Your weekly roundup of funding news and deadlines from GrantTracker.
Funding News
In 1987, a group of those working in the City decided to hold a fundraising dinner at The Savoy. This proved so successful that they decided it should become an annual event every October - hence The October Club. They fund small and growing charities with donations and legacies, and income arising from charitable activities, of between £750,000 and £2.5m per annum. Their funding is for a transformational project based in the UK. The funds must be used within 3 years. They support one charity each year with an average amount of £500K. £800k was raised in 2025. All completed applications should reach them by the close of business on Friday 6th February 2026.
Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust
JRCT is a responsive grant-making trust that welcome applications for funds under each of these headings: Peace and Security, Power and Accountability, Rights and Justice, Sustainable Future, and Northern Ireland. Recent awards under the Northern Ireland theme ranged from £60,000 up to £140,000. The Trust has published the 2026 funding round dates.
The CARE Grants Programme supports community organisations across the UK to tackle unfairness in cancer care. They want to fund projects that challenge the current system and create lasting change for people facing the greatest barriers to care. In this first round, up to £1.5 million is available, with grants ranging from £50,000 to £150,000. The fund is open now and closes on 23 January 2026.
The Schroder Charity Trust will now be accepting applications in two application windows each year. They will only consider applications under Objective (1): Enabling children and young adults from disadvantaged backgrounds to thrive and achieve their potential in education and employment. And Objective (2): Strengthening communities through services and opportunities which enhance the wellbeing and life outcomes of vulnerable and disadvantaged people. The Schroder Charity Trust typically makes grants of up to £5,000 towards core and project (restricted) costs to charities registered in the UK. The Trust has announced that the application window dates for 2026 will be published on their website by the 31st of December 2025.
The Animal Defence Trust Grants
The Animal Defence Trust makes grants to registered charities working in animal welfare in the United Kingdom and occasionally elsewhere. Grants are available to animal charities who care for animals which have undergone suffering and cruelty before rescue. Grants are given for capital projects or animal protection projects; applications for running costs may be considered where finances are restricted. No specified amount published; in the financial year ending April 2024, the Trust made 47 grants totalling £92,000. Applications are made by post submitted by 31 March each year.
Upcoming Deadlines
Arts Council NI: National Lottery Organisations Digital Evolution Awards
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has opened this funding programme with the aim of upskilling Northern Ireland organisations in the use of new, emerging, and immersive Technology and the creation of excellent Digital Art. Funded by The National Lottery and Future Screens NI, the maximum award will be £10,000. Application deadline 12pm (noon) on 27 November 2025.
Education Authority NI’s funding for Voluntary Youth Organisations now open
Youth organisations can apply for funding across a number of opportunities including Local Area Based, Regional Project, Regional Development and Regional Strategic funding. All regional and local youth organisations who are registered with the EA Youth Service are eligible to apply to a range of funding opportunities to support costs related to staff salaries, programme development and overheads. Deadline 28 November 2025 at 4pm.
Ulster Garden Villages reopens its grantmaking
Based on the current critical issues facing our communities, for the next 18-24 months UGV is focusing its support on the areas of Poverty and Homelessness. Grants range from £750 to, in exception, £1,000,000, depending on the project, the proposed impact and each charity’s size and scope of work. Open to registered charities, their preferred projects will demonstrate active participation and self-help. They should be innovative and developmental with an achievable, practical and sustainable objective. Accepting Expressions of Interest from 1 November to 30 November 2025.
The Boring Fund is a grassroots funding initiative helping small non-profit organisations cover some of the boring but essential costs that keep them running such as insurance, web hosting, admin time, etc - the stuff that’s always so hard to find funding for. The application process is intentionally simple and there's little to no reporting. Each grant is worth £200 and closes for applications 30 November.
National Churches Trust - Treasure Ireland: Winter Ready Grants
The Winter Ready Small Grants Programme has been created by the National Churches Trust, with the support of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, to help churches in Northern Ireland prepare their buildings for the winter months. Grants of between £500 and £3,000 are available to cover the cost of essential maintenance that will help keep churches safe, open, warm, and weather-resilient over winter. This is a time limited, one-off opportunity, to support work that will complete within eight weeks of an award being made. Deadline: 30 November 2025..
Events & Training
An Audience with Darren McGarvey and Festive AGM
5 December 2025 - 10:00am to 2:00pm
Join NICVA for our Christmas Celebration and Annual General Meeting (AGM). The event will offer opportunities for networking, reflection, and inspiration – a chance for members to come together, celebrate our collective achievements, explore our new strategy, and hear from our powerful keynote speaker, Darren McGarvey.
Latest Articles
Fundraising news and opportunities you may have missed
Jocelyn Horton, Fundraising Advice Officer, rounds up some of the key news you may have missed in October. Included is a chance to add your voice to the Department for Economy NI’s latest consultation, opportunities to enhance your fundraising, receive pro bono support worth thousands, and become a Charity of the Year. Also highlighted are important updates from funders, a simple, ethical way to find unwanted goods from businesses, and publications about grantmakers including for Trustees Week 3-7 November 2025, insights into who are the Trustees behind grantmaking trusts and foundations.
New procurement guidelines to cut bureaucracy and save money announced
Finance Minister John O’Dowd has announced updated guidelines to simplify arrangements for grant recipients.
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