Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation

Could Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.

Typical grants: £1,000 – £10,000
Where they fund: Central Bedfordshire, Luton, North Herts District, Stevenage, St. Albans District, Aylesbury Vale District, North Herts, St. Albans, Dacorum, Eastern parts of Aylesbury Vale District, Bedfordshire
Applications: Accepted
How to apply: Two-stage application
Decisions: Quarterly

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

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blcf.org.uk

About Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation

Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation is a local grantmaker supporting communities across Bedfordshire, Luton and neighbouring areas. Established in 1999 by local leaders including Sir Samuel Whitbread and Geoffrey Farr, the Foundation aims to tackle inequality and build resilient communities through community-led solutions. The Foundation runs several ring-fenced funds, each with its own focus, and works in partnership with local organisations to address local needs.

What Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation funds

The Foundation funds a wide range of causes including poverty and hardship, employment and skills, education, youth development, mental health, community development, environment, and arts and culture. They support project delivery, core costs, equipment, training, and in some cases capital works or feasibility studies. Their work covers Luton, Central Bedfordshire, parts of Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, and Bedfordshire county-wide, with specific funds targeting particular areas such as Luton or Bedfordshire.

Who can apply

Registered charities, community groups, community interest companies, social enterprises, and faith-based organisations can apply. Some funds also accept schools or individuals. The Foundation prioritises organisations that demonstrate clear local benefits and sustainable partnerships. They do not fund national charities unless they provide clear local benefits, and they rarely support statutory bodies except in exceptional circumstances.

What Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation doesn't fund

The Foundation does not fund animals, faith-based causes, emergency appeals, transport, research, or feasibility studies (except in one specific fund). They also exclude professional marketing or fundraising, and organisations that have received funding from another of their streams for the same project. National charities without clear local benefits are not supported.

How they like to fund

The Foundation offers both one-off and multi-year grants, depending on the fund. They welcome unsolicited applications and do not require match funding. Funding is provided for project delivery, core costs, equipment, training, and in some cases capital works or feasibility studies. They work in partnership with local organisations and emphasise building sustainable partnerships.

How much does Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation give?

Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation runs 5 grant programmes. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.

Last verified 8 August 2026 · 99 sourced facts

London Luton Airport Operations Ltd (LLAOL) Community Trust FundOpen to applications

Up to £10,000

Online application form
4 rounds a year
Single-year grants

Luton Rising Near Neighbours FundOpen to applications

Up to £5,000

Online application form
5 rounds a year
Single-year grants

Luton Rising New Horizons FundCurrently closed

Up to £100,000

Expression of interest first
Multi-year funding

Safer Bedfordshire Communities Fund (Safer Streets 5)Currently closed

Up to £10,000

Online application form
Decisions in ~3 weeks
Single-year grants

SWEF Enterprise FundOpen to applications

£500 – £2,000

Online application form
Single-year grants

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 Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation funds — and what they won't

Their stated priorities

Projects which demonstrate that they seek to build sustainable partnerships with others will have a better chance of success.

Where they fund

Central BedfordshireLutonNorth Herts DistrictStevenageSt. Albans DistrictAylesbury Vale DistrictNorth HertsSt. AlbansDacorumEastern parts of Aylesbury Vale DistrictBedfordshire

Costs they'll cover

Project deliveryCapital works & buildingsEquipmentCore costsEventsTrainingSalariesFeasibility studies

They don't fund

AnimalsFaithMedical researchEmergency fundingEventsTransportResearchFeasibility studiesSalariesCore costsCapital works & buildingsIndividualsCommunity benefit societiesSchoolFaith groupsRegistered charitiesCommunity groups

The full exclusions list (20)

Groups in receipt of funding from another London Luton Airport Funding stream.
National charities and their affiliates that are not providing clear local benefits
Organisations or activities which are inconsistent with public policy, for example, the promotion of terrorism or of sectarian interests.
Projects that should be funded from statutory sources
Organisations that have not fully completed all sections of the grant application form
Organisations that do not have a building society or bank account (which must be in the name of the organisation).
Groups that have received funding from London Luton Airport Operations Ltd in the past 12 months or any other London Luton airport funding stream managed by BLCF
Projects otherwise supported by London Luton Airport Operations Ltd.
Groups in receipt of funding from another Luton Rising Funding stream for the same project.
Statutory bodies, except where an application is made by either a charitable arm of such a body, or where funding would be as a matter of last resort to prevent the loss of a service to the public that is of exceptional value or benefit and would not form part of their usual statutory duties or obligations.
Activities that take place outside the financial period for which funding is given.
Organisations applying for the Luton Rising Youth Fund.
Groups with 3 or more active BLCF grants (each of which are above £5,000).
Groups who have provided low quality monitoring on previous grants.
Professional marketing / advertising (unless you can demonstrate that this is only to publicise the funded work to engage beneficiaries).
Professional fundraising.
Organisations who are in receipt of any other prior funding from OPCC for a similar project or initiative.
National charities and their affiliates are not providing clear local benefits.
Organisations or activities which are inconsistent with public policy, i.e., the promotion of terrorism or of sectarian interests.
Projects that should be funded from statutory sources.

Good to know

FaithNo restriction

Focus areas

Poverty & hardshipChildren & youthMental healthWomen & girlsEnvironment

How to apply to Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation

Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation takes applications via two-stage application.

Published programme route: online application form.
Decisions are typically quarterly.
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 Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation could be a fit. Draft if yes.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation provide?

Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation runs 5 grant programmes — London Luton Airport Operations Ltd (LLAOL) Community Trust Fund: Up to £10,000 · Luton Rising Near Neighbours Fund: Up to £5,000 · Luton Rising New Horizons Fund: Up to £100,000 · Safer Bedfordshire Communities Fund (Safer Streets 5): Up to £10,000 · SWEF Enterprise Fund: £500 – £2,000.

Where does Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation fund charities?

Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation funds charities operating in Central Bedfordshire, Luton, North Herts District, Stevenage, St. Albans District, Aylesbury Vale District, North Herts, St. Albans, Dacorum, Eastern parts of Aylesbury Vale District, Bedfordshire.

Does Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation accept unsolicited applications?

Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.

What does Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation not fund?

Their published exclusions include: Groups in receipt of funding from another London Luton Airport Funding stream.; National charities and their affiliates that are not providing clear local benefits; Organisations or activities which are inconsistent with public policy, for example, the promotion of terrorism or of sectarian interests.; Projects that should be funded from statutory sources; Organisations that have not fully completed all sections of the grant application form. The full exclusions list is further up this page.

How do I apply for funding from Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation?

Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation takes applications via two-stage application. Published programme route: online application form.