Your weekly roundup of funding news and deadlines from GrantTracker.
Funding News
Department of Health: Support While Waiting Grant Scheme 2026/2027
The Department is inviting applications to the Support While Waiting Grant Scheme 2026/27. The purpose of the scheme is to provide meaningful, community-based support to individuals while they await treatment on Health and Social Care (HSC) waiting lists. Voluntary and community sector organisations will be eligible to apply for grants between £5,000 and £30,000 to deliver programmes that support individuals on HSC waiting lists. Submit applications by 12 noon on Friday 6 November 2026.
Blooming Genius: Empowering Neurodivergent Youth
Blooming Genius was created by Genius Within CIC to support neurodivergent youth and is dedicated to a future where young neurodivergent talents are celebrated. Blooming Genius support neurodivergent children (under 18s) and their families by providing small grants to UK grassroots organisations. Whilst there is no set maximum value for their grants, they tend to be from a few hundred up to about £2000. They award grants twice a year, in June and December, to support neurodivergent children and their families through grassroots initiatives. They cap applications at 200 per window. Next application window closes 24 October 2026.
The easyfundraising Impact Fund is back for a second round, but this time there are unrestricted grants of £1,000 available for community organisations to apply for – double the amount awarded in the spring. You do not have to be registered with easyfundraising. The fund is open to UK based Registered charities, Other not-for-profit organisations, Sports clubs and teams, Schools and education settings, Social enterprises and CICs, After-school and youth groups, and Churches and religious organisations. Applications accepted between 24 September and 8 November 2026 at 23:59.
Community Foundation NI open Six Community Benefit Funds
Last week the Foundation opened a further six community benefit funds supporting communities located near wind farms. Alongside the Corlacky Community Benefit Fund (closes 8 October at 1pm), communities in 7 localities can receiving awards of between up to £2,500 and up to £6,000 dependent on location. Open schemes are Carn Hill Community Benefit Fund, Dunmore Community Benefit Fund, Corby Knowe Community Benefit Fund, Cloonty Community Benefit Fund, Dunbeg Community Benefit Fund, and Monnaboy Community Benefit Fund. Apply by 1pm on 22 October 2026.
Upcoming Deadlines
The DWF Foundation, founded by DWF LLP provides funds, resources and support to help communities achieve their full potential. The priorities for the Foundation are Homelessness, Health & Wellbeing, Employability, Environment and Sustainability, Education. The DWF Foundation welcomes applications from Registered Charities only in the UK, ROI, and international locations. The Foundation does not have a minimum grant size, but the majority of their grants will fall under £5,000. Next deadline 30 September 2026.
The Fat Beehive Foundation: Digital Funding for Small Charities
They support UK-based charities with an annual turnover of under £1 million, offering funding for a wide range of digital projects. Whether it’s building a new website, developing online resources, or improving digital accessibility, their aim is to help organisations reach more people, raise more funds and deliver more impact. They offer small grants of up to £2,500 to help charities improve their digital presence. The next deadline for applications is the end of September for the October meeting.
The Sasha Foundation set up in the memory of Sasha Love who suffered from bipolar disorder and took her own life in 2009, gives support to help other sufferers of mental health conditions. Trustees are particularly keen to help grassroots community groups and small-to-medium-sized voluntary organisations. For UK organisations, their focus is young people experiencing issues such as depression, bipolar disorder, or drug-related mental health challenges with grants enabling counselling, education, awareness campaigns or targeted support services. Typically grants will be up to £10,000 and at most will be for 50% of the total budgeted cost of the proposed project/program. Next deadline 1 October 2026.
The Supporting Act Foundation: Impact Grants
The Impact Grant is designed to help arts-focused nonprofit organisations that provide non-financial support to emerging artists from underrepresented groups. Its focus is on organisations whose approach is aligned with their own desired impact: improving living conditions for artists, enabling them to dedicate more time to developing their practices, increasing the visibility of their work, and boosting their self-confidence. 10 unrestricted grants comprising €25,000-per year over two years, totalling €50,000- per organisation. The grant is unrestricted; it can be used for any core or strategic costs (e.g., salaries, rent, programming, organisational development) that support their mission and their activities. Submission deadline: October 1, 2026 (11:00 AM CET).
Fundraising Events & Training 2026/27
6 October 2026 - 10:00am to 1:00pm
Across the UK, £564 million is lost to missed Gift Aid opportunities every year — donations that could have gone further but didn’t. In a funding climate where costs are rising and demand is growing, encouraging your supporters to #TickTheBox can ensure their generosity reaches its full potential. Join Tony Clarke and Jocelyn Horton to find out more.
Strengthening your Funding Applications
10 February 2027 - 10:00am to 1:00pm
Securing funds through funding applications can be crucial to an organisation’s ability to deliver. But who are the funders, where can you find them, which ones should you select, and what do you need to consider before submitting your application?
Join Jocelyn Horton to find out how to strengthen your fundraising approach and applications to Trusts and Foundations.
Funding Fayre 2027 – Save the Date
25 February 2027 - 10:00am to 1:00pm
NICVA’s ever-popular Funding Fayre is set to return in 2027. It’s a chance for voluntary and community organisations across Northern Ireland to gain the support you need.
Articles and Resources
Webinar recording: easyfundraising
In this helpful and informal session, Becky from easyfundraising walked us through using the easyfundraising platform to raise additional free unrestricted funding from online shopping. Read on to find out how you can get involved, download the presentation slides, watch the webinar and learn about the easyfundraising Impact Fund where you can apply for a £1000 unrestricted grant.
New £10m programme to address violence against women and girls | NICVA
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has announced plans for a new £10 million programme to support local projects to prevent violence and abuse against women and girls across the UK. The Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Prevention Accelerator will build UK-wide capability to stop violence and abuse by funding and supporting promising grassroots initiatives.
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