Funding News – 09 December 2024
Your weekly roundup of funding news and deadlines from GrantTracker.
Funding News
Community Foundation: Micro Community Investment Fund
The Micro Community Investment Fund has been launched in partnership with Bank of Ireland and Comic Relief, in recognition and celebration of the contribution of voluntary groups and people to our society and the need for a simple application process for small amounts of funding. The fund will enable those organisations who are making the lives of others in their communities better, by improving their financial, physical, and mental wellbeing. Grants up to £1,500. Ongoing deadline.
The 7 stars Foundation funding programmes now open
The Foundation awards grants to charities supporting young people, aged 16 years and under, across the UK. Three schemes are open to Northern Ireland based entities including Shine Bright offering grants up to £1,5000, Individual Funding for individuals represented by a safeguarding, legal, social, or outreach referee, and Social Impact with grants of up to £1,500 aligned to publicised awareness days (upcoming are Race Equality Week and Children’s Mental Health Week). Deadline 5 February 2025.
NTR Wind Farm Community Benefit Funds
The NTR Community Funds were established to support projects, groups and organisations neighbouring their wind farms. The funds aim to support community based projects which contribute to the overall development of these areas. The NTR Community Benefit Funds 2024 (excluding Murey Wind Farm), are now closed applicants can expect to hear the result of their application by the end of January 2025. The NTR Murley Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund 2024, opening and closing dates are as follows: Opening Date: Tuesday 5th November 2024. Closing Date: Friday 17th January 2025. Applicant Response: February end 2025.
The Henry Smith Charity - Holiday Grants for Children
They fund schools, youth groups, and non-profit organisations planning one-time trips for children aged 13 and under. They prioritise fun and new experiences, such as camping, adventure activities, or visits to the seaside. The trips are for children experiencing financial hardship, systemic inequity, or living in areas of high deprivation. They also consider applications for children with disabilities. Grants are £500 – £2,750 per trip. Deadlines are at least 5 weeks before the trip date, see Funding Guidelines for the submission dates.
Community Relations and Cultural Diversity Funding Programme open
The Community Relations Council, with the support of Government, has established a fund to spend each year on community relations projects. This funding is intended to help community/voluntary groups throughout Northern Ireland develop their capacity to engage in community relations work and to enhance the community relations potential of projects they undertake. Grants are up to £10,000 maximum and for project costs only. Average grant is £2,000 - £5,000. Next deadline 31 March 2025 (4pm).
Upcoming Deadlines
Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council: Making Art in Communities (MAC) 2025/26
The Council’s Making Art in Communities (MAC) Arts Grants Scheme has been designed to support community groups in the delivery of arts events, projects or activities, which take place in the Council area through the provision of direct grants. Up to £1,500 is available. Deadline 13 December 2024 (noon).
Woodward Charitable Trust: General Grants
The Woodward Charitable Trust only makes grants for core costs rather than specific projects as they recognise that smaller charities can find these hard to fund. Trustees only fund organisations that support at least one of the following three target groups and particularly look to fund projects that help families and young people and that are aiming to improve the life chances of their beneficiaries. Children and Young People (up to 25 years), Disadvantaged Families, and Prisoners and Ex-Offenders. Deadline 13 December 2024 (noon).
The Ulverscroft Foundation supports projects (both UK and overseas) which will have a positive effect on the quality of life of visually impaired people, or people with a print disability. Applicants don’t have to be from a charity, they can be a CIC or social group. The Foundation supports a wide range of grants, ranging from around £100 to £500,000. Next deadline 15 December 2024.
Ironmongers Foundation - Charities
The Ironmongers’ Company wishes to support projects that provide opportunities for disadvantaged children and young people to fulfil their potential. Registered charities can apply for grants which range from a few hundred pounds up to around £10,000. The average grant awarded is £4,000. Next Projects must meet all of the following criteria: For children and young people under the age of 25 who are disadvantaged, consist of educational activities that develop learning, motivation and skills, have clear aims and objectives to be met within a planned timescale, and are within the UK. Next deadline 15 December 2024.
Arts Council of Northern Ireland: Annual Funding Programme 2025/26
The aim of the Annual Funding Programme (AFP) is to support Northern Ireland’s arts infrastructure through grants to organisations in all artforms and practices for their core and programming costs. You can apply for one year funding only. Deadline 20 December 2024 (noon).
Fundraising Support
Events
NICVA’s Funding Fayre back for 2025
26 February 2025 - 10:00am to 1:00pm
We are delighted to announce that 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.
Register to attend today to have a chance to:
- Connect with funders and support agencies
- Gain advice and support
- Network with other organisations
Find out more here.
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 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.
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.