Community Development Grants & Funding
There are 704 UK funders offering grants for community development charities, with typical awards from £100 to £4,500,000.
Community development funding supports the organisations and initiatives that strengthen local areas across the UK. This encompasses community centres, neighbourhood projects, civic participation, social cohesion, and place-based regeneration. Many of the UK's largest funders — including the National Lottery Community Fund, Garfield Weston Foundation, and local community foundations — prioritise grassroots organisations that are rooted in and responsive to their communities. Funding is available for both capital projects (building renovations, community spaces, equipment) and revenue work (staffing, activities, outreach). Community development grants often favour a participatory approach, where local residents are involved in identifying needs and designing solutions. Rural communities, post-industrial areas, and urban estates with high deprivation frequently receive targeted support. The trend toward devolution and community ownership of assets has also created new funding streams for community land trusts, community energy projects, and social enterprises.
Quick Stats
- Total Funders
- 704
- Grant Range
- £100 - £4,500,000
- Open to Applications
- 48%
Community Development Funders
704 funders found1989 Willan Charitable Trust
OpenThe 1989 Willan Charitable Trust, established in 1989 and governed by Willan Trustee Limited, is a UK-based funder dedicated to alleviating social and...
38 Degrees Trust
38 Degrees Trust, a registered charity and charitable company (number 1139325) established on 13 October 2009 in England and Wales, aims to make the U...
64 Trust
The 64 Trust is a grant-making charitable incorporated organisation established in August 2020 (charity number 1190683) and based in Liverpool, Englan...
A Z H R Charitable Trust
A Z H R Charitable Trust is a registered UK charity established in 1984, governed by trustees David and Philip Goldberg, with a broad mission to relie...
A. Edmonds and Co. Charitable Foundation 2000
OpenA. Edmonds and Co. Charitable Foundation 2000 is an independent grant-making charity established in 2000 and registered with the Charity Commission fo...
Access - The Foundation for Social Investment
OpenAccess – The Foundation for Social Investment drives systemic transformation in the social investment market, empowering charities and social enterpri...
Action Together CIO
OpenAction Together CIO, established in 2016 through the merger of Voluntary Action Oldham and Community and Voluntary Action Tameside, serves as the infr...
Active Essex Foundation
OpenActive Essex Foundation is an independent charity established in 2016 to tackle health and social inequalities in Essex, Southend, and Thurrock throug...
Addington Fund
OpenThe Addington Fund is an independent UK charity established in 2001 in response to the classical swine fever and foot-and-mouth outbreaks, dedicated t...
Adenfirst Limited
Adenfirst Limited is a grant-making charitable company established in 1984 and registered with the Charity Commission in 1985, dedicated to advancing ...
Adnams Community Trust
OpenThe Adnams Community Trust, established in 1990 by Adnams PLC—a historic brewery based in Southwold, Suffolk—channels at least 1% of the company's ann...
Aeonian Foundation
Aeonian Foundation is a grant-making charitable incorporated organisation established in December 2021 (charity number 1196957), dedicated to distribu...
Aimwell Charitable Trust
The Aimwell Charitable Trust is a grant-making foundation registered in England and Wales (charity number 1039415), established in 1994 to advance gen...
Alan and Babette Sainsbury Charitable Fund
The Alan and Babette Sainsbury Charitable Fund (ABS), established in 1953 by Lord Alan Sainsbury as the oldest Sainsbury Family Charitable Trust, adva...
Alan Boswell Group Charitable Trust
OpenThe Alan Boswell Group Charitable Trust, established in May 2019 by the Norwich-based independent insurance broker and risk management group, channels...
Alan Edward Higgs Charity
OpenThe Alan Edward Higgs Charity embodies a mission to relieve poverty and foster economic and community development for disadvantaged children, young pe...
Alex Ferry Foundation
The Alex Ferry Foundation, established in late 2018 from a landmark surplus of the 1989 35-Hour Week Fund contributed by over 200,000 UK shipbuilding ...
Alfred Williams Charitable Trust
OpenThe Alfred Williams Charitable Trust, established in 1973 by Mr. Alfred Williams and governed by trustees with deep Suffolk connections, is a grant-ma...
AlixPartners (UK) Charitable Foundation
The AlixPartners (UK) Charitable Foundation, established in 2010 by the global consulting firm AlixPartners (charity number 1134913), is a grant-makin...
All Ways Network
All Ways Network (AWN) is a UK-registered charity and the UK's only cross-sector membership network dedicated to empowering small not-for-profits serv...
Alligator Trust
OpenThe Alligator Trust is a discretionary grant-making charity embodying a generalist philosophy of flexible, trustee-led support for diverse charitable ...
Amateurs Trust
The Amateurs Trust is a UK grant-making charity established on 2 July 1999, dedicated to improving health, advancing education, and alleviating hardsh...
Amelia Chadwick Trust
The Amelia Chadwick Trust, established in 1960 by Henry Percy Bibby with an initial endowment and subsequent gifts, is a longstanding UK charitable tr...
Ammco Trust
OpenThe Ammco Trust is a longstanding grant-making charity dedicated to advancing public benefit by empowering local charities delivering essential servic...
An Ciste Infheistíochta Gaeilge
OpenAn Ciste Infheistíochta Gaeilge is an independent capital development fund dedicated to empowering Irish language communities through strategic invest...
Anand & Sethi Family Charity Trust
The Anand & Sethi Family Charity Trust (charity number 1164307), based in Leicester, UK, is a family-led philanthropic entity governed by members of t...
Ancaster Trust
OpenThe Ancaster Trust is a longstanding grant-making charity registered in England and Wales, established in 1976 and chaired by Baroness Jane Willoughby...
