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

50 of 639 match your filters

Checked against verified programme data for 86 of 639 funders. 553 not yet verified are listed below; 36 that don't fit were excluded.

ABF The Soldiers' Charity

Matching programme: Charitable Grants to Organisations

ABF The Soldiers' Charity, also known as the Army Benevolent Fund, is the British Army's national charity established in 1944 during World War II to p...

Grant Range
£5,000 - £25,000

Addington Fund

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

Albert Van Den Bergh Charitable Trust

Matching programme: General grants

The Albert Van Den Bergh Charitable Trust is an independent, family-led grant-making charity established in 1987 by James Philip van den Bergh via a s...

Grant Range
£500 - £5,000

Bank of Scotland Foundation

Matching programme: Empower

Bank of Scotland Foundation is an independent charitable foundation with a mission to combat persistent social exclusion, disadvantage, and deprivatio...

Grant Range
Contact funder

Baring Foundation

Matching programme: Arts Programme

The Baring Foundation, an independent London-based charitable foundation established in 1969 as Barings Bank's corporate arm and fully independent sin...

Grant Range
£20,000 - £90,000

BT Benevolent Fund

Matching programme: BT Benevolent Fund (single programme for individuals)

The BT Benevolent Fund is an independent charity with a foundational mission to relieve acute financial distress and poverty among past and present BT...

Grant Range
£500 - £3,000

Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, UK Branch

Matching programme: Civic Tech UK-Portugal Exchange Programme

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

Clothworkers' Foundation

Matching programme: Open Grants Programme – Large Grant

The Clothworkers' Foundation, established in 1977 by The Clothworkers' Company—one of London’s historic Great Twelve Livery Companies—serves as its pr...

Grant Range
From £500

Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation

Matching programme: Education grants

The Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation (CISWO), established in 1920 with charitable status since 1995, is the UK's sole national charity dedica...

Grant Range
£1,000 - £10,000

CPF Trust

Matching programme: Standard Grants

The CPF Trust is a grant-making charity committed to strengthening UK charities by providing flexible financial support for diverse charitable purpose...

Grant Range
£1,000 - £3,000

Csis Charity Fund

Matching programme: Grant Giving Programme

The CSIS Charity Fund is an independent UK charity, operating for over a century and formally established as a charitable company in 2008, dedicated t...

Grant Range
£15,000 - £75,000

Dowager Countess Eleanor Peel Trust

Matching programme: Travelling Fellowship

The Dowager Countess Eleanor Peel Trust, established in 1951 via the will of Eleanor, Dowager Countess Peel, is a UK-based endowment charity rooted in...

Grant Range
£5,000 - £25,000

E H Smith Charitable Trust

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

Edgar E Lawley Foundation

Matching programme: General Grant Programme

The Edgar E Lawley Foundation, established in 1961, drives a philanthropic mission to advance social welfare and alleviate disadvantage through flexib...

Grant Range
£2,000 - £2,000

G C Gibson Charitable Trust

Matching programme: Annual Grant Round

The GC Gibson Charitable Trust is a family-stewarded philanthropic fund with a mission to deliver sustained, meaningful support to small and medium-si...

Grant Range
£1,000 - £10,000

Greater Glasgow Health Board Endowment Funds

Matching programme: Endowment Funds General Grant

Greater Glasgow and Clyde Healthcare Charity advances health and wellbeing by enhancing NHS services through charitable funding for innovation, resear...

Grant Range
£10,000 - £50,000

Green Hall Foundation

Matching programme: May Round

The Green Hall Foundation, established in 1976 by Yorkshire philanthropist Constance Vera Green and renamed in 2013 to honor Colonel Henry Robert Hall...

Grant Range
£1,000 - £10,000

Grocers' Charity

Matching programme: Open Grants

The Grocers' Charity, the philanthropic arm of London's ancient Worshipful Company of Grocers rooted in the 14th-century Guild of Pepperers, advances ...

Grant Range
Up to £5,000

Independent Age

Matching programme: Boosting Advice Grant Fund 2026

Independent Age, a UK charity founded over 150 years ago, is dedicated to eliminating financial hardship for older people, envisioning a society where...

Grant Range
£75,000 - £150,000

Inman Charity

Matching programme: The Inman Charity

The Inman Charity is a UK-based grantmaking trust established in 1970 by the Inman family, dedicated to enhancing wellbeing and care for vulnerable gr...

Grant Range
£2,000 - £5,000

Jane Hodge Foundation

Matching programme: General Grants

The Jane Hodge Foundation, established in 1962 by Welsh entrepreneur Sir Julian Hodge in memory of his mother Jane, is a family-governed grantmaker fu...

Grant Range
£2,000 - £20,000

Joseph Rank Trust

Matching programme: General Fund

The Joseph Rank Trust is an independent Christian grant-maker established in 2002 from charities founded by Joseph Rank (1854–1943) and family between...

Grant Range
£10,000 - £50,000

Marsh Christian Trust

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

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

McCarthy & Stone Charitable Foundation

Matching programme: Creating Connections Grants Programme

The McCarthy & Stone Charitable Foundation, established in November 2020 by retirement housing developer McCarthy Stone, is dedicated to combating lon...

Grant Range
£500 - £7,500

Merchant Company Endowments Trust

Matching programme: Endowments Trust

The Merchant Company Endowments Trust upholds a historic mission of preventing and relieving poverty and hardship among elderly individuals over 55, e...

Grant Range
£2,000 - £5,000

Merchants House Of Glasgow

Matching programme: Association for the Relief of Infirmity in the West of Scotland Grant

The Merchants House of Glasgow, one of the city's oldest institutions formally constituted in 1605, evolved from advancing merchant interests into a l...

