Older People639+ Funders

Older People Grants & Funding

There are 639 UK funders offering grants for older people charities, with typical awards from £50 to £200,000.

With an ageing population, UK funders are increasingly investing in services that support older people to live well, stay connected, and maintain independence. Grants in this area cover a wide spectrum: befriending and social isolation reduction, dementia support, falls prevention, digital inclusion for older people, day centres, and care home activity programmes. Several dedicated trusts — such as the Dunhill Medical Trust and the Rayne Foundation — focus specifically on ageing. Larger general funders like the Big Lottery Fund and Henry Smith Charity also prioritise projects for older people. Community-based approaches are strongly favoured: lunch clubs, intergenerational projects, community transport, and age-friendly neighbourhood initiatives. The pandemic accelerated funder interest in tackling loneliness among older people, and this remains a key funding priority. Grant-makers value projects that treat older people as active participants rather than passive recipients, and organisations that involve older people in governance and service design score well in applications.

Quick Stats

Total Funders
639
Grant Range
£50 - £200,000
Open to Applications
60%

Older People Funders

71 of 639 match your filters

Checked against verified programme data for 117 of 639 funders. 522 not yet verified are listed below; 46 that don't fit were excluded.

Addington Fund

Verified open

Matching programme: Emergency Relief (Forage Aid)

The Addington Fund is an independent UK charity established in 2001 in response to the classical swine fever and foot-and-mouth outbreaks, dedicated t...

Grant Range
Up to £3,000

Bolton Community and Voluntary Services

Verified open

Matching programme: Bolton Housing Partnership Grants – Individuals

Bolton Community and Voluntary Services (Bolton CVS) is a registered charity and local infrastructure organisation dedicated to strengthening the volu...

Grant Range
£3,000 - £5,000

Buckinghamshire Community Foundation

Verified open

Matching programme: Health Equity Fund

Buckinghamshire Community Foundation, operating as Heart of Bucks, serves as a catalyst for social change by connecting philanthropy to local causes, ...

Grant Range
£2,000 - £10,000

C B and H H Taylor 1984 Trust

Verified open

Matching programme: Birmingham & West Midlands County

The C B and H H Taylor 1984 Trust, a family-founded charitable trust rooted in Quaker heritage, pursues a mission to advance peacebuilding, social jus...

Grant Range
£500 - £2,000

Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, UK Branch

Verified open

Matching programme: Short Term Conference and Travel Grant to Students and Young Academics in Armenia

The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation UK Branch, established in 1956 from the bequest of Armenian oil magnate Calouste Gulbenkian, is a London-based arm ...

Grant Range
£10,000 - £600,000

Chalk Cliff Trust

Verified open

Matching programme: Chalk Cliff Trust – Main Grant Programme

Chalk Cliff Trust is a family-led charitable foundation with a mission to advance grassroots charitable activity benefiting local communities through ...

Grant Range
£3,000 - £5,000

Cheshire Community Foundation Limited

Verified open

Matching programme: Cheshire Minds Matter

Cheshire Community Foundation Limited, established in 2011, is an independent regional charity serving Cheshire East, Cheshire West, and Warrington wi...

Grant Range
£1,000 - £25,000

Cole Charitable Trust

Verified open

Matching programme: Cole Charitable Trust grants

The Cole Charitable Trust is an independent grant-making trust dedicated to fostering positive change in local communities through support for small g...

Grant Range
£1,000 - £2,000

Community Foundation for Wiltshire & Swindon

Verified open

Matching programme: Community Grants

Wiltshire and Swindon Community Foundation, founded in 1975 as an independent charity (formerly Community Foundation for Wiltshire & Swindon), tackles...

Grant Range
£750 - £5,000

Community Foundation North East

Verified open

Matching programme: General Application

Community Foundation North East, established in 1988 by local business and civic leaders in North East England, serves as the UK's largest community f...

Grant Range
Up to £25,000

Consolidated Charity of Burton Upon Trent

Verified open

Matching programme: Financial Assistance for Individuals (Education, Personal Development, Sport, Arts)

The Consolidated Charity of Burton upon Trent is a centuries-old endowed charity rooted in local philanthropic traditions, dedicated to delivering pub...

