Your weekly funding news and deadlines update from GrantTracker.
Funding News
TESCO Community Grants – voting now open
Tesco Community Grants fund thousands of local community projects across the UK, helping to fight holiday hunger, tackle mental health, support young people, host community events and much more. Tesco Community Grants is currently open for applications to go to in store voting across Northern Ireland. Three projects will go to in store voting where 1st prize is £1,500. Deadline 20th February 2023 For more information, contact Rachel at [email protected] or 07943 394434.
Bentley Advancing Life Chances Small Grants Programme 2023
Through their grants programme, Bentley Motors support charitable organisations that help communities in 19 locations across the UK to maximise the impact of the programme at key Bentley locations. They prioritise support organisations working with vulnerable people, disadvantaged and under-represented communities supporting applications from charities and other not-for-profit organisations including social enterprises and faith sector. Organisations must be located within a 20-mile radius of specified Bentley sites. For Northern Ireland: Belfast BT12 6LR. Scheme opens four times a year. Next application window opens 6 February 2023.
The Big Give: The Green Match Fund
The Green Match Fund is a match funding campaign for charities which are working on environmental issues as part of their core mission. All public donations made to participating charities via theBigGive.org.uk during the week of the campaign (20-27 April 2023) will be matched up to a specific amount. Each participating charity will be awarded a ring-fenced amount of match funding which will be used to match public donations - either £2,500, £5,000 or £10,000. Apply by 17 February 2023.
McCarthy Stone Foundation: Small Grants Programme
The Foundation offers support to charities for community projects that focus on the health and wellbeing of older people, intergenerational projects and regeneration of the local community. To be eligible your organisation should be under £500k of annual income (organisations under £100k p.a. will be given priority), volunteer driven, and able to demonstrate the impact of your work on people over 65 in the local community. Grants are generally for amounts up to £5000-£7,500.
They help registered charities who are supporting people in need in the UK – those experiencing homelessness, in financial hardship, impacted by health, disability, or other disadvantage or distress. They are looking to fund projects to decorate, renovate, or create spaces where people can feel at home and have a sense of belonging. This can be both indoor and outdoor. Typically grants awarded will be one-off grants, up to the value of £5,000; however, the B&Q Foundation will consider awarding higher value grants.
Mid Ulster District Council Grants open 30 January
Mid Ulster District Council’s 2023/24 Grant Aid Programmes are set to open for applications on Monday 30th January. The grants cover a wide spectrum of activities within Mid Ulster, including arts, culture, environment, sport, events and infrastructure. The council has made key changes to their grant process. Please read through provided guidance, eligibility criteria, and contacts on the link to apply, which goes live 9am on Monday 30 January.
Upcoming Deadlines
Reminder - Arts Council of Northern Ireland: Annual Funding Programme 2023/24
The Annual Funding Programme (AFP) supports Northern Ireland’s arts infrastructure through grants to organisations in all artforms and practices for their core and programming costs. New applicants must contact the relevant art form officer by 5pm on 10 February at the latest to discuss a possible application. Please note this is a criterion for eligibility.
Building the Community Pharmacy Partnership Programme
The Building the Community Pharmacy Partnership supports communities and community pharmacists to work in partnership to address locally defined needs so that people make connections, listen to and understand each other better and work together to address the social determinants of health and health inequalities. Funding is open to partnerships between constituted community/voluntary organisations and community pharmacies based in Northern Ireland. Round 44, Level 1 deadline is 16 February and Round 44, Level 2 deadline is 23 March 2023.
LCCC Arts Grants Funding 2023/24
The importance of the arts and creative activities to the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities is a key part of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council’s Community Support Plan. For this, the Council is offering funding for Arts Organisation and community organisations alongside other funding opportunities. Grants up to £3000. Deadline NOON 17 February 2023.
Community Foundation of Northern Ireland’s upcoming deadlines
CFNI funding schemes close at 1pm on the following dates
- 10 February for RTÉ Toy Show Appeal Impact Grants Fund closes at
- 13 February for Cregganconroe Community Benefit Fund, BC & P Fund, and Inishative Community Benefit Fund
- 20 February for Fibrus Community Fund
Fundraising Clinics & Training
Free Fundraising Clinics for NICVA Members - next available session, March 2023
These popular, free fundraising advice clinics will return February 2023 to provide members with an hour-long chance to discuss and address specific fundraising needs. These monthly events occur on the last Tuesday of each month from 10am until 4pm. The Clinics are extremely popular and tend to book up quick.
February fully booked – click link to book for March!
Success in Fundraising Applications | NICVA
This session is suitable for fundraisers from the community, voluntary, and faith sectors who are new to grant applications or interested in refreshing their skills. We will explore funder expectations, what’s involved in completing funding applications and useful tips to articulating your needs.
Fundraising Articles & Resources
Mark Creaney, from The National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF), talks about how the largest community funder across the UK is supporting communities who are seeking to minimise their impact on the environment.
Guest Blog: Fundraising Regulator builds on its presence in Northern Ireland | NICVA
The Fundraising Regulator gives an overview of their work in 2022 including its commitment to strengthening its presence in Northern Ireland.
Making a Sustainable Difference in your Organisation
The environment affects all aspects of our lives and there are numerous benefits for organisations to address environmental issues such as improved finances and greater appeal for employees, supporters, and funders. Find out more here including potential funders.
Fundraising Hub
NICVA Fundraising Advice has a range of articles from contributors supporting fundraising. Explore our Fundraising Hub for advice and information:
- Guest Blogs for the voluntary and community sector
- BBC Children in Need's publish new Grantmaking Strategy 2022-25
- Charities and the cost-of-living crisis
- #DigitalFundraising Webinar Series
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