abrdn Financial Fairness Trust

Could abrdn Financial Fairness Trust fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.

Typical grants: £50,000 – £120,000
Applications: Accepted
How to apply: Two-stage application
Decisions: Bi annually

Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.

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financialfairness.org.uk

About abrdn Financial Fairness Trust

abrdn Financial Fairness Trust is an independent grant-making organisation established in 2009. Its mission is to improve the financial wellbeing of people on low-to-middle incomes in the UK and to foster a financially fair society. The Trust funds strategic, evidence-led change through research, policy advocacy and campaigning. It prioritises work that is systemic in scope, looking beyond local areas to achieve national-level impact.

What abrdn Financial Fairness Trust funds

The Trust focuses on household finances, funding projects that address at least one of three areas: income (wages, social security, pensions, taxation), spending (cost of living, consumer spending, gambling, borrowing, payment problems, net zero) and assets (taxation, saving, housing). It supports strategic work across all parts of the UK, particularly research, policy and campaigning activities that protect and improve the finances of people on low-to-middle incomes during transitions such as the move to Net Zero. Grants are typically multi-year, supporting work that goes beyond a local area to achieve systemic change.

Who can apply

Eligible organisations include registered charities, voluntary organisations, think tanks, campaigning groups, research bodies and universities. The Trust supports work that has a strategic dimension reaching beyond a local area. There is no restriction based on religious context. The Trust prioritises projects that aim to benefit people on low-to-middle incomes across the UK.

What abrdn Financial Fairness Trust doesn't fund

The Trust does not fund project-delivery or direct services unless these are part of a broader strategic or research piece. Work that is purely local in scope, without a strategic dimension that goes beyond a local area, is not supported. Standalone capital costs are not funded.

How they like to fund

Grants are awarded for multi-year projects, typically spread over one, two or three years. The Trust supports strategic, evidence-led change through research, policy advocacy and campaigning. Unsolicited applications are welcome.

How much does abrdn Financial Fairness Trust give?

abrdn Financial Fairness Trust runs 2 grant programmes. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.

Last verified 8 August 2026 · 27 sourced facts

Climate Change and Household Finances in the UKCurrently closed

Main Grants ProgrammeCurrently closed

£10,000 – £200,000

Two-stage process
2 rounds a year
Decisions in ~18 weeks
Multi-year funding

Those are the published figures. What your charity could realistically get — and whether you'd clear their rules on income, location and legal structure — is what the free fit check answers.

What abrdn Financial Fairness Trust funds — and what they won't

Their stated priorities

Policy, research and campaigning work to protect and improve the household finances of people on low-to-middle incomes in the UK during the transition to Net Zero and adjustment to climate change.

Costs they'll cover

Research

They don't fund

Project delivery

The full exclusions list (1)

there needs to be a strategic dimension that goes beyond a local area

Good to know

FaithNo restriction

Focus areas

Poverty & hardship

How to apply to abrdn Financial Fairness Trust

abrdn Financial Fairness Trust takes applications via two-stage application.

Published programme route: two-stage process.
Decisions are typically bi annually.
Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.

How it works

1
Describe your project. Once — used for this funder and others.
2
See if this could be a fit. Honest check on cause, place, size, and rules.
3
Draft if yes. From your real data — or move on if not.

See if abrdn Financial Fairness Trust could be a fit. Draft if yes.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does abrdn Financial Fairness Trust provide?

abrdn Financial Fairness Trust runs 2 grant programmes — Main Grants Programme: £10,000 – £200,000.

Where does abrdn Financial Fairness Trust fund charities?

abrdn Financial Fairness Trust funds charities operating in the UK.

Does abrdn Financial Fairness Trust accept unsolicited applications?

abrdn Financial Fairness Trust accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.

What does abrdn Financial Fairness Trust not fund?

Their published exclusions include: there needs to be a strategic dimension that goes beyond a local area. The full exclusions list is further up this page.

How do I apply for funding from abrdn Financial Fairness Trust?

abrdn Financial Fairness Trust takes applications via two-stage application. Published programme route: two-stage process.