Grant Range
£1,500 - £34,000

Cornwall Community Foundation

Verified open

Matching programme: Small Grants (under £5,000)

Cornwall Community Foundation, established in 2003 as a registered charity and company limited by guarantee, is the sole community foundation serving ...

Grant Range
£500 - £10,000

Cripplegate Foundation

Verified open

Matching programme: Disability Fund

Cripplegate Foundation drives lasting social change to build an equal society free from poverty and inequality, empowering residents to access opportu...

Grant Range
Up to £5,000

Croydon Relief in Need Charity

Verified open

Matching programme: Individual Grant (via Third-Party Organisation)

Croydon Relief in Need Charity (CRiN), rooted in ancient endowments consolidated under Croydon Almshouse Charities Trustee Company Limited, is a local...

Grant Range
£5,000 - £30,000

Derbyshire Community Foundation

Verified open

Matching programme: Foundation Derbyshire Grants

Foundation Derbyshire embodies a mission to enhance community life and combat disadvantage through empowering grassroots charities and voluntary group...

Grant Range
£500 - £10,000

Dorset Community Foundation

Verified open

Matching programme: SWEF Enterprise Fund

Dorset Community Foundation is an independent grantmaker dedicated to improving lives and fostering thriving, united communities across Dorset by chan...

Grant Range
£1,000 - £5,000

Drapers Charitable Fund

Verified open

Matching programme: Drapers' Charitable Fund

The Drapers Charitable Fund, administered by the historic Worshipful Company of Drapers founded in 1364 by woollen cloth merchants, upholds a mission ...

Grant Range
Up to £25,000

Duke of Devonshire's Charitable Trust

Verified open

Matching programme: Duke of Devonshire's Charitable Trust

The Duke of Devonshire's Charitable Trust is a family-led foundation embodying stewardship, heritage responsibility, and community flourishing through...

Grant Range
£250 - £10,000

E H Smith Charitable Trust

Verified open

Matching programme: General Charitable Grants

The E H Smith Charitable Trust, family-founded in 1944, embodies community responsibility by reinvesting business profits to uplift local communities ...

Grant Range
£500 - £10,000

Eric Wright Charitable Trust

Verified open

Matching programme: Community Grants

The Eric Wright Charitable Trust embodies a founding vision of responsible business stewardship channeling construction industry profits into perpetua...

Grant Range
£500 - £24,000

Eveson Charitable Trust

Verified open

Matching programme: Enhance Grants programme

The Eveson Trust, formerly the Eveson Charitable Trust and converted to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in April 2022, was established under th...

Grant Range
£10,000 - £50,000

February Foundation

Verified open

Matching programme: The February Foundation Main Grant Programme

The February Foundation, an independent UK grant-making charity established in 2006, supports registered charities to deliver practical social impact ...

Grant Range
£2,000 - £10,000

Gay and Peter Hartley's Hillards Charitable Trust

Verified open

Matching programme: Main Grants Programme

Gay and Peter Hartley's Hillards Charitable Trust is a grant-making charity founded by the Hartley family, rooted in the legacy of the Hillards grocer...

Grant Range
£500 - £1,000

Geoffrey Watling Charity

Verified open

Matching programme: General Grant Programme

The Geoffrey Watling Charity embodies entrepreneurial generosity, local pride, and civic friendship, channeling resources to vitalize communities thro...

Grant Range
£1,000 - £30,000

Gerald Micklem Charitable Trust

Verified open

Matching programme: Main Grant Programme

The Gerald Micklem Charitable Trust, established in 1988 by the will of G.H. Micklem C.B.E., is a grant-making trust dedicated to advancing public ben...

Grant Range
£8,000 - £15,000

Guildford Lions Club (CIO)

Verified open

Matching programme: Community Grant Making

Guildford Lions Club (CIO), established in 1967 as a volunteer-driven branch of Lions Clubs International, is a Guildford-based charity dedicated to m...

Grant Range
£500 - £7,500

Hackney Parochial Charities

Verified open

Matching programme: Hackney Parochial Charities Individual Grants

Hackney Parochial Charities, a historic charitable trust established in 1603 with the first legacy from Thomas Heron, is dedicated to relieving povert...

