Your weekly roundup of funding news and deadlines from GrantTracker.
Funding News
JRCT accepting applications for Northern Ireland and other programmes
The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT) makes grants to organisations and individuals working to produce positive social change through their charitable work. Their mission is to support people who address the root causes of conflict and injustice. For their Northern Ireland programme, they are committed to funding initiatives that advance peace, equality, inclusion, and human. Applications submitted via an account with them. Account registration deadline: 17 February 17. Application deadline: 3 March 2025 at 9am. Other schemes open include Sustainable Future, Peace and Security, and Power and Accountability.
The National Lottery Community Fund: Sustainable Community Buildings
This funding is part of their new strategy. One of their aims is to support communities to be environmentally sustainable. As such, one element of the programme is supporting organisations to learn more about reducing their carbon footprint. They'll be open for applications from 8 January 2025 to 19 February 2025 for organisations with community buildings in the: Belfast City Council, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, and Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council areas. Voluntary or community organisations (with an annual income of less than £500,000) can apply for up to £50,000 (capital funding only).
The Adamson Trust – the disabled children's holiday charity
The Adamson Trust is a long established Perthshire charity based in Crieff. They are able to give financial help with the cost of holidays or respite breaks for disabled children aged between 3 and 17 with physical, mental or emotional impairments. Applications accepted from individual families, on behalf of groups of children, organisations and other registered charities. Applications must be received by December 31 for the February meeting, by March 31 for the May meeting, by June 30 for the August meeting, and by September 30 for the November meeting.
The Veterans’ Foundation provides grants to eligible organisations that provide assistance to serving and former members of the armed forces community, operational qualified seafarers and their immediate families. Applicants can apply to their rolling small grants programme for £500 to £5,000 – next deadline 31 March 2025. Or to their Standard Grants offering £5,001 - £30,000 or Salary Grants for up to £25,000 per year for three years. 2025 deadlines for standard and salary grant applications are 20 January, 31 March, and 21 July. Their Major Grants programme is currently closed.
Ufi’s VocTech Activate grant fund is designed to support the development of early-stage digital tools and approaches with the potential to tackle vocational learning problems and transform how people gain skills for work. Grants between £30,000 and £60,000 for projects lasting between 3 to 12 months are available. Projects must focus on adult vocational learning in the UK (i.e. adults 16+). Opened 6 January and closes 4 February 2025 (5pm). Interested applicants can register for an upcoming workshop to find out more.
Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council: Ending Violence Against Women and Girls Change Fund
Working with the Northern Ireland Executive on the Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) Strategic Framework, the Change Fund will help to mobilise grassroots action, support innovative delivery and maximise the impact of community-led initiatives contributing to the Prevention outcomes of the EVAWG Strategic Framework and will provide grant funding from £1,500 - £25,000 to successful community groups operating within Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough. Applications will be open from 12 noon Monday 6 January until 4pm Friday 31 January 2025.
Upcoming Deadlines
Belfast City Council small grants funding
Small grants for the following schemes closing soon: Community Festival Fund, Arts and Heritage, Good Relations, Park Events, Support for Sport: Sports Events, Support for Sport: Large Development Grant, Support for Sport: Small Development Grant, Support for Sport: Hospitality Grant, Support for Sport: Sporting Individual Grant, and Community Summer Scheme. Their Take 5 Steps to Wellbeing participatory budget initiative offer £2,500 is also closing. Deadline 10 January 2025 (midday).
Community Foundation NI: Acorn Farm NI's 'I Can Grow' Programme
The Acorn Farm Project's ‘I Can Grow’ Programme returns for 2025 - an initiative helping people and families in the Derry/Londonderry and Strabane areas grow their own fresh, healthy vegetables at home. Aiming to create a sustainable urban food system which reduces greenhouse gas emissions and is resilient to the effects of climate change and increases biodiversity, the 2025 ‘I Can Grow Programme’ will span two growing seasons 2025 and 2026. The programme is now open to households living in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area, and there is a short online application to complete here: https://forms.office.com/e/jFzTnV8iYL
The Theatres Trust: UK Theatres Small Grants Programme
Theatres Trust's Small Grants Programme, supported by The Linbury Trust, funds small projects that make a big impact to a theatre’s resilience, sustainability, accessibility, or diversity. This scheme will provide grants of up to £5,000 for essential works to enable not-for-profit theatres across the UK to be viable and thrive in the future. Deadline 17 January 2025 (midday).
Music for All provides grants for both individuals and groups to enable more people to access musical instruments and lessons and music programmes for the community across the UK and Ireland. Grants of £2000 available for a range of projects addressing those dealing with learning and cognitive challenges, facing financial hardship, early years (aged 0-4 years), have physical and mobility needs, or for choral groups. Round 4 now open until 13 January 2025.
Art Fund is offering grants of up to £2,000 to museums, galleries and cultural organisations across the UK who are part of Art Fund’s National Art Pass network. The funding is to join in with an international conversation about climate change through storytelling, activities and community engagement inspired by THE HERDS, a new project from The Walk Productions, creators of the extraordinary journeys of Little Amal. Outreach events to take place across May-June 2025. Deadline 20 January 2025 (midnight).
Fundraising Support
Events
NICVA focuses on Funding in February | NICVA
Every day, thousands of people benefit from the vital services that the voluntary and community sector provides. Committed and skilled fundraisers, paid and voluntary, are fundamental to the sector's ability to deliver, so Funding February aims to support their needs.
We’ll be hosting a wide range of free events and resources throughout the month. Find out more here.
NICVA’s Funding Fayre back for 2025
26 February 2025 - 10:00am to 1:00pm
Our Funding Fayre will be back for 2025. The event which connects voluntary and community organisations with funders and support agencies, is once again, kindly supported by the Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland. Registration now open
Fundraising Hub
Explore the Fundraising Hub for a wide range of articles and resources to support your fundraising journey. A few are below:
Crowdfunder UK launches Foundation to empower philanthropy
Crowdfunder UK have officially launched the Crowdfunder Foundation aimed at helping philanthropists, high-net worth individuals, trusts, and foundations maximise their charitable giving through crowdfunding.
Every year charities in the UK lose out on £564 million as in Gift Aid goes unclaimed. Find out how you can make Gift Aid work better for you.
Supporting the Planet and Your Organisation
Earth Day is celebrated annually on 22 April. But did you know you can encourage donors to support your work while taking environmental action? There are a few options out there to generate additional income for your work or save you the expense by encouraging your supporters and donors to take action on your behalf.
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.