Northern Ireland Charity Grants
Find charity grants in Northern Ireland including Belfast, Derry/Londonderry, and organisations across all Northern Irish counties.
Northern Ireland's funding landscape is uniquely shaped by its post-conflict context, creating both distinct challenges and dedicated funding streams that exist nowhere else in the UK. The legacy of the Troubles continues to influence community needs, with many funders supporting peace-building, cross-community reconciliation, and work that addresses the intergenerational trauma experienced by communities across Northern Ireland. This peace-building strand represents a significant funding opportunity for charities doing relevant work. The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland is a central pillar of the local funding ecosystem, managing a diverse portfolio of funds and distributing grants to organisations working across the region. It serves as an essential gateway for charities seeking local funding and maintains deep relationships with both local and international donors interested in supporting Northern Irish communities. The International Fund for Ireland and various EU-linked peace programmes have historically provided substantial funding, though the landscape has evolved since Brexit. Cross-border funding with the Republic of Ireland remains a distinctive feature of the Northern Irish landscape. Several funding programmes support work that spans the border, particularly in areas such as health, education, and economic development. Charities positioned to deliver cross-border programmes can access funding streams that are unavailable to organisations in other parts of the UK. The funder pool in Northern Ireland is smaller than in England or Scotland, but it is characterised by deep dedication to the region and a strong understanding of local context. Belfast and Derry/Londonderry concentrate much of the charitable infrastructure, but rural communities across all counties have their own distinct needs. Charities seeking grants in Northern Ireland should demonstrate awareness of the post-conflict context and the specific social, economic, and community dynamics that shape life in the region.
Funders in Northern Ireland
36 funders foundAn Ciste Infheistíochta Gaeilge
OpenAn Ciste Infheistíochta Gaeilge is an independent capital development fund dedicated to empowering Irish language communities through strategic invest...
ARN Foundation
OpenThe ARN Foundation is an independent charitable trust dedicated to advancing general charitable purposes across the UK, with a primary focus on Northe...
Artists' General Benevolent Institution
OpenThe Artists' General Benevolent Institution (AGBI), founded in 1814 by J.M.W. Turner and granted Royal Charter in 1842, is the UK's oldest artist-led ...
Arts Council of Northern Ireland
OpenThe Arts Council of Northern Ireland (ACNI), established in 1962, is the principal public funding body for the arts in Northern Ireland, distributing ...
Atlas Memorial Limited
OpenAtlas Memorial Limited advances poverty prevention and relief through targeted grants enhancing education, general welfare, and living conditions for ...
British Film Institute
OpenThe British Film Institute, established by Royal Charter in 1933, leads UK efforts to advance film, television, and moving image culture through prese...
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, UK Branch
OpenThe Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation UK Branch, established in 1956 from the bequest of Armenian oil magnate Calouste Gulbenkian, is a London-based arm ...
Co-operation Ireland
OpenCo-operation Ireland, established in 1979 as Co-operation North, is an all-island peace-building charity dedicated to fostering reconciliation and pos...
Comic Relief
OpenComic Relief, founded in 1985 by Richard Curtis, Sir Lenny Henry, and Jane Tewson in response to the Ethiopian famine, is a pioneering UK charity that...
Community Foundation for Northern Ireland
OpenThe Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, established in 1979 as the Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust, is an independent grant-making body with o...
Developing Healthy Communities (DHC) Limited
OpenDeveloping Healthy Communities (DHC) Limited is a longstanding Northern Ireland-registered charity with over 30 years of experience transforming lives...
Drapers Charitable Fund
OpenThe Drapers Charitable Fund, administered by the historic Worshipful Company of Drapers founded in 1364 by woollen cloth merchants, upholds a mission ...
Enkalon Foundation
OpenThe Enkalon Foundation embodies a mission rooted in community resilience and social welfare, originating from support for former factory workers facin...
Fermanagh Trust
OpenThe Fermanagh Trust, an independent community foundation established in 1995, serves as the sole dedicated funder for County Fermanagh, Northern Irela...
Focus Foundation
OpenFocus Foundation, established in 2021 as the philanthropic arm of Focus Group, drives sustainable community development and social equity by bridging ...
Garfield Weston Trust Ulster University
OpenThe Garfield Weston Trust Ulster University (GWT), established in January 1969 with an endowment from philanthropist Willard Garfield Weston, is dedic...
