Your weekly funding news and deadlines update from GrantTracker.
Funding News
£5 million National Lottery cash to improve NI community buildings
The National Lottery Community Fund has launched a £5 million programme to help community organisations across Northern Ireland make their buildings more energy efficient and save money on bills.
Hospice UK has a range of funding opportunities enabling hospices to expand services, reduces costs of CPD, support your staff, and enhance patient, families, and carer wellbeing through bursary, training, and project funding including Wolfson Foundation Hospice Care Home Training Programme, National Garden Scheme Professional Development Grants, Society for Disabled Artists Bursaries, St. James's Place Charitable Foundation Hospice Grants. Explore their website for more programmes and information.
Laughology: THE HAPPINESS FUND opens
Funding grassroots, neighbourhood-based community projects throughout the UK with a grant of £5,000 twice a year to charities or CICs, the Happiness Fund enables and supports projects which improve mental health and wellbeing, inclusion, learning and skills development in local communities. Ultimately it creates happier people and neighbourhoods - think Holly Willoughby meets Sponge Bob Square Pants. Fund opens 29 February 2024.
Shoosmiths Foundation Grants now open
The Shoosmiths Foundation works to help address societal issues, empower sustainable change and improve the lives of the people and the environment in the UK. UK registered charities can apply during open windows but note the funder may close rounds earlier than the stated deadline if sufficient suitable applications are received. They encourage applications from small charities too to apply for awards of between £25k and £50k to advance a carbon net zero They fund projects such as skills development for UK carbon net zero relevant roles, raising awareness of net zero through training, helping vulnerable people switch to renewable energy sources, etc.
Expressions of Interest for Leathersellers Company Charitable Fund: Main Grants
Their Main Grants programme supports organisations to tackle Adverse Childhood Experiences. They use this term to recognise traumatic events that occur during childhood that can have a significant impact on a person’s physical, emotional, and mental health throughout their life. Apply for up to four years funding of £20,000-£25,000 per annum to charities and CIOs throughout the UK with an annual income of between £200,000 – £2m. The application round will open for expressions of interest on Monday 15th April 2024.
The Trust's two main areas of interest are Projects that demonstrate a Christian approach to the practical, educational and spiritual needs of people of all ages and the adaptation or improvement of Church properties (including new build) with a view to providing improved facilities for use by the church and its work in the community in which it is based. The Trust funds one-off grants for capital expenditure or three-year grants for core costs/project funding.
This cross-border funding Programme is designed to support peace and prosperity across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. Currently accepting applications to the following PEACEPLUS Investment Areas:
- Investment Area 1.1 - Co-Designed Local Authority PEACEPLUS Action Plans
- Investment Area 4.1 - Collaborative Health and Social Care
- Investment Area 2.4 - Smart Towns and Villages
- https://www.seupb.eu/peaceplus/overview/themes-and-investment-areas/theme-2/24-…
- Investment Area 6.1 - Strategic Planning and Engagement
For support, helpful resources, further information, and details of pre-application workshops, visit their website.
Upcoming Deadlines
Grow Wild: Community Project Funding
Grow Wild is offering grants of £2000 to twenty-five groups from across the UK to transform urban spaces for the benefit of people and wildlife by planting and championing UK native plants. Deadline 30 January 2024 (3pm).
The Community Ownership Fund forms part of the package of UK wide levelling up interventions, helping to support recovery, build opportunity and empower communities to improve their local places. This fund helps community groups buy or renovate assets that would otherwise be lost to the community. Eligible groups include incorporated voluntary and community organisations, and parish, town and community councils. Capital funding available: Up to £2 million for all asset types, but they expect that most awards will be for up to £250,000 of capital funding. Round 3, bidding window 3 deadline to submit Expressions of Interest is 31 January 2024 (11:59am (before noon)).
Skipton Building Society Charitable Foundation
Skipton Building Society Charitable Foundation aims to improve the wellbeing, welfare and education of children and adults in communities throughout the UK by making donations of up to £6,000 to registered charities. Next deadline 1 February 2024.
They are open to applications for grants of a value between £300 and £3000. They want to support those organisations and causes that are unpopular or do not receive widespread public attention. This could be due to negative focus within the media; due to difficulty in accessing statutory, voluntary and institutional funding; due to the cause being seen as politically controversial; or because the issue is not typically seen as a charitable cause. Deadline 1 February 2024.
Clothworkers Company: Charity Governance Awards
The Charity Governance Awards are the only charity awards designed to celebrate trustees, are free to enter (with a free awards ceremony), and do not generate profit for the sponsors or partners. Their mission is to encourage and celebrate success in charity governance! Cash prize of £5,000. Deadline 6 February 2024 (noon).
Fundraising Events
NICVA’s Funding Fayre 2024 – RESERVES LIST ONLY
28 February 2024 - 10am to 3pm
Generously supported by the Halifax Foundation of Northern Ireland NICVA’s Funding Fayre 2024 on 28 February from 10am to 3pm has proved popular is now operating a reserves list. We will endeavour to establish as format where we can accommodate as many people as possible.
For an update list of confirmed exhibitors, please visit the event page (click link above). Webpage where you can find details of the activities available on the day.
Please note:
Strike action by the GMB, Siptu and Unite unions is due to take place on February 1st, 15th, 27th and 28th. This event will still go ahead, so please plan your journey taking into account planned strike action.
Fundraising Support
Training
Developing a Case for Support - In Person
21 March 2024 - 10:00am to 1:00pm
This 3-hour session in NICVA aims to support those responsible for fundraising within voluntary and community and who are unfamiliar with the use of Cases for Support in their work.
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. If you wish to secure a Fundraising Clinic please contact the Fundraising Advice Officer directly for availability. considered.
Fundraising Hub
Explore the Fundraising Hub for a wide range of articles and resources to support your fundraising journey. A few are below:
NEW - Equality, diversity, and inclusion in your grant applications
This resource outlines some reasons behind funders wanting organisations to address EDI in the applications alongside advice on broaching the topic in writing, getting started on your journey and where you can find further information on this topic.
Foyle Foundation set to make £23m-worth of grants as it closes after 25 years
The Foyle Foundation will complete its grant giving programme in 2025, marking 25 years of giving to the fields of the Arts, Learning, Community Small Grants, State School Libraries and Health.
After listening to their applicants and grant holders, the Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland are delighted to launch Better Together - their Strategy for 2024-2028 and its accompanying suite of funding programmes.
New hub for UK Grantmaking announced
360Giving announce UK Grantmaking, a new hub for grantmaking data and insights set to launch in 2024. Find out more and learn how you can be involved.
#TicktheBox for Gift Aid – why it’s important
Every year, charities miss out on £560m in unclaimed Gift Aid. As we face a tough funding climate with increasing costs, encouraging your supporters to #TicktheBox means we can make an even bigger difference in these tough times.
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