Grant Range
£500 - £10,000

Neighbourly Foundation

Matching programme: Neighbourly Foundation Grant Programme

Neighbourly Foundation, a UK-registered charity (1189514) established in March 2020 as the charitable arm of Neighbourly Limited, emerged in response ...

Grant Range
£400 - £1,500

Ogilvie Charities

Matching programme: Essential Household Items

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

Percy Bilton Charity

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 Sowerby Foundation

Matching programme: Good Causes Fund

The Peter Sowerby Foundation, established in 2011 by Dr Peter Sowerby—a rural North Yorkshire GP and co-founder of EMIS—with a substantial endowment, ...

Grant Range
£10,000 - £25,000

Professionals Aid Council

Matching programme: Children's Education

The Professionals Aid Council, operating as the Professionals Aid Guild (PAG) since its founding in 1914, is a longstanding UK occupational charity de...

Grant Range
£250 - £3,000

Queensberry House Trust

Matching programme: 25th Anniversary Grants Programme

Queensberry House Trust is a Scottish charitable foundation established in 1996 from the sale of Queensberry House Hospital on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile,...

Grant Range
£5,000 - £15,000

Rank Foundation Limited

Matching programme: Pebble Grants

The Rank Foundation Limited, established in 1953 by Arthur Rank, is a UK-wide charitable funder rooted in enterprise, Christian faith, and community s...

Grant Range
£10,000 - £50,000

Rayne Foundation

Matching programme: Better Careers for Better Care

The Rayne Foundation, an independent UK charitable trust founded in 1962 by Lord Max Rayne, advances social cohesion by building bridges between diver...

Grant Range
£10,000 - £30,000

Road Safety Trust

Matching programme: Large Grants 2026/27

The Road Safety Trust, an independent UK grant-giving charity established in 2014, is dedicated to reducing deaths and serious injuries on UK roads th...

Grant Range
£10,000 - £50,000

Robert McAlpine Foundation

Matching programme: Core Grant Programme

The Robert McAlpine Foundation, established in 1963 by the McAlpine family, drives positive social change by supporting small UK charities that enhanc...

Grant Range
£2,500 - £10,000

Royal Variety Charity

Matching programme: Grant Scheme

The Royal Variety Charity, founded in 1908 as the Variety Artistes' Benevolent Fund and patronised by the reigning monarch since the early 20th centur...

Grant Range
£500 - £2,500

Royal Warrant Holders' Charity

Matching programme: Royal Warrant Holders' Charity Grants

The Royal Warrant Holders' Charity, established in 1897 and governed by a deed last amended in 2024, empowers Royal Warrant Holding companies and thei...

Grant Range
Up to £3,000

RSABI

Matching programme: Flooding Fund

RSABI is a longstanding Scottish charity dedicated to relieving hardship and enhancing wellbeing for individuals and dependents connected to agricultu...

Grant Range
Contact funder

Schroder Charity Trust

Matching programme: Schroder Charity Trust

Schroder Charity Trust is an independent UK grant-making family trust with a mission to empower disadvantaged children, young adults, and vulnerable c...

Grant Range
Up to £5,000

Skipton Building Society Charitable Foundation

Matching programme: Skipton Building Society Charitable Foundation Grant Programme

Skipton Building Society Charitable Foundation champions the right to a safe home and financial independence for those facing hardship, with a mission...

Grant Range
£5,000 - £10,000

Stafford Trust

Matching programme: Stafford Trust Grants

The Stafford Trust, an independent grant-making charitable trust established in 1991 in Scotland, supports UK-registered charities to promote welfare,...

Grant Range
£500 - £5,000

Trades House of Glasgow

Matching programme: The Incorporation of Bonnetmakers and Dyers of Glasgow Training & Education Charity Funding

The Trades House of Glasgow, established in 1605 as a historic charitable institution rooted in the city's craft guilds, protects and supports Glasgow...

Grant Range
£1,000 - £10,000

UK Community Foundations

Matching programme: Nationwide Community Grants

UK Community Foundations (UKCF) is the national network of 46 accredited community foundations across the UK, established in 1975 as the fourth larges...

Grant Range
£1,000 - £25,000

W H Smith Group Charitable Trust

Matching programme: National Literacy Partnership

The W H Smith Group Charitable Trust, also known as the WHSmith Trust, is an independent grantmaking charity established in 1992 by the UK retailer WH...

Grant Range
Up to £1,000

William Adlington Cadbury Charitable Trust

Matching programme: International Development

The William Adlington Cadbury Charitable Trust, established in 1923 by Quaker philanthropist William Cadbury—former Lord Mayor of Birmingham—advances ...

Grant Range
£250 - £50,000

William and Patricia Venton Charitable Trust

Matching programme: main grant programme

The William and Patricia Venton Charitable Trust is a private endowed UK charity established from the estate of Patricia Venton in memory of her husba...

Grant Range
£5,000 - £20,000

Wise Music Foundation

Matching programme: Wise Music Foundation Grants

Wise Music Foundation, originally established as The Music Sales Charitable Trust in 1990 by the Wise family of Wise Music Group, is a UK-based grantm...

Grant Range
£500 - £5,000

Woodroffe Benton Foundation

Matching programme: Small Grant Programme

The Woodroffe Benton Foundation is an independent UK grant-making charity established in 1988 by Alfred Woodroffe Benton and formalized in 1999 after ...

Grant Range
£500 - £2,500
553 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