Environment & Conservation Grants & Funding
There are 417 UK funders offering grants for environment & conservation charities, with typical awards from £100 to £6,000,000.
Environmental and conservation funding in the UK has grown substantially as climate change rises on the national agenda. Funders support a wide range of work: habitat restoration and biodiversity, climate education and campaigning, community energy schemes, sustainable food systems, and urban greening projects. Several dedicated environmental foundations — such as the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation's environment strand and the Garfield Weston Foundation — provide multi-year grants for strategic environmental work. Smaller funders often focus on local conservation: protecting specific habitats, waterways, or species within defined geographic areas. The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports environmental projects with heritage significance. There is growing funder interest in climate justice — projects that address the disproportionate impact of climate change on disadvantaged communities. Nature-based solutions, rewilding, and projects that combine environmental outcomes with health and wellbeing benefits are particularly well-funded. Community-led environmental action consistently attracts strong support from both national and regional funders.
Quick Stats
- Total Funders
- 417
- Grant Range
- £100 - £6,000,000
- Open to Applications
- 54%
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Clear filtersFilters use programme details verified from each funder's own published guidance. Funders we haven't verified yet are listed separately below, never hidden.
Environment & Conservation Funders
19 of 417 match your filtersChecked against verified programme data for 97 of 417 funders. 320 not yet verified are listed below; 78 that don't fit were excluded.
Baywind Energy Community Trust
Verified openMatching programme: Main Grant Programme
Baywind Energy Community Trust champions community-owned renewable energy and environmental sustainability, rooted in the pioneering ethos of the UK's...
Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation
Verified openMatching programme: London Luton Airport Operations Ltd (LLAOL) Community Trust Fund
Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation (BLCF), established in 1999 and registered as a charity in 2001 by founders Geoffrey Farr MBE DL, Sir Samu...
Community Foundation North East
Verified openMatching 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...
Devon Community Foundation
Verified openMatching programme: Small Grants
Devon Community Foundation, established in 1996 as Devon’s largest independent grantmaker and a registered charity, harnesses local philanthropy to st...
Environment Agency
Verified openMatching programme: Local Water Environment Grant
The Environment Agency is a public body dedicated to protecting and enhancing England's environment for sustainable development, creating resilient pl...
Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
Verified openMatching programme: Grants
The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, established in 1961 by Ian Fairbairn in memory of his wife, is one of the UK's largest independent funders, dedicated ...
Friends Provident Charitable Foundation
Verified openMatching programme: Shifting Cultural Perceptions
Friends Provident Charitable Foundation, an independent UK grant-making charity established in 2004 with a £33 million endowment from Friends Providen...
John Ellerman Foundation
Verified openMatching programme: Main Grants programme (2025-2030 strategy)
The John Ellerman Foundation, established in 1971 by John Reeves Ellerman with wealth from shipping, brewing, and other industries—acknowledging its h...
Matthew Good Foundation
Verified openMatching programme: Grants for Good
The Matthew Good Foundation, established in 2011 by Tim and Matthew Good of the John Good Group, honours Matthew’s legacy by amplifying small charitie...
MCS Foundation
Verified openMatching programme: Low Carbon Heating Technician Apprenticeship Grant Scheme
The MCS Foundation, legally the MCS Charitable Foundation (charity number 1165752), was established in 2016 to accelerate a carbon-free future for all...
National Lottery Community Fund
Verified openMatching programme: National Lottery Awards for All England - Environment
The National Lottery Community Fund, legally the Big Lottery Fund, is the UK's largest community funder, established in 2004 as a non-departmental pub...
National Lottery Heritage Fund
Verified openMatching programme: National Lottery Grants for Heritage £10,000–£250,000
The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the UK's largest dedicated heritage funder established in 1994 (with roots in the 1980 National Heritage Memorial ...
Norman Garon Trust
Verified openMatching programme: Norman Garon Trust Main Grant Programme
The Norman Garon Trust, established by local benefactor Norman Garon, drives youth development through scouting, sports, and recreation, harnessing in...
Northern Powergrid Foundation
Verified openMatching 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...
Sackler Trust
Verified openMatching programme: The Sackler Trust
The Sackler Trust is a UK-based grant-making foundation established in 2010 with a mission to advance medical science, healthcare innovation, educatio...
Shanly Foundation
Verified openMatching programme: General Applications Fund
The Shanly Foundation, established in 1994 by property developer Michael Shanly as the charitable arm of the Shanly Group, drives practical, hands-on ...
Trust for Oxfordshire's Environment (Toe) Ltd
Verified openMatching programme: Impact Grants (Local Environment Fund)
The Trust for Oxfordshire's Environment (TOE) Ltd, established in 2011 as an independent environmental funder, protects and restores biodiversity acro...
W F Southall Trust
Verified openMatching programme: W F Southall Trust Main Grant Programme
The W F Southall Trust, established in 1937 by Wilfred Francis Southall, is a Quaker-based family grant-making trust dedicated to advancing Quaker val...
Waterloo Foundation
Verified openMatching programme: World Development WASH Small Grants
The Waterloo Foundation, an independent grant-maker established in 2007 in Cardiff by Heather and David Stevens with an endowment from Admiral Group p...
320 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 Environment & Conservation Funders
Environmental funders expect quantified impact projections in your application. Specify measurable targets such as hectares of habitat restored, tonnes of CO2 saved, species population counts, or trees planted — vague environmental aspirations will not compete against applications with concrete metrics. Demonstrate alignment with established frameworks such as biodiversity net gain requirements, the Nature Recovery Network, or local environment record centre data. If your project involves habitat restoration or species conservation, reference baseline surveys and explain your monitoring methodology for tracking ecological change over time. Community engagement is increasingly important alongside conservation outcomes — show how local people will be involved as volunteers, citizen scientists, or decision-makers rather than passive beneficiaries. Address the relationship between your project and the wider landscape or catchment context, explaining how site-level work contributes to regional environmental priorities. Strong applications in this space combine scientific rigour with accessible communication, demonstrating both ecological expertise and the ability to inspire public engagement. Include partnerships with statutory bodies such as Natural England, local wildlife trusts, or environment agencies that validate your approach and connect your work to strategic environmental planning.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Environment & Conservation Grants
What grants are available for environment & conservation charities in the UK?
There are 417+ UK funders offering grants for environment & conservation 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 environment & conservation organisations get?
Grant amounts for environment & conservation 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 environment & conservation grants?
Start by identifying funders whose priorities align with your environment & conservation work. Fundermatcher matches your charity's profile against 417+ funders to find the best fit. Our AI assistant can then help you draft compelling grant applications.
How to Find the Right Environment & Conservation Funders
Describe Your Charity
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