Grants for Community Groups in the UK
There are 1253 UK funders offering grants for community groups, with typical awards from £100 to £1,000,000.
Community groups — including constituted groups, unincorporated associations, and informal community organisations that aren't registered charities — carry out vital work across the UK. From residents' associations and community gardens to sports clubs and mutual aid groups, these grassroots organisations are often the first responders to local needs. Securing funding as an unregistered group can feel daunting, but many funders specifically welcome applications from smaller, less formal organisations. The National Lottery Community Fund Awards for All programme explicitly supports constituted community groups. Community foundations across the UK are designed to fund grassroots activity. Local authorities, parish councils, and neighbourhood partnerships often have small grants available to community groups. Some larger trusts — including the Garfield Weston Foundation and the Henry Smith Charity — will fund unregistered groups through a registered charity acting as a fiscal sponsor. The main requirements for community groups are typically a written constitution or governing document, a bank account in the group's name, and at least three unrelated committee members. Meeting these basic governance standards opens up a significant range of funding opportunities without the need for formal charity registration.
Quick Stats
- Total Funders
- 1253
- Grant Range
- £100 - £1,000,000
- Open to Applications
- 62%
Funders for Community Groups
1253 funders found1887 Alfred Sharp Bingley Educational Trust
The 1887 Alfred Sharp Bingley Educational Trust, established in 1887 as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, advances the education of children and...
1989 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...
1st the Queen's Dragoon Guards Regimental Trust
The 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards Regimental Trust, established in 1977 under a Royal Charter, serves as the central benevolent fund for The Queen's ...
29th May 1961 Charity
OpenThe 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust, founded on 29 May 1961 by Miss Helen M. Martin from Kenilworth, Warwickshire, is an independent generalist grantma...
4 Charity Foundation
The 4 Charity Foundation is a UK-registered charity (number 1077143) dedicated to providing grants to organisations that advance social welfare, relie...
A S Hornby Educational Trust CIO
OpenA S Hornby Educational Trust CIO advances the teaching and learning of English as a foreign language worldwide through targeted professional developme...
A Smile for a Child
OpenA Smile for a Child is a UK-based charitable grant-maker dedicated to improving the lives of disabled and disadvantaged children and young people by r...
Aberlour Child Care Trust
OpenAberlour Children’s Charity, formerly Aberlour Child Care Trust, is a pioneering Scottish children’s charity founded in 1875 to support ‘mitherless ba...
abrdn Charitable Foundation
OpenThe abrdn Charitable Foundation, the philanthropic arm of abrdn plc (formerly Aberdeen Group) and registered in Scotland (SC042597), drives purposeful...
abrdn Financial Fairness Trust
Openabrdn Financial Fairness Trust, formerly Standard Life Foundation, was established in 2009 from unclaimed assets after Standard Life's demutualisation...
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...
Acts 435
OpenActs 435 is a UK-based charity founded in 2009 by the then Archbishop of York, Right Reverend Dr John Sentamu, who remains its patron. It operates as ...
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...
Ahavas Chesed Trust
Ahavas Chesed Trust is a UK-registered charity established in June 2021, founded by trustees Abraham Adler, Isaac Abittan, and Menachem Steinmetz to p...
Al Kawthar Foundation
Al Kawthar Foundation is a UK-registered charity (number 1134628), established in December 2009, dedicated to relieving poverty, sickness, and distres...
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...
Aldgate and Allhallows Foundation
OpenAldgate and Allhallows Foundation is an independent educational grant-making charity with origins in historic endowments from the parishes of Aldgate ...
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 Dunhill Links Foundation
OpenThe Alfred Dunhill Links Foundation, established in June 2011 as the official charity arm of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship golf tournament, ch...
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...
Alkionides UK
OpenAlkionides UK is a volunteer-driven charity rooted in compassion, mutual aid, transparency, and community solidarity, inspired by hope amid crisis. Es...
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...
Allen Lane Foundation
OpenThe Allen Lane Foundation, an independent grant-making trust established in 1966 by Sir Allen Lane, founder of Penguin Books, champions progressive UK...
Alliance House Foundation
Alliance House Foundation, established in 1942 as the United Kingdom Temperance Alliance with roots tracing to 1853, is a pioneering UK charity dedica...
Alymos Ltd
Alymos Ltd is a grant-making charity dedicated to advancing Orthodox Jewish education and relieving poverty and sickness, primarily benefiting the Ort...
Alzheimer's Research UK
OpenAlzheimer's Research UK, established in 1992 as the Alzheimer's Research Trust, is the UK's leading dementia research charity, founded by pioneers mot...
