Funding News – 11 December 2023

Your weekly funding news and deadlines update from GrantTracker.

Funding News

Forestry Commission: Tree Production Capital Grant

The Tree Production Capital Grant (TPCG) provides funding to help tree nurseries and seed suppliers invest in projects which improve, expand, automate or mechanise their operations. The grant is open to tree seed and sapling suppliers of all sizes including public sector organisations, environmental NGOs, and community tree nurseries as well as new entrants looking to diversify into the sector. Funding will be split into 2 streams: Stream A: projects valued between £10,000 and £100,000 and Stream B: projects valued at greater than £100,000. Deadline 30 January 2024 (23:55).

Charity Governance Awards

The Charity Governance Awards is an exciting not-for-profit initiative created to celebrate outstanding governance in charities both small and large in the UK. These are the only charity awards that are designed to celebrate trustees, free to enter (with a free awards ceremony), and do not generate profit for the sponsors or partners. Their mission is to celebrate and reward exceptional charity governance, while sharing exemplary work that inspires and informs boards and trustees across the country. The Charity Governance Awards are organised by The Clothworkers’ Company . Cash prize of £5,000. Nominate by 6 February.

Leathersellers Company Charitable Fund: Small Grants

The Leathersellers’ Company Charitable Fund provide a wide range of funding to UK registered Charities, Educational Institutions and University Students. The Small Grants Programme will award grants of up to £5,000 to organisations with an annual income of less than £200,000. Partnerships are encouraged. The number of applications will be capped and accepted on a first-come, first-served basis e.g. the first 45 applications after each round opens will be able to be submitted. 

WCIT Grants

The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists (WCIT) is an IT charity, so all projects they fund must make use of information technology and must relate to one or more of their priority areas - education, inclusion, IT for charities, and public understanding of IT. Projects need to demonstrate an innovative use of IT, be scalable for wider replication, and be sustainable over time. You are eligible for their funding if you are a registered charity, educational establishment or organisation with a formal not-for-profit constitution (such as a community interest company). CICs limited by shares may also apply, Deadline 22 January 2024 (5pm).

Esmee Fairburn Foundation youth-led culture and creativity

Earlier this year, the Esmee Fairburn Foundation announced plans to temporarily close expressions of interest towards youth-led culture and creativity in preparation for a new funding programme in the New Year. They are working closely with their Involving Young People Collective to co-design the criteria for funding towards this outcome, and how they will assess applications. From next year, they will be moving to a funding round with a deadline for applications for youth-led culture and creativity. They plan to launch the new programme in February 2024 and will share details then. If you are interested in keeping updated about this, do sign up to their newsletter, or follow them on social media at LinkedInInstagramThreads and X (formerly Twitter).

Community Foundation for Northern Ireland

  • Telecommunity Fund - The Fund prioritises work with young people, older people and people with disabilities.  Priority is also given to organisations with an annual income of less than £200,000 and to projects that will benefit groups dealing with disadvantage (e.g. rural isolation, low income, social exclusion, reduced access to services), and projects that involve the beneficiaries in their development and delivery.  Grants range from £500 to £2000. Deadline 30 January 2024 (1pm).
  • Crighshane and Churchill Community Benefit Fund - The fund was established to ensure that the Crighshane and Church Hill wind farms provide local benefits and distributes funding to local community projects within 6km of the Wind Farms - Crighshane-Church Hill  Map Funding supports projects addressing issues under these themes: Energy efficiency and sustainability, Social, cultural or sporting benefit for the local community, Educational issues with a sustainability angle, and Environmental benefit or economic benefit. Grants from £1,000 to £5,000. Deadline 12 January 2024(1pm).

CRC Community Relations/Cultural Diversity: Small Grants Scheme

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.  Funding of up to £10,000 is available but it is more typical for £2,000- £3,000 for first application. Deadline 2 February 2024 (4pm).

Upcoming Deadlines

The Armed Forces Covenant Trust: Force for Change Programme

The Force for Change programme will now offer grants up to £15,000 for one-year projects. This is in recognition of the increased cost of living, and the Trust will focus funding on vulnerable Armed Forces communities who are being most impacted. Deadline 13 December 2023 (5pm).

Peter Sowerby Foundation: Breakthrough Open Call

The Foundation awards grants in the areas of Healthcare Innovation, Education & Learning and Community & Environment. They support charities, CICs and registered social and healthcare providers. This is an Open Call to support up to 5 charities to receive initial scale up funding of up to £500,000 for the launch or scale of existing initiatives to tackle the UK’s most pressing health issues through innovation in process, patient care or structural and systemic changes in primary healthcare. Open Organisations with national reach and potential to scale programmes across the UK and a minimum turnover limit of £5m +. Deadline for Expressions of Interest 14 December 2023 (5pm).

Young Gamechangers Fund

The Young Gamechangers Fund is a £4.5m partnership between the Co-op Foundation, Co-op and the #iwill Fund that's putting young people in charge of change. One-year grants of up to £20,000 are available for both individuals and groups or organisations, along with one year of support from their delivery partners, Global Fund for Children and Restless Development. To submit an application, organisation must complete the eligibility check. Last date to access eligibility check 14 December 2023 (application deadline 19 December 2023).

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council Community and Arts Grants programmes

The Council aims to financially assist Community & Voluntary Organisations and Arts Organisations working within the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council area. There are a range of programmes open including: Community Support Grant (grants between £2,500 - £5,500), Seeding Grants (£200), Community Bursaries (£1000), Community Festivals Fund (up to £3,500), Arts Organisations (up to £3000), Making Art in Communities (MAC) (up to £1,500). Deadline 15 December 2023 (noon).

The Big Give: Arts for Impact

Their newest campaign aims to support arts and culture charities working to achieve societal impact across the UK. Arts for Impact Fund utilises their ‘1:1’ model of match funding. Arts and culture charities apply to Big Give, and successful charities are awarded a sum of match funding which is ring-fenced for their organisation. This match funding is unlocked by public donations given through Big Give’s online fundraising platform during the week of the campaign. Charities can seek to raise either £2,500, £5,000 or £10,000 in public donations (to be doubled by the match funds). Deadline 15 December 2023.

Fundraising Support

Save the Date

NICVA is currently planning to host a Funding Fayre 28 February 2024 from 10am to 3pm. There will be a wide range of funders, speakers, and information on offer including a chance to have one-to-ones with funders. Please check our website for further updates.

Fundraising Clinics returning February 2024

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 before February, there may be availability for sessions in December and January. Please contact the Fundraising Advice Officer directly to be considered.

Resources

Explore the Fundraising Hub for a wide range of resources to support your fundraising journey. A few are below:

New Funding for LGBTQ+ Equalkity Announced at First UK LGBTQI Global Giving Summit

New funding for LGBTQI communities worldwide, totalling more than £40 million over the next five years, was announced by the UK Minister of State (Development and Africa), Rt Hon. Andrew Mitchell, at the first UK LGBTQI Global Giving Summit on 22 November 2023. Read more…

Jerwood Foundation merges with Jerwood Charity and sets out future funding plans

Jerwood Foundation, which has been supporting the arts since 1977 has completed the formalities of merging Jerwood Charity into the Foundation, now sets out funding plans.

#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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