Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland

The Foundation funds registered charities working across Northern Ireland in areas such as poverty, disability, mental health, community development, education and skills, children and youth, older people, arts and culture, and employment. It supports a variety of costs including core costs, salaries, training, equipment, transport, volunteer expenses, and research. Programmes are tailored to different needs: IGNITE helps new charities get started, COLLABORATE encourages two or more charities to tackle a social issue together, and THRIVE supports charities that help people build resilience to financial shocks. Community FLEX supports people in greatest need, especially those with low income, disabilities, or mental health issues.

The Foundation only funds registered charities operating in Northern Ireland. It prioritises organisations supporting people facing poverty, unemployment, disability, mental health challenges, and other disadvantages. Beneficiaries include children and young people, older people, disabled people, homeless individuals, offenders, and the general public. Charities must be registered in their own right; the Foundation does not support groups using the charitable status of a parent or umbrella organisation. It also does not fund individuals, including students, or grant-making charities.

The Foundation does not fund individuals, hospitals, medical centres, promotion of religion, animal welfare, the environment, fundraising events, capital works, or projects that are the responsibility of local government. It also excludes travel or activities outside Northern Ireland, bursaries, loans, business finance, endowment funds, charities in deficit, and charities with over 12 months running costs in reserve unless earmarked for a specific purpose.

The Foundation offers both one-year and multi-year grants depending on the programme. It funds core costs, salaries, equipment, training, transport, volunteer expenses, and research. The Foundation welcomes unsolicited applications and does not require match funding. It encourages collaboration between charities through its COLLABORATE programme, which supports two or more registered charities working together on a local social issue.