This Week's Funding News wc 30th March 2020

 

Note - All GrantTracker subscribers can simply sign into GrantTracker to find all the schemes below in an easy to access, one-page, one stop shop, format.  And for those with some downtime it's a great time to subscribe to GrantTracker - see below for details.

 

Covid-19 Funds

Community Foundation for NI: Coronavirus Community Fund

NB This fund is continually evolving.  Originally available for constituted community organisations throughout NI supporting isolated older people over 50, it has now widened to also support activities for people at increased risk, particularly in relation to poor mental health and wellbeing and also vulnerable isolated people and families, particularly those living in rural areas.  Grants range from £1000 to £2500 for small scale emergency support up to £10,000 for longer term support or for those significantly enhancing their services at this time

NB Safeguarding guidelines for this fund also changed on 27/03 to reflect the fact that groups want to respond to immediate COVID-19 issues and may not yet have full adult safeguarding policies and procedures in place.

For more details and to apply see the website

Halifax Foundation NI

HFNI are focusing on their SMALL and MEDIUM grants over the coming months, with Large and Special Initiatives grants on hold for now due to the activity based nature of these programmes. They are inviting applications from charities and constituted groups that focus on supporting the community at this time and moving from quarterly to monthly (or even weekly) grant making to decrease turnaround time.

For more details and to apply see the website

The National Emergencies Trust (NET) Fund (Coming Soon)

NET will be using funds from an appeal to help local charities to support individuals suffering hardship as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.  Details of the NET fund and criteria for groups to apply for funding will follow in the coming days. In NI, this will be administered by the Community Foundation for NI in addition to their own Coronavirus Community Fund (Below). 

For more details when available see the website

Neighbourly.com: Covid-19 Community Fund

With support from M&S Family (including M&S Bank and M&S Energy), Lidl, Aldi, Danone UK & Ireland and Coca-Cola European Partners, Neighbourly are launching a series of micro-grants of up to £400, for existing members of Neighbourly in UK and Ireland whose work involves supporting members of the community suffering economically, socially or from ill health as a result of the outbreak. This may include, but not be limited to, elderly people, those on low incomes and people at risk of food insecurity.  Grant are unrestricted and can go towards food provision, emergency supplies, practical support, running costs, transport and other essentials.

For more details and to apply see the website

National Lottery Community Fund

The latest statement from NLCF is as follows -

"All the funding decisions we make for the next six months (up to £300m of National Lottery funding) will be devoted to addressing the current crisis. In addition, we will accelerate the cash part of this funding as much as we can, so that we can get money to where it needs to be. This is not new money, but it will be faster money and we know that we must act quickly and with confidence."

For continually updated news on how National Lottery Community fund is helping grantholders see here

MoneySavingExpert (CURRENTLY CLOSED)

£1,000,000 was made available from MoneySavingExpert's Martin Lewis for grants of £5,000 to £20,000 to small registered charities, or local arms of bigger charities, across the UK – to help with specific UK coronavirus-related poverty relief projects.    26/03/20 this fund CLOSED pending further donations BUT MAY REOPEN.

For more updates as they happen see the website

Other Covid-19 Funding Resources

  • For fundraising advice, resources and information as the situation evolves, click here
  • To book on now twice weekly 1-1 telephone NICVA funding clinics click here
  • To book a NICVA webinar on how to manage current grant-funded work click here

 

Other New or Updated Funding Initiatives

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation: Merger Feasibility

Esme Fairbairn support organisations in the early phases of thinking about a merger with an identified potential merger partner (or partners). The maximum amount they will fund for merger planning costs is £15,000.

For more details see the website

Community Foundation for NI: The Dungannon Community Trust (Closing 9am 17 April)

Offers grants of up to £5,000 to projects of up to one year based within the Dungannon District providing community based activities supporting young people aged 13-25 with low levels of educational attainment, enhancing their opportunity to gain employment or further education.

For more details see the website

Ford Foundation

The Ford Foundation is committed to achieving lasting change that transforms people’s lives. Through their grant making, they support innovative thinkers, leaders and organisations that are working to reduce poverty and injustice and to promote democratic values, free expression and human achievement. 

For more details see the website

 

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