Civic Power Fund
Could Civic Power Fund fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.
- Typical grants
- £2,500 – £20,000
- Where they fund
- North Manchester, North Wales, Hampshire
- Applications
- Accepted
- How to apply
- Two-stage application
- Decisions
- Rolling (no fixed deadline)
Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.
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civicpower.org.ukAbout Civic Power Fund
The Civic Power Fund is a UK pooled donor fund that supports grassroots community organising. Its mission is to build civic power, deepen democracy, and drive structural change. The fund operates with a participatory grantmaking model, involving a board of grassroots leaders and movement builders who share decision-making with people of lived experience. Values of trust, equity, partnership, and community accountability guide its work. The fund provides flexible, long-term investment and resources beyond grants, such as a Governance Hub. It seeks to empower marginalised communities facing poverty, racism, discrimination, health inequities, migration challenges, and systemic barriers.
What Civic Power Fund funds
The fund supports community-led campaigns, leadership development, organisational infrastructure, governance support, and coalition-building. It prioritises organisations led by people with lived experience of the injustice they are trying to overcome. Geographically, the fund focuses on place-based work in North Manchester, North Wales, Hampshire, and Surrey, with a particular priority on North Manchester. It also strengthens the national ecosystem of grassroots organising. The Alliance for Youth Organising is a multi-year investment supporting youth-led organising.
Who can apply
The fund is open to UK-based organisations that are rooted in and accountable to their community. Eligible legal structures include registered charities, charitable incorporated organisations, community interest companies, social enterprises, and unincorporated community groups. The fund prioritises smaller organisations and those led by people with direct lived experience of the issues they address. There is no faith restriction. The fund welcomes unsolicited applications.
What Civic Power Fund doesn't fund
The fund does not typically support large national charities, service-delivery alone, or work that does not build power. It focuses on organisations that are building collective power and driving structural change rather than providing services without a community organising component.
How they like to fund
The fund offers multi-year grants, as exemplified by the two-year Alliance for Youth Organising investment. It provides flexible funding that can support core costs, projects, and campaigning. Beyond grants, the fund offers additional resources such as a Governance Hub. It uses a participatory grantmaking model where community members are involved in decision-making. The fund welcomes unsolicited applications.
How much does Civic Power Fund give?
Civic Power Fund runs 2 grant programmes. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.
Last verified 8 August 2026 · 16 sourced facts
- Multi-year funding
- Online application form
- Decisions in ~12 weeks
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 Civic Power Fund funds — and what they won't
Prioritises organisations led by people with lived experience of the injustice they are trying to overcome.
Good to know
How to apply to Civic Power Fund
Civic Power Fund takes applications via two-stage application.
- Published programme route: online application form.
- Decisions are typically rolling (no fixed deadline).
- Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.
What Civic Power Fund's application asks
We hold the 4 questions from Civic Power Fund's application form, word for word — so you know exactly what you're signing up to answer.
“What is the name of your organisation and what does it do?”
“How is the community you represent involved in your organisation? Is it led by people in this community? If not, are they meaningfully involved in setting strategy?”
2 more questions from their form, plus answers drafted from your charity's real data if you decide to apply.
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 Civic Power Fund could be a fit. Draft if yes.
Frequently asked questions
How much funding does Civic Power Fund provide?
Civic Power Fund typically provides grants of £2,500 - £20,000.
Where does Civic Power Fund fund charities?
Civic Power Fund funds charities operating in North Manchester, North Wales, Hampshire.
Does Civic Power Fund accept unsolicited applications?
Civic Power Fund accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.
How do I apply for funding from Civic Power Fund?
Civic Power Fund takes applications via two-stage application. Published programme route: online application form.
Similar funders
Other UK funders with overlapping focus — not a claim they fund the same charities.
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Could Civic Power Fund be a fit?
Check free. Draft if yes, or shortlist better matches.