Grant Range
£500 - £2,500

Hadfield Charitable Trust

Verified open

Matching programme: Hadfield Trust Grants

The Hadfield Charitable Trust is a grant-making charity rooted in community stewardship and local impact, dedicated to addressing social needs by empo...

Grant Range
£1,000 - £5,000

Hadrian Trust

Verified open

Matching programme: Hadrian Trust Main Grants

Hadrian Trust, an independent charitable grant-maker founded in 1972, focuses on improving lives in England's North East, specifically Tyne and Wear, ...

Grant Range
£500 - £2,000

Housing Pathways Trust

Verified open

Matching programme: Grass Roots Programme

Housing Pathways Trust, a historic almshouse charity rooted in seventeenth-century principles, drives community transformation by enabling those in ne...

Grant Range
£1,000 - £5,000

Innholders' Charitable Foundation

Verified open

Matching programme: Charity Committee Grant Programme

The Innholders' Charitable Foundation, established in 2014 as the charitable arm of the Worshipful Company of Innholders—a City of London Livery Compa...

Grant Range
£500 - £5,000

James Knott Family Foundation

Verified open

Matching programme: Main Grants Programme

The James Knott Family Foundation, known as the Sir James Knott Trust, was established in 1924 by Tyneside shipowner Sir James Knott to honor his sons...

Grant Range
£1,000 - £10,000

John Moores Foundation

Verified open

Matching programme: Grants for Merseyside

The John Moores Foundation, established in Liverpool in 1964 by philanthropist Sir John Moores, is a family-founded independent grant-maker dedicated ...

Grant Range
£2,000 - £10,000

Len Pick Trust

Verified open

Matching programme: Grant Under £1,000

The Len Pick Trust is a community-rooted grantmaker inspired by the philanthropic legacy of local farmer and benefactor Len Pick, dedicated to deliver...

Grant Range
£500 - £15,000

Lincolnshire Community Foundation CIO

Verified open

Matching programme: Michael Cornish Core Grants Programme

Lincolnshire Community Foundation CIO, established in 2002, is an independent charity dedicated to tackling social inequalities and fostering thriving...

Grant Range
£500 - £10,000

Liverpool Merchants' Guild

Verified open

Matching programme: Liverpool Merchants' Guild Support

Liverpool Merchants' Guild upholds a historic mission of relieving poverty, hardship, and distress among older people through targeted financial suppo...

Grant Range
£1,000 - £6,000

Liversage Trust

Verified open

Matching programme: Household Fund

The Liversage Trust, a historic almshouse charity founded in 1529 in Derby, England, under the will of Robert Liversage, remains dedicated to relievin...

Grant Range
£100 - £400

London Freemasons Charity

Verified open

Matching programme: Standard Grants Programme

The London Freemasons Charity (LFC), established in 2000 as the London Masonic Charitable Trust and run by trustees from the Metropolitan Grand Lodge ...

Grant Range
£3,000 - £10,000

Marsh Christian Trust

Verified open

Matching programme: Grants Programme

The Marsh Charitable Trust (formerly Marsh Christian Trust), established in 1981 by Brian Marsh OBE, is a UK-based funder dedicated to sustaining smal...

Grant Range
£300 - £2,000

Matthews Wrightson Charity Trust

Verified open

Matching programme: General Grant Programme

The Matthews Wrightson Charity Trust advances social welfare by empowering smaller charities and individuals delivering direct benefits to disadvantag...

Grant Range
Contact funder

Milton Keynes Community Foundation Limited

Verified open

Matching programme: Community Roots Project

Milton Keynes Community Foundation is an independent place-based funder with a mission to strengthen communities and improve quality of life by channe...

Grant Range
£1,000 - £15,000

North Wales Police and Community Trust

Verified open

Matching programme: Small Grant Fund

North Wales Police and Community Trust champions safer, cohesive communities through police-partnered initiatives reducing crime, antisocial behaviour...

Grant Range
Contact funder

Northcott Devon Foundation

Verified open

Matching programme: Grants to Individuals and Families

The Northcott Devon Foundation is dedicated to alleviating distress and hardship through practical financial assistance delivering long-term benefits ...

