Your weekly funding news and deadlines update from GrantTracker.
Funding News
Fermanagh Trust Wind Farm funding
Several programmes are currently open to voluntary and community groups within the vicinity of the windfarms. Callagheen Community Wind Farm Fund closes 1 November 2023 (noon) and offers grants up to £3,000. Cornavarrow and Slieveglass Wind Farms Community Benefit Fund up to £4,000 (small grants) and up to £5,000 per annum over 3-5 years (strategic projects), and Teiges Mountain Wind Farm Community Fund offers revenue grants of up to £3,000 (small grants) and up to £5,000 per annum over 1-3 years (strategic projects). Both close 6 November 2023 (noon).
Good Things Foundation: National Databank
The National Databank provides free mobile data, texts and calls to people in need via Good Things Foundation’s network of local community partners. Like a ‘food bank’ but for internet connectivity data. Community organisations can apply to access the databank, enabling them to provide data to people in their communities who need it. The National Databank is open to community organisations who are members of Good Things Foundation’s Online Centres Network. Joining their network is free and gives you access to support and resources. However, you are welcome to join just to access the National Databank. Opens to applications 2 October 2023.
Shared Island Civic Society Fund now open
The Shared Island Civic Society Fund is an initiative to promote practical North South cooperation and engagement across a range of sectors and themes, consistent with the objectives and commitments of the Good Friday Agreement. This initiative will up to make 1 million euro available in January 2024 to organisations working on North South projects across a range of sectors. They particularly welcome applications for grants of up to €10,000 from small community based organisations. Other funding awards of up €25,000 per successful project will generally be made, with scope for awards of a maximum of €50,000 where necessary for larger projects. Deadline 23 October 2023 (1pm).
Live Here Love Here: Marine Litter Capital Grants
The Marine Litter Capital Grants is now open, supporting organisations and groups to purchase items that: Prevent litter and plastic pollution from entering the marine environment, Enhance the environmental management of a local area to reduce marine litter, Improve the health and wellbeing of communities and marine biodiversity recovery by helping to improve and/or maintain the quality of public open spaces, and Improve the quality of their local environment by changing behaviour through creative concepts to reduce the incidence of littering. Grants are available across the whole of Northern Ireland and are not restricted to coastal areas. However, the funding is specifically targeted at preventing marine litter. Financial support of between £500 and £40,000 will be available to constituted groups, businesses and statutory bodies meeting the eligibility criteria. Financial support of between £500 and £5,000 will be available to non-constituted groups.
Genetic Disorders UK: Jeans for Genes Grants
Their funding aims to empower and strengthen organisations working closely within the genetic condition community so that every individual living with a genetic condition in the UK, and their families, can access the right support at times when it is needed most. They offer grants for core costs to front line, genetic condition charities previously funded by Jeans for Genes with single year grants of up to £3,000 towards. They also offer project grants of up to £3,000 for one year to genetic condition specific charities. The Jeans for Genes grant programme is open for applications between 2 October and 13 November 2023.
Grand Plan are a group of creatives. They award £1,000 grants to creative people of colour based in the UK who want to make a new cultural project happen. It can be anything from: poetry, paintings, fashion, zines, music, food, flowers, photographs to workshops or events – anything you want and the funding can cover whatever your project needs are including travel, equipment, and your time. Deadline 9 November 2023 (11pm).
Upcoming Deadlines
The Arts Award Access Fund provides small grants between £100 and £1500 to registered Arts Award centres in the UK who are working with young people who face barriers to access and inclusion, and who will use the grant to support them to pilot, embed or develop their Arts Award work with these groups. Deadline 6 October 2023.
The Leche Trust provides funding of up to £5,000 to UK registered charities, public authorities or institutions in the areas of the Performing Arts with grants typically around £4,000, and Heritage Conservation with grants are typically around £2,000 and under £5,000, but occasionally larger. Deadline 6 October 2023.
National Churches Trust: Grants for Northern Ireland
National Churches Trust' s new Treasure Ireland project provides a new Community Grants Programme which offers your church or chapel funding of between £500 and £10,000 for church maintenance or urgent repair work. They will consider applications from listed and unlisted Christian places of worship, of any denomination, that are located in Northern Ireland. To enquire about support for a place of worship, contact Nina McNeary Church Support Officer for Northern Ireland at the National Churches Trust on 07922 425 089 or email [email protected]. Deadline 6 October 2023 (midnight).
Arts Council NI: Young People & Wellbeing Arts Programme
The programme aims to improve the mental health and wellbeing of young people by engagement in high quality arts. Projects should aim to include young people experiencing higher levels of disadvantage or exclusion and may include more vulnerable groups such as those living with a mental health condition, eating disorders or addiction. Open to non-governmental organisations, Local Authorities and arts organisations who can clearly demonstrate partnership working. Grants up to £10,000 are available. You can apply for up to 100% of the eligible costs of the project. Projects can be up to 1 year duration. Deadline 10 October 2023 (noon).
The £150 million Community Ownership Fund is for communities across the United Kingdom and will provide financial support to communities to take ownership of assets, amenities and facilities at risk of being lost but have value for the local people and place. It will run for 4 years. This window and future ones will now include an extended maximum funding level, increasing from £1million to £2million. Open to incorporated voluntary and community organisations, CICs, CIOs, Co-operatives including Community Benefit Societies, and now also parish, town and community councils. Apply for capital and revenue funding. Deadline 11 October 2023 (11:59am).
Fundraising Support for autumn 2023
Events
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.
- 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:
- 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:
The partnership between Meta and PayPal Giving Fund to handle the processing of charitable donations means UK organisations need to act to avoid disruption to their fundraising on Facebook and Instagram. Fundraisers should also note that processing fees will now be incurred.
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.
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.