watch their video that explains how the campaign works. Opens to applications 13 May 2024.
Thomas Pocklington Trust: Expression of Interest 2023/2024
Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT) is a national charity which supports blind and partially sighted people with a focus on Education, Employment and Engagement. TPT offer grants of up to £10,000 for registered charities across the UK to deliver a broad range of projects and activities that achieve positive outcomes for blind and partially sighted people. In 2023, TPT will consider applications that fall under Collaboration and Sustainability -promoting positive change to improve the capacity and sustainability of the sight loss sector and organisations which work with blind and partially sighted people. The deadline for expressions of interest is 30 September 2023.
ASDA Foundation final Grassroots Grant for 2023 announced
This grant is designed to support a broad range of activities for this age group which can contribute towards transforming the community and improving the lives of children in that community. Groups may apply for one Grassroots Grant per year to a maximum value of £1600 and minimum value of £400. Round 3 applications must be submitted to your local Community Champion between 28th August - 3rd November 2023 and activities must start/take place before 1st March 2024. Funding programme also includes £400 towards festive celebrations. Applications should be submitted to Asda Foundation at least 6 weeks before your activity to give enough processing time. Opens 28 August 2023.
The Henry Smith Charity - Holiday Grants for Children
The purpose of the Holiday Grants programme is to provide access to recreational trips or holidays for groups of children who experience disadvantage or who have disabilities. Grants range from £500 to £2,750. Application deadline for trips between 1 October - 31 December is 17 November 2023.
Upcoming Deadlines
Leeds Building Society Charitable Foundation
Leeds Building Society Charitable Foundation makes donations of up to £1,000 to UK registered charities with a turnover of less than £1m. Their small grants provide funding to projects that support those in need of a safe and secure home. Next deadline 30 August 2023.
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA): Forestry Grants
The Forest Service encourages the creation of new woodlands and the management of existing woodlands by providing grant aid towards the cost of the work.
- The Small Woodland Grant Scheme is specifically for new native woodland planting of 0.20 hectares and larger. The scheme provides a fixed area based payment for woodland establishment, a fencing grant and where eligible annual premia for a 10-year period. Deadline 31 August 2023 (10pm).
- The Forest Expansion Scheme is for new woodland planting of 3 hectares and larger. All woodlands that comply with the UK Forestry Standard are eligible for support. Successful applicants will receive up to 100% of eligible establishment costs and where eligible annual premia for a 10-year period. Deadline 31 August 2023 (3pm).
Offers funding schemes to support young people including a direct funding scheme for individuals via professional referrals. The following schemes deadline is the same – 31 August 2023.
- Project Funding – grants up to £2,500 supporting young people aged 16 years and under to achieve the best start in life.
- Shine Bright Funding - enables charities across the UK to purchase items and resources to protect and support the children they serve through the cost of living crisis. Grants are available up to £1,500 per successful application.
Benefact Group: Movement for Good
Their giving programme has five phases of funding. While nominations are open until 17 December 2023. There are several draws with deadlines. You can nominate as many times as you wish for the £1,000 draws – it’s one nomination per charity, per person. Each draw selects 150 to win this award. Deadline to be included for Draw 2: 6 September 2023 (23:59).
Belfast City Council): Access and Inclusion Fund 2023/2024
This fund is now open for eligible organisations based in Belfast and aims to increase accessibility to and participation in arts, culture, and certain leisure activities, by people with disabilities. The maximum grant available from the Department for Communities through this programme is £30,000. Deadline 15 September 2023 (noon).
Fundraising Support for autumn 2023
Events
Meet the Fundraising Regulator - In Person | NICVA
14 Sept 2023; 10:30am to 1:00pm
This session in NICVA with Fundraising Regulator is an opportunity to hear more about their work, the guidance they provide and how they can support you. It is also a chance to hear about their upcoming review of the Code of Fundraising Practice.
Free Online Introductory Fundraising Workshops for NICVA Members
We are hosting 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.
- Maximising your Income - 20 September 2023; 12:00pm to 12:45pm
- Using your internet channels for better fundraising - 18 October 2023; 4:00pm to 4:45pm
- Communicating your Need - 15 November 2023; 12:00pm to 12:45pm
Training
A Practical Guide to Completing Funding Applications
As the voluntary and community sector face a squeeze on finances from a variety of sources, securing funding is essential but it’s a competitive environment. This in-person event gives a useful overview and the practical advice you need to complete funding applications with a focus on addressing emerging funding priorities.
- 30 November 2023
- 9:30am to 12:30pm
- Paid (£35 members £50 non-members)
Fundraising Clinics
These popular, free fundraising advice clinics provide members with an hour-long chance to discuss and address specific fundraising needs. The sessions can be delivered online, in-person or over the telephone.
Taking place, the last Tuesday in September, October, and November, you can book a slot from 10am until 4pm. See links below:
- 26 September 2023 (only 1 place left)
- 31 October 2023 (3 places left)
- 22 November 2023
Resources
Explore the Fundraising Hub for a wide range of resources to support your fundraising journey. A few are below:
National Lottery funding distributors announce big changes
Both The National Lottery Community Fund and The National Lottery Heritage Fund have launched their new funding strategies. A summary of the changes is provided.
Promoting best practice in fundraising | NICVA
NICVA encourages organisations to follow the Code of Fundraising Practice. This article provides information about The Code and The Fundraising Regulator.
Resources from Fundraising training series May-June 2023 | NICVA
An overview of the fundraising series and links to six resources that were developed from the training sessions. To help share and disseminate the knowledge learnt.
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.
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