Grants for Small Charities in the UK
There are 2305 UK funders offering grants for small charities, with typical awards from £300 to £50,000.
Small charities — typically those with annual income under £500,000 — form the backbone of the UK voluntary sector. There are over 140,000 registered charities in this category, yet they often struggle to access grant funding that gets absorbed by larger organisations with dedicated fundraising teams. The good news is that many funders specifically target smaller organisations: they value the agility, local rootedness, and low overheads that small charities offer. The National Lottery Community Fund's Awards for All programme, for example, offers grants of £300 to £10,000 specifically designed for smaller community organisations. Many community foundations, livery companies, and family trusts also prioritise small charities in their giving. Grant sizes typically range from £1,000 to £50,000, with some funders offering multi-year core funding to help small charities build sustainability. The key challenge for small charities is capacity — finding and applying for grants takes time that stretched teams often don't have. Using a matching tool like Fundermatcher can dramatically reduce research time by surfacing the funders most likely to fund your specific work.
Quick Stats
- Total Funders
- 2305
- Grant Range
- £300 - £50,000
- Open to Applications
- 40%
Funders for Small Charities
2305 funders foundAimwell Charitable Trust
The Aimwell Charitable Trust is a grant-making foundation registered in England and Wales (charity number 1039415), established in 1994 to advance gen...
Kehal Charedim Trust
Kehal Charedim Trust, a UK-registered charity established in 2003, is dedicated to furthering Orthodox Judaism, advancing Jewish religious education, ...
Shine: Support and Help in Education
OpenSHINE: Support and Help in Education is a grant-making charity devoted to eradicating educational disadvantage for children from low-income background...
Congregation of Jesus Charitable Trust
The Congregation of Jesus Charitable Trust is the charitable arm of the English Province of the Congregation of Jesus, an international Roman Catholic...
Glasgow City Heritage Trust
OpenGlasgow City Heritage Trust is an independent charity with a foundational mission to safeguard, repair, and promote Glasgow’s historic built environme...
Savoy Educational Trust
OpenThe Savoy Educational Trust, founded in 1961 by directors of The Savoy Hotel Ltd, is an independent UK charitable trust dedicated to advancing educati...
Albert and Eugenie Frost Music Trust CIO
The Albert and Eugenie Frost Music Trust CIO, originally established in 1994 and converted to CIO status in 2022, is a specialist grant-making charity...
Keren Hinda
Keren Hinda is a UK-registered charitable trust established in October 1997, dedicated exclusively to advancing Orthodox Jewish education and alleviat...
Fieldrose Charitable Trust
The Fieldrose Charitable Trust is an independent UK grant-making foundation established in 2014, based in London and overseen by a small, unpaid board...
Thames Water Trust Fund
Thames Water Trust Fund is an independent grant-making charity established in 2009 in partnership with Thames Water, operating with its own board to r...
Rick Mather David Scrase Foundation
The Rick Mather David Scrase Foundation, formed by merging the legacies of architect Rick Mather—renowned for modern museum designs—and art curator Da...
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust Charities
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust Charities, operating as Your City & Metropolitan Hospitals Charity, is an independent charity closely...
R L Charitable Trust
The RL Charitable Trust, founded in 2016 by the Lazar family—including chair Dr John Wilfred Lazar CBE—focuses on transforming the lives of disadvanta...
Mind
Mind is a leading mental health charity in England and Wales, founded in 1946 as the National Association for Mental Health by professionals, voluntar...
Armourers and Brasiers Gauntlet Trust
OpenThe Armourers and Brasiers Gauntlet Trust, an independent grant-making charity established in 1980 and rooted in the 1322-founded Armourers & Brasiers...
Maecenas
Maecenas (charity number 1132363), a grant-making foundation in England and Wales governed by trustees Simon Patrick Weil and Jonathan Francis Weil, a...
Brownsword Charitable Foundation
The Brownsword Charitable Foundation, established in July 1992 by Andrew Douglas Brownsword, is an independent UK grant-making charity with a core mis...
