Sport & Physical Activity Grants & Funding
There are 172 UK funders offering grants for sport & physical activity charities, with typical awards from £100 to £500,000.
Sport and physical activity grants support charities and community organisations using sport as a tool for positive change. Funding comes from dedicated sports bodies — Sport England, sportscotland, Sport Wales, and Sport Northern Ireland — as well as from trusts, foundations, and corporate funders. Projects range from grassroots participation programmes and facility improvements to elite athlete development and sport-for-development initiatives. Many funders in this space focus on using sport to achieve broader social outcomes: reducing youth crime, improving mental health, building community cohesion, and tackling health inequalities. Women's and girls' participation, disability sport, and engaging inactive populations are current priorities. Capital grants are available for facilities — pitches, courts, equipment, and changing rooms — from several dedicated programmes. The emphasis across the sector is on sustainability, inclusion, and reaching those who face the greatest barriers to participation. Community sports clubs, coaching programmes, and outdoor activity projects all attract strong funding support.
Quick Stats
- Total Funders
- 172
- Grant Range
- £100 - £500,000
- Open to Applications
- 62%
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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.
Sport & Physical Activity Funders
36 of 172 match your filtersChecked against verified programme data for 38 of 172 funders. 134 not yet verified are listed below; 2 that don't fit were excluded.
Active Travel England
Matching programme: Active Travel Community Grants
Active Travel England champions walking, wheeling, and cycling as the preferred everyday travel modes in England, rooted in values of inclusivity, inn...
Boris Karloff Charitable Foundation
Matching programme: Single Annual Grant Round
The Boris Karloff Charitable Foundation, established in 1985 by Evelyn Karloff in memory of the iconic actor Boris Karloff, is a UK grant-making trust...
Charities of Thomas Wade and Others
Matching programme: Small Grants Programme
Charities of Thomas Wade and Others, known as Wade's Charity, is a historic Leeds-based grant-making trust established in 1530 by Thomas Wade during H...
Dan Maskell Tennis Trust
Matching programme: Group/Club/Project Grants
The Dan Maskell Tennis Trust, established in 1997 and named after the legendary 'Voice of Wimbledon' Dan Maskell, is a UK charity dedicated to advanci...
England and Wales Cricket Trust
Matching programme: County Grants Fund
The England and Wales Cricket Trust (EWCT), a registered charity (no. 1112540), promotes community participation in cricket as a means of healthy recr...
Football Foundation
Matching programme: Grass Pitch Maintenance Fund
The Football Foundation, established in 2000 by the Premier League, The FA, and the UK Government via Sport England, is the UK's largest sports charit...
Greenham Trust Ltd
Matching programme: Community Grants
Greenham Trust Ltd, founded in 1997 as Greenham Common Community Trust following the closure of RAF Greenham Common, reinvests commercial income from ...
Hawks Charitable Trust
Matching programme: Hawks’ and Ospreys Charitable Trust Awards
The Hawks Charitable Trust advances education at the University of Cambridge through merit-based support for sporting excellence, established by Hawks...
Invictus Games Foundation
Matching programme: Domestic Grants
The Invictus Games Foundation, established in 2014 by Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, harnesses adaptive sport and adventurous challenges to drive p...
J G Graves Charitable Trust
Matching programme: General Grant Programme
The J G Graves Charitable Trust, founded in 1930 by Sheffield businessman and philanthropist John George Graves, is a legacy-driven funder dedicated t...
J P Marland Charitable Trust
Matching programme: The J P Marland Charitable Trust
The J P Marland Charitable Trust is a family-founded discretionary grantmaker with a mission to support worthy charitable causes delivering public ben...
Keith Howard Foundation
Matching programme: Main Grant Programme
The Keith Howard Foundation is an independent charitable trust founded in 2008 with a mission to create lasting societal change and positive impact in...
Letchworth Civic Trust
Matching programme: School Grant
Letchworth Civic Trust, established in 1914 as a company limited by guarantee, is a longstanding grant-making charity rooted in Letchworth Garden City...
Lga Foundation
Matching programme: Grants over £2,000
The LGA Foundation is a family charitable trust with a mission to enhance health and wellbeing while tackling disadvantage among young people in North...
Mary Peters Trust
Matching programme: Make it Happen Award
The Mary Peters Trust champions a sporting legacy by empowering talented young athletes in Northern Ireland to overcome financial barriers and realize...
Mayor's Fund for London
Matching programme: Maths Week London School Activity Grant
The Mayor's Fund for London is an independent, non-partisan charity established in 2008 with the patronage of the Mayor of London, dedicated to tackli...
Millennium Stadium Charitable Trust
Matching programme: Local Grants
The Millennium Stadium Charitable Trust is an independent Welsh grant-maker founded to harness the legacy of the Millennium Stadium for enhancing qual...
Monmouthshire County Council Welsh Church Act Fund
Matching programme: Monmouthshire County Council Welsh Church Act Fund
The Monmouthshire County Council Welsh Church Act Fund, rooted in the 1914 Welsh Church Act, is a charitable trust managed by Monmouthshire County Cou...
