Haberdashers' Foundation

Could Haberdashers' Foundation fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.

Typical grants: £3,000 – £5,000
Where they fund: The London Borough of Bexley, The London Borough of Hackney, The London Borough of Lewisham, The London Borough of Southwark, The Borough of Telford and Wrekin, Shropshire, The Forest of Dean District, The town of Chertsey in Surrey, The village of Albrighton, Shropshire (and immediate surrounding areas), The town of Wigston, Leicestershire (and immediate surrounding areas), The village of Bunbury, Cheshire (and immediate surrounding areas)
Applications: Accepted
How to apply: Two-stage application

Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.

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haberdashers.co.uk

About Haberdashers' Foundation

The Haberdashers' Foundation is the grant-making arm of the Haberdashers' Company, supporting communities in specific areas across England. Its mission is to provide inclusive solutions to challenges faced by communities, with a focus on children and young people, education, homelessness, and criminal justice. It values open-access programmes that complement the work of Haberdasher schools and churches. The Foundation operates two grant programmes. The Small Grants Programme supports charities and CICs working in defined local areas including parts of London, Shropshire, the Forest of Dean, Surrey, Leicestershire, and Cheshire. The Resilience Fund offers core costs, training, and equipment to help registered charities strengthen organisational sustainability, growth, and succession planning. Distinctively, the Foundation prioritises local charities tied to Haberdasher communities and does not fund national charities. It typically supports organisations for up to three consecutive years and focuses on social mobility for children and young people facing disadvantage.

What Haberdashers' Foundation funds

The Foundation funds causes including children and young people, education and skills, homelessness, and criminal justice. Programmes support work that provides inclusive solutions to challenges faced by communities in its defined geographical areas. The Small Grants Programme supports charities and CICs working locally in the London Boroughs of Bexley, Hackney, Lewisham, and Southwark; the Borough of Telford and Wrekin; the Forest of Dean District; the town of Chertsey in Surrey; the village of Albrighton and surrounding areas in Shropshire; the town of Wigston and surrounding areas in Leicestershire; and the village of Bunbury and surrounding areas in Cheshire. The Resilience Fund supports registered charities with core costs, training, and equipment to strengthen organisational sustainability, growth, and succession planning.

Who can apply

Registered charities and community interest companies (CICs) are eligible. CICs must have at least three active officers. The Foundation prioritises organisations whose work complements that of Haberdasher schools or churches within their communities. Programmes must be open access and meet the needs of all sectors within that community. National charities are not eligible. Charities working with children and young people who experience disadvantage in areas other than social mobility are not eligible for the Small Grants Programme. The Foundation typically supports organisations for up to three consecutive years.

What Haberdashers' Foundation doesn't fund

National charities are not eligible. Charities working with children and young people who experience disadvantage in areas other than social mobility are not eligible for the Small Grants Programme. The Foundation does not fund capital-only projects or emergency relief.

How they like to fund

The Foundation operates two grant programmes. The Small Grants Programme typically funds organisations for up to three consecutive years. The Resilience Fund provides one-off grants for core costs, training, and equipment to strengthen sustainability and growth. Both programmes welcome unsolicited applications.

How much does Haberdashers' Foundation give?

Haberdashers' Foundation runs 2 grant programmes. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.

Last verified 8 August 2026 · 26 sourced facts

Resilience FundOpen to applications

Up to £25,000

Small Grants ProgrammeCurrently closed

Up to £5,000

Two-stage process
Next round opens 1 January 2027
1 rounds a year
Single-year grants

Those are the published figures. What your charity could realistically get — and whether you'd clear their rules on income, location and legal structure — is what the free fit check answers.

What Haberdashers' Foundation funds — and what they won't

Their stated priorities

support them in the areas of organisational sustainability, growth and succession planning

Where they fund

The London Borough of BexleyThe London Borough of HackneyThe London Borough of LewishamThe London Borough of SouthwarkThe Borough of Telford and Wrekin, ShropshireThe Forest of Dean DistrictThe town of Chertsey in SurreyThe village of Albrighton, Shropshire (and immediate surrounding areas)The town of Wigston, Leicestershire (and immediate surrounding areas)The village of Bunbury, Cheshire (and immediate surrounding areas)

Costs they'll cover

Core costsTrainingEquipment

They don't fund

DisabilityEducation & skillsNational charities

The full exclusions list (1)

National charities are not eligible. Charities working with children/young people who experience disadvantage in areas other than social mobility are not eligible. CICs must have at least three active officers. Trustees tend to only fund for three consecutive years.

Good to know

FaithNo restriction

Focus areas

Children & youthEducationHomelessness

How to apply to Haberdashers' Foundation

Haberdashers' Foundation takes applications via two-stage application.

Published programme route: two-stage process.
Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.

How it works

1
Describe your project. Once — used for this funder and others.
2
See if this could be a fit. Honest check on cause, place, size, and rules.
3
Draft if yes. From your real data — or move on if not.

See if Haberdashers' Foundation could be a fit. Draft if yes.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Haberdashers' Foundation provide?

Haberdashers' Foundation runs 2 grant programmes — Resilience Fund: Up to £25,000 · Small Grants Programme: Up to £5,000.

Where does Haberdashers' Foundation fund charities?

Haberdashers' Foundation funds charities operating in The London Borough of Bexley, The London Borough of Hackney, The London Borough of Lewisham, The London Borough of Southwark, The Borough of Telford and Wrekin, Shropshire, The Forest of Dean District, The town of Chertsey in Surrey, The village of Albrighton, Shropshire (and immediate surrounding areas), The town of Wigston, Leicestershire (and immediate surrounding areas), The village of Bunbury, Cheshire (and immediate surrounding areas).

Does Haberdashers' Foundation accept unsolicited applications?

Haberdashers' Foundation accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.

What does Haberdashers' Foundation not fund?

Their published exclusions include: National charities are not eligible. Charities working with children/young people who experience disadvantage in areas other than social mobility are not eligible. CICs must have at least three active officers. Trustees tend to only fund for three consecutive years.. The full exclusions list is further up this page.

How do I apply for funding from Haberdashers' Foundation?

Haberdashers' Foundation takes applications via two-stage application. Published programme route: two-stage process.