Forces in Mind Trust

Could Forces in Mind Trust fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.

Typical grants: £50,000 – £300,000
Applications: Accepted
How to apply: Online form
Decisions: Rolling (no fixed deadline)

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

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About Forces in Mind Trust

The Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT) is an independent UK funder dedicated to supporting ex-Service personnel and their families as they transition to civilian life. Established in 2011 with an endowment from the National Lottery Community Fund, its mission is driven by evidence and collaboration. FiMT funds projects aligned with four Change Mechanisms: Knowledge and Evidence, Influencing and Convening, Collaboration and Leadership, and Capacity Building. The trust focuses on six outcome themes: Housing, Employment, Health and Wellbeing, Finance, Criminal Justice, and Relationships. What sets FiMT apart is its exclusive focus on the Armed Forces community and its commitment to evidence-led, policy-influencing work.

What Forces in Mind Trust funds

FiMT funds projects across the UK that align with its four Change Mechanisms and six outcome themes, including Housing, Employment, Health and Wellbeing, Finance, Criminal Justice, and Relationships. They support targeted, evidence-based activities that influence policy and improve the Armed Forces charities sector. The trust funds project delivery, research, capacity building, and influencing activities. Their beneficiaries are veterans and Armed Forces families.

Who can apply

FiMT funds UK-wide organisations, including registered charities, social enterprises, and universities. They do not fund individuals or profit-making organisations. The trust prioritises projects that benefit ex-Service personnel and their families, with a focus on evidence-led interventions that influence policy and practice.

What Forces in Mind Trust doesn't fund

FiMT does not fund work that is primarily the responsibility of central or local government and statutory providers, retrospective funding, ongoing costs for a project which is already established, churches or other religious bodies where the grant will be used for religious purposes, or general appeals or circulars.

How they like to fund

FiMT welcomes unsolicited applications for grant awards. They fund projects, research, capacity building, and influencing activities, focusing on evidence-based work that aligns with their Change Mechanisms and outcome themes.

How much does Forces in Mind Trust give?

Forces in Mind Trust runs one grant programme. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.

£50,000 – £300,000

Last verified 8 August 2026 · 18 sourced facts

Grant AwardsRolling applications

Two-stage process
Decisions in ~26 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 Forces in Mind Trust funds — and what they won't

Their stated priorities

FiMT funds projects aligned with four Change Mechanisms: Knowledge and Evidence, Influencing and Convening, Collaboration and Leadership, and Capacity Building. They focus on six outcome themes: Housing, Employment, Health and Wellbeing, Finance, Criminal Justice, and Relationships. They seek targeted, evidence-based activities that influence policy and improve the Armed Forces charities sector.

Costs they'll cover

Project deliveryResearchCapacity buildingInfluencing

They don't fund

Service deliveryProfit making organisation

The full exclusions list (5)

Work that is primarily the responsibility of central or local government and statutory providers
Retrospective funding
Ongoing costs for a project which is already established
Churches or other religious bodies where the grant will be used for religious purposes
General appeals or circulars

Good to know

FaithNo restriction

Focus areas

Mental healthHealthPoverty & hardship

How to apply to Forces in Mind Trust

Forces in Mind Trust takes applications via online form.

Published programme route: two-stage process.
Decisions are typically rolling (no fixed deadline).
Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.

What Forces in Mind Trust's application asks

We hold the 19 questions from Forces in Mind Trust's application form, word for word — so you know exactly what you're signing up to answer.

Question 1

“Organisation applying”

Question 2

“Charity Registration Number (if applicable)”

17 more questions from their form, plus answers drafted from your charity's real data if you decide to apply.

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 Forces in Mind Trust could be a fit. Draft if yes.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Forces in Mind Trust provide?

Forces in Mind Trust typically provides grants of £50,000 - £300,000.

Where does Forces in Mind Trust fund charities?

Forces in Mind Trust funds charities operating in the UK.

Does Forces in Mind Trust accept unsolicited applications?

Forces in Mind Trust accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.

What does Forces in Mind Trust not fund?

Their published exclusions include: Work that is primarily the responsibility of central or local government and statutory providers; Retrospective funding; Ongoing costs for a project which is already established; Churches or other religious bodies where the grant will be used for religious purposes; General appeals or circulars. The full exclusions list is further up this page.

How do I apply for funding from Forces in Mind Trust?

Forces in Mind Trust takes applications via online form. Published programme route: two-stage process.