BT Benevolent Fund
Could BT Benevolent Fund fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.
- Typical grants
- £500 – £3,000
- Applications
- Accepted
- How to apply
- Email application
- Decisions
- Rolling (no fixed deadline)
Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.
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benevolent.bt.comAbout BT Benevolent Fund
The BT Benevolent Fund is an independent charity dedicated to relieving financial hardship among current and former BT Group employees, pensioners, and their dependants. Established to support the BT community, it provides one-off grants to address urgent needs and prevent crises, with a focus on discretion, fairness, and proactive outreach. Support is available UK-wide but exclusively for individuals with a direct link to BT Group employment. Distinctively, the Fund only assists individuals – not organisations, charities, or community groups. Contractors and agency staff are not eligible. This singular focus on the BT family allows for responsive, person-centred support that targets acute financial distress and helps sustain quality of life.
What BT Benevolent Fund funds
The Fund supports relief of financial hardship, prioritising those in debt such as rent, council tax, and utility arrears. It also covers funeral costs, home adaptations for disability, home and heating repairs, and low-income pensioners. Grants are one-off and discretionary, used for emergency needs, essential equipment, capital works, and project delivery. All support is UK-wide, but limited to individuals with a direct employment link to BT Group.
Who can apply
Only individuals can apply – specifically current or former BT Group employees, pensioners, and their dependants. The Fund prioritises those facing acute financial hardship, including people in debt, those needing home adaptations for disability, and low-income pensioners. Contractors and agency staff are not eligible. Organisations, charities, and community groups cannot apply.
What BT Benevolent Fund doesn't fund
The Fund does not support organisations, charities, community groups, or any entity. It also excludes contractors and agency staff. Support is only for individuals with a direct BT Group employment link; non-BT community members are not eligible.
How they like to fund
The Fund provides one-off grants on a discretionary basis, tailored to each applicant's circumstances. Grants are person-centred and aim to address immediate financial crises. The Fund does not offer multi-year commitments.
How much does BT Benevolent Fund give?
BT Benevolent Fund runs one grant programme. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.
Last verified 8 August 2026 · 14 sourced facts
- 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 BT Benevolent Fund funds — and what they won't
Relief of financial hardship for current and former BT employees and their dependants. Priority to those in debt (rent, council tax, utility arrears), funeral costs, home adaptations for disability, home and heating repairs, and low-income pensioners.
The full exclusions list (1)
- Contractors or agency staff are excluded. Applicants must be current/former BT Group employees or their dependants. The Fund does not support organisations or charities.
Good to know
How to apply to BT Benevolent Fund
BT Benevolent Fund takes applications via email application.
- Decisions are typically rolling (no fixed deadline).
- Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.
What BT Benevolent Fund's application asks
We hold the question from BT Benevolent Fund's application form, word for word — so you know exactly what you're signing up to answer.
“Potential beneficiaries are not asked to complete an application form, instead we do it all over the phone as we find we can learn a lot more from a conversation than from a completed form.”
How it works
- 1Describe your project. Once — used for this funder and others.
- 2See if this could be a fit. Honest check on cause, place, size, and rules.
- 3Draft if yes. From your real data — or move on if not.
See if BT Benevolent Fund could be a fit. Draft if yes.
Frequently asked questions
How much funding does BT Benevolent Fund provide?
BT Benevolent Fund typically provides grants of £500 - £3,000.
Where does BT Benevolent Fund fund charities?
BT Benevolent Fund funds charities operating in the UK.
Does BT Benevolent Fund accept unsolicited applications?
BT Benevolent Fund accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.
What does BT Benevolent Fund not fund?
Their published exclusions include: Contractors or agency staff are excluded. Applicants must be current/former BT Group employees or their dependants. The Fund does not support organisations or charities.. The full exclusions list is further up this page.
How do I apply for funding from BT Benevolent Fund?
BT Benevolent Fund takes applications via email application. Decisions are typically rolling (no fixed deadline).
Similar funders
Other UK funders with overlapping focus — not a claim they fund the same charities.
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Could BT Benevolent Fund be a fit?
Check free. Draft if yes, or shortlist better matches.