Royal Air Force Central Fund
OpenThe Royal Air Force Central Fund is a specialized charitable supporter established in 1919, dedicated exclusively to enhancing the wellbeing of the se...
Broome Family Charitable Trust
The Broome Family Charitable Trust, a small private grant-making charity (number 1083281) established in November 2000 and based in Stockport, Cheshir...
Jan and Catherine Nasmyth Charitable Foundation
The Jan and Catherine Nasmyth Charitable Foundation, a grant-making charitable incorporated organisation established in April 2017 by Catherine Nasmyt...
Bourneheights Limited
Bourneheights Limited is a discreet, long-established grant-making charity registered in England and Wales since 1988 (incorporated 1984), governed by...
MCS Charitable Foundation
OpenMCS Charitable Foundation is an independent charity established in 2016 with a mission to accelerate widespread adoption of renewable energy and low c...
David and Julia Hunter Charitable Trust
The David and Julia Hunter Charitable Trust, established in 2001 as a UK-registered grant-making charity, embodies the personal philanthropy of its na...
Schottlander Research Charitable Trust
The Schottlander Research Charitable Trust, established in April 2015 by the Schottlander family (charity number 1161384), advances public health and ...
Jusaca Charitable Trust
OpenThe Jusaca Charitable Trust, founded by deed on 3 April 1992 by philanthropist Ralph Neville Emanuel, is a discretionary grant-making trust dedicated ...
AlixPartners (UK) Charitable Foundation
The AlixPartners (UK) Charitable Foundation, established in 2010 by the global consulting firm AlixPartners (charity number 1134913), is a grant-makin...
Joseph and Lilian Sully Foundation
The Joseph and Lilian Sully Foundation, established in 1992 as the principal beneficiary of Lilian Sully's residuary estate, is a trustee-led grant-ma...
Palmtree Foundation Trust Limited
The Palmtree Foundation Trust Limited, established as a charitable company in April 2011 (charity number 1141101), is a UK-based funder dedicated excl...
Valeria Sykes Charitable Foundation CIO
OpenThe Valeria Sykes Charitable Foundation CIO, established by philanthropist Valeria Sykes, is a targeted grant-making charity (reg. 1166968) with a cle...
Cathy Wills Charitable Trust
The Cathy Wills Charitable Trust, a UK-registered charitable incorporated organisation established in July 2022, stems from the division of the Cecil ...
Joseph Rank Trust
OpenThe Joseph Rank Trust is an independent Christian grant-maker established in 2002 from charities founded by Joseph Rank (1854–1943) and family between...
Vivien and Peter Beckwith Young Musicians Trust
OpenThe Vivien and Peter Beckwith Young Musicians Trust, founded in 1992 by Peter Beckwith OBE with involvement from Vivien McLean Beckwith and trustee Le...
Wolfson Family Charitable Trust
OpenThe Wolfson Family Charitable Trust (WFCT), established in 1958 by the Wolfson family, is a private grantmaking trust rooted in the philanthropic lega...
Anya Sturdy Charitable Trust for Medical Research
The Anya Sturdy Charitable Trust for Medical Research, an unincorporated trust established by deed in February 2006 by the Sturdy and Woods families, ...
Bishop Radford Trust
OpenThe Bishop Radford Trust is a Christian grantmaking foundation established in 2006 by Suzannah O’Brien’s mother, rooted in the family’s legacy to bols...
Isle of Wight NHS Trust Charitable Funds
The Isle of Wight NHS Trust Charitable Funds is a registered charity with the Isle of Wight NHS Trust as its corporate trustee, dedicated to enhancing...
Reifer Memorial Limited
Reifer Memorial Limited is a UK-based charitable company established on 18 February 1985 and registered with the Charity Commission (number 1049361), ...
Lennox Hannay Charitable Trust
OpenThe Lennox Hannay Charitable Trust pursues a mission to advance the public good by flexibly supporting diverse charitable purposes responsive to evolv...
Alexander Pigott Wernher Memorial Trust
The Alexander Pigott Wernher Memorial Trust, established in 1970 as a UK-registered grant-making charity, honors its namesake through a tightly focuse...
