Your weekly roundup of funding news and deadlines from GrantTracker.
Funding News
Department for Communities: US/NI 250 Funding Programme
In April, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announced funding of £250,000 for organisations to mark the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence in 1776. Applications are now open for £150,000 of this funding to support organisations and individuals across Northern Ireland to celebrate the anniversary next year. Administered by the Ulster-Scots Agency on behalf of the Department, financial support is available for a wide range of projects including community events, cultural exhibitions, educational programmes, storytelling that reflect the shared history and links between Northern Ireland and the United States. Application deadline 17 November at 12pm(noon).
Boxing is Love: New Equipment Fund
UK-registered charity Boxing is Love works with disadvantaged young people aged 11–18, including those at risk of or already excluded from school, those with care experience, or those on the edge of care. Over the next three months, the Boxing is Love Equipment Fund will be giving away free punching bags and offering an additional £10,000 worth of high-quality boxing bags at heavily subsidised rates to UK gyms, charities, and youth organisations that share their values. Applications open now until 9 pm on 10 November 2025.
The Airbnb Best of British Fund will support initiatives across England, Wales and Scotland and Northern Ireland that promote the visitor experience, support local economies and the UK a destination of choice for visitors. The £1 million Fund welcomes applications from recognised groups or organisations, including small businesses, social enterprises, community groups and cultural and heritage groups with eligible UK-based projects falling into one of these categories: Nature & Outdoors, Food & Dining, Music & Arts, and Culture & Heritage. Successful applicants can receive grants ranging from up to £25,000 to £100,000 to help their community attract visitors and create memorable experiences. Deadline 23:59 on 23 November 2025.
Belfast City Council’s Small Grants 2026-27 Tranche 1 now open
The submission deadline for receipt of applications is 12 noon on Friday 9 January 2026. Programmes include Arts & Heritage Grant, Community Festivals Fund Grant, Community Summer Scheme Grant, Good Relations Grant, Parks Events Grant, Summer Scheme for Children with disabilities and/or additional needs, and Support for Sport: Hospitality Grant, Large Development Grant, Small Development Grant, Sporting Individual Grant, and Sports Events Grant. Click link to find out more, register for upcoming information events, and for details of the Social Supermarket Support Fund 2026-28 offering a maximum grant of £50k over two years which closes in December.
The Rural Action Awards for 2025/2026 are open for applications until 20 November 2025. The Awards offer rural community-based organisations in Northern Ireland or the border region of Ireland the opportunity to apply for and secure £1000 or €1000 towards their volunteer led community action project. Eligible groups include constituted organisations, charities, not for profit community groups, sporting and cultural organisations, heritage groups, Parent Teacher Associations, youth groups/clubs and social enterprises. The scheme seeks to support practical, tangible and timebound projects where the project must complete within 12 weeks.
Belfast City Council: Social Economy Incentive Fund 2025
The Social Economy Incentive Fund is open to applications from Belfast-based social enterprises and co-operatives. The fund is for new and growing social enterprises that help address barriers in areas of social deprivation in Belfast. The application process is competitive. Applications close on Tuesday 11 November 2025 at 4pm. Applicants must be available to attend a pitching session on Monday 24 November in Belfast if shortlisted. Two award levels: up to £7,500 and up to £10,000
Upcoming Deadlines
Department for Communities: Northern Ireland Community Infrastructure Fund
The Northern Ireland Community Infrastructure Fund is a small capital grant scheme for voluntary and community organisations. The Fund is a £4.32 million grant scheme to support voluntary and community sector organisations to improve the internal or external fabric of their existing community buildings. The fund is being delivered by the Department for Communities in partnership with Co-operation Ireland. Grants range from a minimum of £10,000 up to a maximum of £50,000. Expressions of Interest close on 29 October 2025.
Sport NI: Sports Systems Investment – New Governing Bodies
Sports Systems Investment – New Governing Bodies is a funding programme specifically targeting Recognised sports organisations who have not been eligible to apply for funding through the Sports System Investment – Governing Bodies element of National Lottery funding. This investment is to help Recognised governing bodies, not currently funded in the sector, to have stronger systems in place. There is a focus on contributing positively to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) with under-represented groups, and particularly for women and girls in sport. A total programme budget of £150,000 is currently available with up to a maximum individual award of £20,000. The programme will close for applications on 31 October 2025.
The Magdalen Hospital Trust offers grants to promote the welfare of young people (of both genders), under the age of 25 years affected by social deprivation, abuse, mental and physical handicap, inadequate housing, lack of education or training, and the problems derived from unemployment and broken families. UK-based charities working with vulnerable children and young adults, especially those at risk of sexual and other forms of exploitation can apply for project funding from £500 up to £2000. Next deadline 31 October 2025.
King Charles III Charitable Fund: Small Grants
The King Charles III Charitable Fund Small Grants Programme awards small grants of up to £3,000 per year, for up to three years, to approximately 100 UK registered nonprofit organisations each year. The small grants programme is now open applications for projects / activities across their education and heritage and conservation funding themes. The themes this application window are Education and Heritage and Conservation. Open to registered organisations with an annual income of between £25,000 and £500,000. Deadline 31 October 2025 at 12pm(noon).
Friends of the National Libraries
Grants are available for collecting institutions to acquire rare books, manuscripts and archives that they would not otherwise have the resources to purchase. Grants typically range from £200-£20,000 towards the cost of acquisition. Eligible organisations include The National Libraries and the libraries of national museums, record offices and archives services, university and specialist libraries, and any museum, gallery or collecting institution to which the public has reasonable access and which, in the opinion of the Trustees, constitutes a proper repository for the proposed acquisition. Next deadline 1 November 2025.
Fundraising Support, Events & Training
Chartered Institute of Fundraising in Northern Ireland Autumn Forum
Tuesday, 4 November from 09:00 – 12:30 at NICVA, Belfast
This Forum will focus on two key areas of fundraising for the year ahead:
Navigating the New Fundraising Code and Keeping Volunteers Inspired
Tickets: Members £14 / Non-members £20
Latest Articles
BBC Children in Need update to pause in grantmaking
BBC Children in Need announced they were to pause applications to their grants programmes while they transitioned to a new grantmaking system. Initially planned to launch their new system by the end of September, it will now launch by the end of October 2025 along with changes to policies affecting who can apply to BBC Children in Need.
Paul Hamlyn Foundation announce Arts Fund not accepting new applications
Instead of opening for new applications, the Foundation will give out the same amount of funding through renewing existing grants and reconsidering applications received over the past year.
Rosa, the UK Fund for Women and Girls, launches new strategy
Rosa’s bold new three-year strategy, Creating lasting change for women and girls, aims to help them continue their mission to fund and champion the UK’s women and girls sector.
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