Groundwork UK
OpenGroundwork UK, established in 1981 from the Countryside Commission’s Operation Groundwork, champions practical community action to alleviate poverty a...
Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland
OpenHalifax Foundation for Northern Ireland, established over 40 years ago and funded entirely by Lloyds Banking Group profits as one of four autonomous H...
Heart Trust Fund (Belfast Heart Centre)
OpenThe Heart Trust Fund (Belfast Heart Centre), a registered Northern Irish charity likely established in the late 1980s or early 1990s, advances cardiac...
Honourable the Irish Society
OpenThe Honourable the Irish Society, established by Royal Charter in 1613 as an offshoot of the City of London Corporation, originally oversaw the Planta...
James Kane Foundation
OpenThe James Kane Foundation advances education for public benefit through non-statutory work experience, employment training, and pathways into occupati...
James Tudor Foundation
OpenThe James Tudor Foundation is an independent grantmaker dedicated to relieving sickness and advancing health and wellbeing through targeted support fo...
John Moores Foundation
OpenThe John Moores Foundation, established in Liverpool in 1964 by philanthropist Sir John Moores, is a family-founded independent grant-maker dedicated ...
Leukaemia & Lymphoma Ni
OpenLeukaemia & Lymphoma NI is Northern Ireland's sole charity dedicated to funding research into blood cancers including leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma, an...
LFT Charitable Trust
OpenLFT Charitable Trust is a Belfast-based family foundation funded primarily by Alterity Investments, dedicated exclusively to grant-making for high-imp...
Mary Peters Trust
OpenThe Mary Peters Trust champions a sporting legacy by empowering talented young athletes in Northern Ireland to overcome financial barriers and realize...
Motor Neurone Disease Association
OpenThe Motor Neurone Disease Association (MND Association), founded in 1979 by people affected by MND, is the UK's only national charity dedicated exclus...
Northern Ireland Community Development Health Network Ltd
OpenCommunity Development and Health Network (CDHN) champions community development to eradicate health inequalities in Northern Ireland, recognizing heal...
Northern Ireland Kidney Research Fund
OpenThe Northern Ireland Kidney Research Fund (NIKRF), founded in 1971 by Mrs Josie Kerr MBE, is the leading independent charity dedicated exclusively to ...
Northern Ireland Screen Commission
OpenNorthern Ireland Screen Commission, established in 1989 as the Northern Ireland Film Council and reconstituted in 1997, serves as the national screen ...
Ovo Charitable Foundation
OpenThe OVO Charitable Foundation, established in 2014 by OVO Energy, drives a greener, brighter future for young people by tackling climate change and en...
Presbyterian Children's Society
OpenThe Presbyterian Children's Society, established in 1866 in Belfast as the Presbyterian Orphan Society, is a Christian charity rooted in Presbyterian ...
Queen's Nursing Institute
OpenThe Queen's Nursing Institute (QNI), now Queen's Institute of Community Nursing, is a UK charity founded in 1887 by William Rathbone VI to enhance nur...
Royal Academy of Engineering
OpenThe Royal Academy of Engineering, the UK’s national academy for engineering established in 1976 and granted a royal charter in 1983, harnesses the exp...
Swan Mountain Trust
OpenThe Swan Mountain Trust, an independent UK grant-making charity established in 1978, is dedicated to addressing the needs of vulnerable populations, w...
Ulster Garden Villages Limited
OpenUlster Garden Villages Limited (UGV), a Belfast-based charitable foundation established in 1946, originally tackled post-war housing shortages in Nort...
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Helpful Guides
Practical advice for your grant applications
Frequently Asked Questions about Northern Ireland Grants
What grants are available for charities in Northern Ireland?
There are 36+ funders supporting charities in Northern Ireland. These include national trusts and foundations as well as regional funders specifically focused on Northern Ireland. Grant sizes range from under £1,000 to over £100,000.
How many funders support charities in Northern Ireland?
Fundermatcher lists 36+ funders that provide grants to charities operating in Northern Ireland. This includes both funders based in the region and national funders that accept applications from Northern Ireland organisations.
How do I find funding for my charity in Northern Ireland?
Use Fundermatcher to match your Northern Ireland charity with suitable funders. Create a free profile describing your work, and our AI will match you with the most relevant funders from our database of 3,500+ UK grant-makers.
How to Find Funding for Your Northern Ireland Charity
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