MacRobert Trust 2019
OpenThe MacRobert Trust 2019 is a Scottish charity established in memory of Lady Rachel MacRobert's three sons, lost as aviators in World War II, embodyin...
Robert and Felicity Waley-Cohen Charitable Trust
The Robert and Felicity Waley-Cohen Charitable Trust, established in 1976 by Robert and Felicity Waley-Cohen, is a family-led philanthropic entity wit...
Sports Council for Wales
OpenSport Wales, formally the Sports Council for Wales, is a government-established national organization founded in 1972 to develop and promote sport and...
Robertson Trust
OpenThe Robertson Trust, Scotland's largest independent grant-making trust, was founded in 1961 by sisters Elspeth, Agnes, and Ethel Robertson, who donate...
Rowlands Trust
OpenThe Rowlands Trust is a grant-making charity established in line with Mr. Rowlands’ Will, dedicated to fostering sustainable community impact through ...
Postcode Community Trust
OpenPostcode Community Trust, an independent Scottish-registered charity (SC044772) founded in 2014 and funded solely by the People’s Postcode Lottery, em...
David Family Foundation
The David Family Foundation, a UK-registered charity (number 1123198) established in 2008, advances education, promotes the arts, protects the environ...
Z V M Rangoonwala Foundation
OpenThe Z V M Rangoonwala Foundation, a UK-registered family charity established in 1976 from the 1967 ZVMG Rangoonwala Trust in Pakistan, upholds founder...
Kenneth and Barbara Boardman-Weston Charitable Trust
The Kenneth and Barbara Boardman-Weston Charitable Trust is a family-governed charity stewarded across generations of the Boardman-Weston family, root...
Bamford Charitable Foundation
The Bamford Charitable Foundation, established in 1980 by Lord Anthony Bamford (chair of JCB) and Lady Carole Bamford, is an independent grant-making ...
Cymdeithas Elusennol Ynys Mon
OpenCymdeithas Elusennol Ynys Môn is an independent, community-led charitable foundation established in 2017 as the successor to the Isle of Anglesey Char...
Showing 50 of 2305 funders for small charities
Tips for Small Charities Applying for Grants
Small charities have distinct advantages in grant applications — use them. Funders choosing to support smaller organisations want to see your closeness to beneficiaries, so describe the direct relationships and feedback loops you have with the people you serve. Don't apologise for your size; instead, demonstrate your cost-effectiveness by showing what you achieve relative to your budget. Many funders ask for audited accounts, but if your income is below the audit threshold, explain this clearly and provide your independent examination report instead. Be realistic about your capacity: funders would rather see a focused, deliverable project than an overambitious plan that your team cannot sustain. If you lack a track record with a particular funder, reference similar work you have successfully delivered, even on a smaller scale. Address governance by highlighting trustee skills and how your board provides oversight proportionate to your size. Small charities often win funding by being specific — rather than claiming to serve an entire region, demonstrate deep impact in a defined community or with a clear beneficiary group. Finally, if the funder offers development support or capacity-building alongside the grant, mention that you would welcome this — it signals self-awareness and a commitment to organisational growth.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Grants for Small Charities
What counts as a small charity in the UK?
There is no single definition, but most funders consider charities with annual income under £500,000 as "small". Some programmes target even smaller organisations — under £100,000 or £50,000 income. The Charity Commission classifies charities with income under £500,000 as small to medium.
Can small charities get core funding (not just project grants)?
Yes. Several funders specifically offer core or unrestricted funding for small charities, including the Lloyds Bank Foundation, Tudor Trust, and Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. Core funding covers running costs like rent, salaries, and admin — not just specific projects.
How do small charities compete with larger organisations for grants?
Many funders prefer small charities because of their grassroots connections and cost-effectiveness. Use Fundermatcher to find funders that specifically target small organisations. Focus applications on your unique community knowledge, direct beneficiary relationships, and efficient delivery rather than trying to match the scale of larger charities.
How to Find the Right Funders
Describe Your Organisation
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Which of These 2305 Funders Are Right for You?
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