Grant Range
£250 - £5,000

Northern Powergrid Foundation

Verified open

Matching programme: Energy Resilience Grants Programme

Northern Powergrid Foundation champions energy resilience and social equity for communities ravaged by extreme weather, with a mission rooted in preve...

Grant Range
£1,000 - £20,000

Nottingham University Hospitals Charity

Verified open

Matching programme: Responsive grants - small grants under £25,000

Nottingham University Hospitals Charity, independent since 1 April 2016, enhances patient care and wellbeing at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Tr...

Grant Range
£10,000 - £250,000

Ogilvie Charities

Verified open

Matching programme: Specific Charitable Projects

Ogilvie Charities is a longstanding UK funder rooted in Suffolk and Essex, now supporting communities across England and Wales, with a mission to assi...

Grant Range
£250 - £2,000

Patrick Trust

Verified open

Matching programme: The Patrick Trust

The Patrick Trust, established in 1962 by Joseph and Ruth Patrick following their son Andrew's death from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, is a family-roo...

Grant Range
£500 - £2,500

Percy Bilton Charity

Verified open

Matching programme: Grants to Individuals in Need

The Percy Bilton Charity is a grant-making trust rooted in a philanthropic mission to relieve hardship and enhance quality of life for the most disadv...

Grant Range
£2,000 - £5,000

Peter Kershaw Trust

Verified open

Matching programme: Ordinary Grants

The Peter Kershaw Trust, established in 1974 by Peter Kershaw, then Chairman of Joseph Holt Brewery, is a grant-making charity dedicated to combating ...

Grant Range
£2,000 - £10,000

Price Parry Charitable Trust

Verified open

Matching programme: General Grant Programme

The Price Parry Charitable Trust is an unincorporated grant-making trust established under a 1995 will and registered as a UK charity in 2018, rooted ...

Grant Range
£1,000 - £10,000

Showing 50 of 71 matching funders

522 funders not yet verified against these filters

We haven't confirmed these funders' programme details yet, so they may or may not fit. Showing the first 10.

Tips for Applying to Older People Funders

Demonstrate co-design with older people in your application, showing how they have shaped your project from the outset rather than being consulted after decisions are made. Funders increasingly expect older people to hold meaningful roles in governance, delivery, and evaluation. If your project addresses loneliness or social isolation, use validated measurement tools such as the UCLA Loneliness Scale or the De Jong Gierveld Scale to establish baselines and track outcomes — subjective wellbeing measures are valued alongside activity attendance figures. Address digital inclusion as a component of your work, explaining how you help older people access technology confidently while ensuring your project remains accessible to those who are not digitally connected. Describe any intergenerational programming that brings older and younger people together with genuine mutual benefit rather than tokenistic contact. If your project serves people with dementia, explain your dementia-friendly approach including environmental design, communication methods, and staff training. Show an understanding of the diversity within the older population — avoid treating over-65s as a homogeneous group, and explain how your project reaches those most at risk of isolation including older men, people from ethnic minority communities, LGBTQ+ older people, and those in rural areas. Strong applications balance practical support with respect for autonomy and choice.

Frequently Asked Questions about Older People Grants

What grants are available for older people charities in the UK?

There are 639+ UK funders offering grants for older people 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 older people organisations get?

Grant amounts for older people 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 older people grants?

Start by identifying funders whose priorities align with your older people work. Fundermatcher matches your charity's profile against 639+ funders to find the best fit. Our AI assistant can then help you draft compelling grant applications.

How to Find the Right Older People Funders

1

Describe Your Charity

Tell us what your charity does, who you help, and where you work. Takes 30 seconds.

2

Get Matched Instantly

Our AI ranks all 639 older people funders by how well they fit your specific work.

3

Write Winning Applications

Our AI assistant helps you draft and refine grant applications tailored to each funder.

Which of These 639 Funders Are Right for You?

Browsing 639 funders manually takes hours. Describe your charity once and get your top matches ranked by compatibility — in seconds.

  • Personalised match scores
  • Eligibility checks
  • AI grant writer