Norman Garon Trust
Matching 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...
Norton Foundation
Matching programme: Individual Grants
The Norton Foundation is a UK-based charitable trust dedicated to enhancing the lives of young people under 25, primarily in Birmingham, Solihull, Cov...
People's Postcode Trust
Matching programme: People's Postcode Trust Main Grant Programme
People's Postcode Trust is a registered Scottish charity established in 2009, dedicated to supporting smaller charities and community causes across Sc...
Poundland Foundation
Matching programme: Colleague Match Funding
The Poundland Foundation, a UK-registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation established in April 2021, channels Poundland's charitable legacy to tr...
Ross Foundation
Matching programme: John Ross MBE Community Fund
The Ross Foundation, formally the David Ross Foundation, was established in 2007 by UK entrepreneur and philanthropist David Ross, co-founder of Carph...
Samworth Brothers Community Opportunity Fund
Matching programme: Colleague Sponsored Award
The Samworth Brothers Community Opportunity Fund drives community flourishing through equitable opportunities for disadvantaged young people, rooted i...
Sheffield Grammar School Exhibition Foundation
Matching programme: Sheffield Grammar School Exhibition Foundation Grants
Sheffield Grammar School Exhibition Foundation advances educational opportunity for financially needy local city residents through scholarships, bursa...
Sport England
Matching programme: Main programme
Sport England, a non-departmental public body under the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, was established in 1996 (with roots as The Sports Cou...
Sported Foundation
Matching programme: Barclays Community Sport Fund £1000 Access Grant
Sported Foundation, a UK-wide charity established in 2008, empowers children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds through grassroots sport ...
sportscotland
Matching programme: Club Support Programme
sportscotland, established in 1972 as the Scottish Sports Council by royal charter, serves as Scotland's national agency for sport and an executive no...
Sussex Cricket Foundation
Matching programme: ECB County Grants Fund 2025
The Sussex Cricket Foundation, established in 2015 as the charitable arm of Sussex Cricket Limited, harnesses cricket to transform lives and build res...
Team Forces Foundation
Matching programme: Good Causes Fund
Team Forces Foundation, a UK-registered charity established in 2011, delivers social impact to the armed forces community through funding sport, chall...
Tim Henman Foundation
Matching programme: THF Grants
The Tim Henman Foundation, a UK-registered youth charity relaunched in June 2015 by former world No.4 tennis player Tim Henman OBE, is dedicated to tr...
UK Sport
Matching programme: ChangeMakers Fund – Try It
UK Sport, established by Royal Charter in 1997 as the United Kingdom's high-performance sport agency, drives elite Olympic and Paralympic success to p...
Whirlwind Charitable Trust
Matching programme: Standard Grants
The Whirlwind Charitable Trust, established in 2007 by the Lister Charitable Trust and endowed by Noel and Sylvia Lister, is dedicated to enhancing li...
Will Houghton Foundation
Matching programme: Will Houghton Foundation Grants
The Will Houghton Foundation, established in 2016 in memory of Will Houghton—a passionate cyclist, student, and outdoor advocate who tragically died a...
Wimbledon Foundation
Matching programme: Get Set, Get Active Fund
The Wimbledon Foundation, established in 2013 as the official charity of the All England Lawn Tennis Club and The Championships, channels Wimbledon's ...
Woodsmith Foundation Limited
Matching programme: Community Grants
Woodsmith Foundation Limited, established in 2012 as the York Potash Foundation and now funded by Anglo American via a unique 0.5% revenue share from ...
134 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 Sport & Physical Activity Funders
Align your application with Sport England's Uniting the Movement framework, which prioritises connecting communities, positive experiences for children, active environments, and tackling health inequalities through movement. Reference Active Lives Survey data to demonstrate participation levels and inactivity rates in your target community, showing the specific gap your project addresses. Focus your application on engaging inactive populations rather than serving those who already participate in sport — funders in this space are shifting resources toward the people who face the greatest barriers to being active. Describe your behaviour change approach, referencing models such as COM-B or the transtheoretical model to show that your programme is designed around how people actually change habits rather than assuming that providing activities is sufficient. Address safeguarding in sport explicitly, detailing your policies, training, and culture around protecting participants, particularly children and vulnerable adults. Present sustainability plans that show how participation will continue beyond the funded period — through volunteer coaching capacity, club development, or integration with existing community sport infrastructure. Strong applications demonstrate that your project creates lasting behavioural change rather than short-term participation spikes, and show how you will measure physical activity levels alongside broader social outcomes.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Sport & Physical Activity Grants
What grants are available for sport & physical activity charities in the UK?
There are 172+ UK funders offering grants for sport & physical activity 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 sport & physical activity organisations get?
Grant amounts for sport & physical activity 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 sport & physical activity grants?
Start by identifying funders whose priorities align with your sport & physical activity work. Fundermatcher matches your charity's profile against 172+ funders to find the best fit. Our AI assistant can then help you draft compelling grant applications.
How to Find the Right Sport & Physical Activity Funders
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Which of These 172 Funders Are Right for You?
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