Big Issue Invest Trust
About This Funder
Big Issue Invest Trust (BIIT), the charitable arm of Big Issue Invest within the Big Issue Group, was established in 1994 (originally as the Local Investment Fund) to provide grants and support to UK charities and social enterprises tackling poverty and inequality. Rooted in the Big Issue's mission to dismantle exclusion through sustainable, business-led interventions, BIIT champions social equity, empowerment, and community-driven development, prioritizing organizations facing barriers to mainstream finance and delivering high social impact in deprived communities.
It funds initiatives addressing economic and social exclusion, including employability and skills training for marginalized groups, digital and financial capability building, inclusive enterprise opportunities, and capacity-building for social trading. Signature programmes like the Vendor Enterprise Programme offer micro-grants and mentoring to Big Issue vendors starting micro-enterprises, while others such as Power Up London target early-stage social enterprises catalyzing community transformation. Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities and social enterprises (especially small, early-stage ones under five years old, grassroots, or beneficiary-led), operating UK-wide with a focus on deprived areas; no religious restrictions apply, but strong community ties and systemic change ambitions are key.
Grants typically range from £500 to £20,000 for project, seed, capacity-building, or core costs tied to sustainability and traded income growth. Unsolicited applications are not accepted—funding occurs via time-limited, programme-specific online forms with deadlines like 25 June 2025 or 5 December 2025 for current rounds; decisions follow in 6-12 weeks. Distinctively, BIIT avoids short-term relief, emphasizing lasting empowerment and self-help over commercial viability, differentiating it as a catalyst for resilient social entrepreneurship among the excluded.
Eligibility Checklist
Funding Details
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How to apply to Big Issue Invest Trust
Skip weeks of research. Write a strong application this afternoon — in your own words, with AI doing the heavy lifting.
Check your match
Describe your charity once and see how well you fit Big Issue Invest Trust's priorities — scored on location, cause, size, and 3 other factors.
Draft with your AI co-pilot
Paste the application question and word limit. The co-pilot writes a first draft using your charity's real data and this funder's criteria — not generic filler. You edit every word before it leaves.
Review, refine, submit
Every answer runs through an 8-point quality check — clear ask, funder alignment, measurable outcomes, and more. You stay in control. The AI does the drafting; you make it sound like you.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much funding does Big Issue Invest Trust provide?
Big Issue Invest Trust typically provides grants ranging from £2,000 - £20,000.
Where does Big Issue Invest Trust fund charities?
Big Issue Invest Trust funds charities operating in Greater London.
How do I apply for funding from Big Issue Invest Trust?
With Fundermatcher, you describe your charity once and see your compatibility score with Big Issue Invest Trust. If you're a good fit, you can start drafting your application immediately using our AI co-pilot — paste each question and word limit, and the co-pilot writes a tailored first draft using your charity's real data and Big Issue Invest Trust's priorities. You review and edit every answer before submitting.
Will funders know my application was drafted with AI?
No. The co-pilot uses your charity's real name, numbers, and impact data — not generic filler or templates. Every draft reads like it was written by someone who knows your charity inside-out, because it's built on your actual profile. You edit and refine every word before it goes anywhere, so the final application sounds like you — because it is.
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Apply to Big Issue Invest Trust this afternoon
See your match score, then draft your application with an AI co-pilot. You edit every word — it just saves you hours of writing.