Andre Christian Trust
The Andre Christian Trust, established in July 1966 as a UK-registered charity, is a longstanding faith-led philanthropic organisation dedicated to ad...
Andrew Wemyss Charitable Trust
The Andrew Wemyss Charitable Trust is a Scottish grant-making charity based in Newmills, Dunfermline, dedicated to delivering public benefit primarily...
Anna Rosa Forster Charitable Trust
The Anna Rosa Forster Charitable Trust (charity number 1090028) is a long-established, independent grant-making trust based in Ponteland, Newcastle up...
Anthony (Tony) Lane Foundation
OpenThe Anthony (Tony) Lane Foundation, established in 2016 from Tony Lane's bequest after his death, is a grant-making charity dedicated to perpetuating ...
Anthony and Gwendoline Wylde Memorial Charity
OpenThe Anthony and Gwendoline Wylde Memorial Charity embodies values of local generosity, practical compassion, and community solidarity, memorializing i...
Aquila Family Charitable Trust
The Aquila Family Charitable Trust is a UK-based grant-making Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) dedicated to advancing a just and transformed...
Architectural Heritage Fund
OpenThe Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF), a UK-registered charity founded in 1976, champions the conservation and sustainable reuse of historic buildings...
Arnold Lee Charitable Trust
The Arnold Lee Charitable Trust is a long-established generalist grant-making charity registered in England and Wales since 1972, administered by a sm...
Article 11 Trust
The Article 11 Trust, founded in 2020 by members of UK protest rights groups like Netpol, is a specialist charitable organisation dedicated to defendi...
Arts Council England
OpenArts Council England is the national development agency championing arts, museums, and libraries, rooted in a post-war vision to advance creativity fo...
Asda Foundation
OpenThe Asda Foundation, an independent charity established in 1988 and funded by Asda Stores, empowers small grassroots community groups across the UK to...
Ashkelon Foundation
The Ashkelon Foundation, established in 1989 and chaired by public figures like former mayor Eli Dayan, is an independent Israeli philanthropy dedicat...
Ashley Family Foundation
OpenThe Ashley Family Foundation, established in 1986 by Sir Bernard and Laura Ashley, embodies a mission to harness creative enterprise for community ben...
Astor Community Arts Trust Ltd
Astor Community Arts Trust Ltd, a registered UK charity and company limited by guarantee established in 1998, sustains the historic Astor Theatre in D...
Avon and Somerset Police Community Trust
OpenThe Avon and Somerset Police Community Trust champions safer, cohesive communities by preventing crime, reducing anti-social behaviour, and educating ...
Aylesford Family Charitable Trust
The Aylesford Family Charitable Trust, registered charity number 328299, is a private family-led philanthropic entity governed by the Aylesford family...
Backstage Trust
OpenBackstage Trust is an independent grant-making trust established in 2012 with a mission to champion live performing arts and music, enabling them to f...
Bala Lake Railway Trust
The Bala Lake Railway Trust, founded in 2013 by railway heritage enthusiasts including Chairman Julian Birley, is a UK charity dedicated to advancing ...
Ballinger Charitable Trust
OpenThe Ballinger Charitable Trust, founded in 1994 by the Ballinger family with deep personal ties to North East England, supports UK-registered charitie...
Barbara and Derek Calrow Charitable Foundation
The Barbara and Derek Calrow Charitable Foundation, a grant-making charitable incorporated organisation established in June 2018 by philanthropists Ro...
Barking and Dagenham Giving
OpenBarking and Dagenham Giving is a place-based funder dedicated to tackling deprivation, inequality, and limited opportunity in one of England's most di...
Barratt Family Charitable Trust
The Barratt Family Charitable Trust, established on 12 April 2001 as a registered grant-making charity in England, is a family-led philanthropic entit...
Bathgate Charitable Trust
Bathgate Charitable Trust, established by trust deed on 1 June 1979, is a longstanding regional funder dedicated to enabling UK charities in Merseysid...
Showing 50 of 704 community development funders
Tips for Applying to Community Development Funders
Community development funders want to see that your organisation is genuinely rooted in the area you serve. Demonstrate local knowledge by referencing specific neighbourhood dynamics, community assets, and the relationships you have built over time — not just census data. Describe a participatory needs assessment process: how did residents themselves identify the issues your project addresses, and how will they continue to shape delivery? Partnership working is essential in this space, so detail your collaborations with other local organisations, statutory agencies, and community groups, explaining what each partner brings and how you avoid duplication. Address sustainability explicitly — funders need confidence that your work will continue beyond the grant period through community ownership, income generation, volunteer capacity, or integration into local infrastructure. Include community asset mapping that shows you understand what already exists and how your project builds on strengths rather than starting from scratch. Strong applications demonstrate that the community drives the agenda rather than the organisation imposing solutions. Show how you reach residents who are typically excluded from community engagement processes, and explain your approach to building social capital and civic participation alongside delivering specific project activities.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Community Development Grants
What grants are available for community development charities in the UK?
There are 704+ UK funders offering grants for community development charities. These range from small community grants under £5,000 to large multi-year funding programmes exceeding £100,000. Use Fundermatcher to find the best match for your organisation.
How much funding can community development organisations get?
Grant amounts for community development charities vary widely depending on the funder and project. Typical grants range from £1,000 to over £100,000. Many funders offer multi-year funding for established organisations with a strong track record.
How do I apply for community development grants?
Start by identifying funders whose priorities align with your community development work. Fundermatcher matches your charity's profile against 704+ funders to find the best fit. Our AI assistant can then help you draft compelling grant applications.
How to Find the Right Community Development Funders
Describe Your Charity
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