Amar Family Charitable Trust
OpenThe Amar Family Charitable Trust is a family-run grant-making charity established in 2011 and registered in England and Wales, governed by four longst...
Ambergate Charitable Trust
The Ambergate Charitable Trust, registered with the Charity Commission in January 2020, is a family-led grantmaker governed by a volunteer board of tr...
An Ciste Infheistíochta Gaeilge
OpenAn Ciste Infheistíochta Gaeilge is an independent capital development fund dedicated to empowering Irish language communities through strategic invest...
Anadarus Limited
Anadarus Limited is a UK charitable company limited by guarantee, established in 1978 and registered with the Charity Commission (no. 283181), dedicat...
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...
Anchor Society CIO
OpenAnchor Society CIO, established in 1769 as a voluntary association inspired by Edward Colston's philanthropy, is a historic Bristol-based charity dedi...
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 Anderson Trust
OpenThe Andrew Anderson Trust is a Bristol-based family grant-making charity established in 1954 by Andrew Anderson to advance social betterment through p...
Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation
The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, established in 1992 by composer Andrew Lloyd Webber (charity number 1015648), advances arts, culture, and heritage...
Anguish's Educational Foundation
OpenAnguish's Educational Foundation, a longstanding endowed charity rooted in a 1617 bequest by Norwich benefactor Thomas Anguish, is administered by Nor...
Ann Watson's Trust
OpenAnn Watson's Trust, one of the UK's oldest charities established in 1720 by the will of Mrs Ann Watson, wife of Rev. Abraham Watson, upholds a mission...
Anne French Memorial Trust
The Anne French Memorial Trust, established in 1969, is a grantmaking charity deeply embedded in the Church of England, governed by trustees from the ...
Annett Trust
The Annett Trust, established by trust deed on 23 May 2003 and based in Bath, is a grant-making charity operating primarily across England and Wales w...
Anpride Limited
Anpride Limited is a charitable company established in 1983 and registered as a UK charity in 1984, dedicated to advancing general charitable purposes...
Anthem. Music Fund Wales
OpenAnthem. Music Fund Wales, established in 2020 by the Welsh Government and Arts Council of Wales, is a pioneering endowment designed to transform acces...
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...
Archbishop of Wales Fund for Children
The Archbishop of Wales Fund for Children, established in 2001 by the Church in Wales following the Children’s Society’s withdrawal from Wales, was a ...
Ardwick Trust
OpenThe Ardwick Trust is an independent grant-making charity registered since 1974, dedicated to distributing modest grants to UK charities at the trustee...
Areti Charitable Trust
OpenThe Areti Charitable Trust, a UK-registered charity (number 1175627) established by trust deed in 2015 and formally registered in 2017, is governed by...
Armenian Relief Society of Great Britain Trust
The Armenian Relief Society of Great Britain Trust, established in London in 1982 as a branch of the international Armenian Relief Society founded in ...
Showing 50 of 1253 funders for community groups
Tips for Community Groups Applying for Grants
Community groups should address governance clearly in applications. Even without charity registration, funders need confidence that money will be managed properly. Describe your constitution or governing document, your committee structure, and your financial procedures — who authorises spending, who keeps the accounts, and how you report to members. If you have a bank account requiring two signatories, mention this as it demonstrates basic financial control. Demonstrate your roots in the community: how long has the group been active, how many members or participants do you have, and how do local people shape what you do? Community groups' greatest strength is often their authenticity and direct connection to the people they serve — make this visible. Be realistic about the scale of funding you seek: start with small grants (under £10,000) from local funders and community foundations, and build a track record before approaching larger trusts. If a funder requires charity registration, consider whether a local registered charity could act as your fiscal sponsor — receiving the grant and passing it to your group under a formal agreement. Include letters of support from local councillors, partner organisations, or community leaders to validate your group's standing. Keep your application simple, focused, and jargon-free — funders supporting community groups want to hear your authentic voice, not polished fundraising language.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Grants for Community Groups
Can unregistered community groups get grant funding?
Yes. Many funders specifically support constituted community groups that aren't registered charities. The National Lottery Awards for All, community foundations, and local authority grants all welcome applications from constituted community groups with a governing document and group bank account.
What do community groups need to apply for grants?
Most funders require a written constitution or governing document, a bank account in the group's name with at least two unrelated signatories, and a committee of at least three unrelated members. Some funders may also ask for annual accounts or a financial statement.
Should a community group register as a charity to get more funding?
Not necessarily. Many community groups access sufficient funding without charity registration. However, if your income is regularly above £5,000, charity registration opens up more funders and provides tax benefits. Consider registering when the benefits outweigh the additional governance requirements.
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