Funding News – 28 October 2024
This week's roundup of funding news and deadlines from GrantTracker.
Funding News
Big Gives’ Arts for Impact opens 28 October
This is a seven-day online match funding campaign supporting arts and culture charities working to achieve societal impact across the UK, run in partnership with New Philanthropy for Arts & Culture (NPAC). The Fund utilises their 1:1 match funding model. Open to registered charities with an annual income of at least £25,000, charities can seek to raise either £1,000, £2,500, £5,000, or £10,000 in public donations (to be doubled by the match funds). For a small number of charities (which have an annual income of above £1m as per last filed accounts), they will consider targets up to £20,000 (to be doubled by match funds).
Alpkit, an outdoors clothing and equipment retailer, only exists because of our wild places and the people that make them. Alpkit Foundation is their payback, their social dividend to protect the places we love for everyone to enjoy. They make small awards that help work to remove barriers in getting outdoors and experiencing wild places. They particularly like to support projects that encourage responsible outdoor activity, have long lasting benefits, introduce new people to get outdoors, and demonstrate value for money. Trustees meet every two months to consider applications. There's no limit to the number of times you can receive an award. Where possible, please apply at least 3 months before the start of a project.
Foyle Foundation Small Grants now closing 31 January 2025
Earlier this year, NICVA Fundraising Advice reported on the Foundation's decision to make £23m-worth of grants as it closes after 25 years. Initially the planned cutoff date for applications to the Small Grants Scheme was April 2025. However, due to unprecedented demand, they will stop accepting new applications to the scheme on 31 January 2025. You can apply at any time up to the final cut off dates but note that all projects/activities need to be completed by the end of 2025 to be eligible for consideration.
Austin and Hope Pilkington Trust
The Austin and Hope Trust gives grants to UK registered charities that work with communities in the UK. They award four times a year under different programme themes. In 2025, Grant Rounds 1 (opens 1 February 2025) and 2 focus on The Arts: Improving Access. Applications from performing arts projects that improve audience access and participation are sought. They won’t consider applications from non-performing arts projects, or projects focussing on performers. Grant rounds 3 and 4 support Refugees and Asylum Seekers – further details will be published early 2025.
Belfast City Council Small Grants now open
The Council’s Small Grants programme is now open until 10 January 2025 (noon) covering events, festivals, arts and heritage, sports, and community summer scheme. They are hosting a number of information sessions, both in person and online, in October and November – visit the link for more details.
Upcoming Deadlines
The Tabhair Trust is passionate about nurturing small to medium sized charities. They welcome applications from charities that combine support services with enterprising mission to improve social wellbeing and employment opportunities in the lives of the disengaged and disadvantaged. Applications can be made for individual projects or core costs. Where core costs are requested, the maximum commitment considered would be 3 years. The Trust is interested in funding local and national work within the UK/ Ireland region. Grants will range in size, with most grants awarded being in the range of £500 - £5000. Next deadline 31 October for December meeting.
Seachdain na Gàidhlig World Gaelic Week
Seachdain na Gàidhlig is the first official nationwide language and culture week to be held in Scotland. Established in 2022 and funded by Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Seachdain na Gàidhlig (World Gaelic Week) celebrates Scottish Gaelic across the globe and aims to raise the profile of Gaelic through community initiatives, schools’ engagement, projects and events. £500 is the maximum grant. Deadline 31 October 2024 (midnight).
Road Safety Trust: Small Grants
The main aim of the Small Grants Programme is to improve road safety at a local level. Eligible projects are pilots/trials, expanding successful trials across a new area, and/or the evaluation of interventions. Projects should have the potential for being brought to scale - with the ultimate goal of reducing deaths and injuries both locally and across the UK. For grants between £10,000 and £50,000. Deadline 1 November 2024.
Social Economy Incentive Fund 2024
The Social Economy Incentive Fund is open to online applications from Belfast-based social enterprises and co-operatives. The fund is for new and growing social enterprises that need support at early development, start-up or early growth stages. To apply, an organisation must be: located in Belfast City Council area, trading or ready to start trading within the next three months, able to demonstrate the potential impact of the fund on achieving organisation and programme aims, a registered social enterprise or co-operative organisation or in the process of completing this registration, and committed to begin spending the fund on the project within three months of receipt of funds with all monies spent within 12 months of award. Applications close on Friday 1 November 2024 at 5pm.
National Lottery Heritage Fund: Heritage 2033 - Strategic Initiative; Nature Cities and Towns
As part of its Heritage 2033 strategy, the National Lottery Heritage Fund has launched three strategic initiatives offering targeted funding to address long-standing heritage issues across the UK. Nature Cities and Towns supports nature recovery in our cities and towns to help nature thrive, increase people’s connection to wildlife and make places better to live and work in. There will be one round of funding with grants available from £250,000 up to £1m. Accepting EOIs from 1 October until 12noon on 12 November 2024.
Fundraising Support
Events
Introduction to Corporate Community Partnerships
12 November 2024, 10am to 2pm
This is the first workshop as part of our Community Connections project in partnership with Business in the Community and funded by The Halifax Foundation. This workshop is for Voluntary and Community organisations that want more information on starting to work with corporate partners, and will explore the ways corporate partners can help, the benefits for both sectors and how to communicate your organisation’s objectives and social impact to potential partners.
19 November 2024, 10am to 1pm; In-person at NICVA
Cost: £55 (NICVA Members) or £70 (non-NICVA members)
Described as your written argument as to why you deserve to be funded, a compelling Case for Support can be a powerful tool to secure funding. This 3-hour session in NICVA aims to support those responsible for fundraising within voluntary and community organisations and who are unfamiliar with the use of Cases for Support in their work.
Fundraising Clinics
These popular clinics offer NICVA a free, one-hour tailored session addressing your fundraising needs. Clinics can be arranged by contacting Jocelyn Horton, Fundraising Advice Officer at [email protected].
Fundraising Hub
Explore the Fundraising Hub for a wide range of articles and resources to support your fundraising journey. A few are below:
Funding News Roundup October 2024
Fundraising Advice Officer, Jocelyn Horton, rounds up some of the recent announcements in funding and fundraising.
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.
Equality, diversity, and inclusion in your grant applications
This resource outlines some reasons behind funders wanting organisations to address EDI in the applications alongside advice on broaching the topic in writing, getting started on your journey and where you can find further information on this topic.
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.