Lewin Trust

Could Lewin Trust fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.

Typical grants: £10,000 – £50,000
Where they fund: United Kingdom, overseas
Applications: Accepted
How to apply: Two-stage application
Decisions: Quarterly

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

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About Lewin Trust

The Lewin Trust is an independent grant-making charity dedicated to tackling poverty and inequality. It funds projects that make a tangible difference, breaking cycles of dependence and helping children aged 0-5 and their parents or carers to have the best start in life. The Trust values meaningful relationships with partner charities, offering larger multi-year grants with light-touch reporting and allowing re-application after an award ends. Distinctively, the Trust concentrates exclusively on the 0-5 age group and their families, prioritising early intervention and holistic approaches to child poverty.

What Lewin Trust funds

The Trust funds projects that make a tangible difference to poverty and inequality, with a focus on breaking cycles of dependence. It supports work that helps children aged 0-5 and their parents or carers, including early intervention and holistic approaches to child poverty. The Trust funds project delivery, salaries, and core costs. It supports registered charities working in the UK and overseas, prioritising early years interventions such as direct support for children in deprived circumstances, parenting programmes, and community-led services that promote resilience.

Who can apply

The Trust only accepts applications from UK-registered charities. It funds projects benefiting children aged 0-5 and their parents or carers. The Trust requires match funding from applicants and values strong governance and safeguarding. There is no restriction on the region of the UK or overseas work, provided the charity is UK-registered. Charities of all sizes are welcome to apply, though the Trust looks for projects that can demonstrate a tangible impact on poverty and inequality.

What Lewin Trust doesn't fund

The Trust does not accept applications for projects working with children outside the 0-5 age range. It focuses exclusively on early years and does not fund work with older children or young people.

How they like to fund

The Trust offers larger multi-year grants, typically covering project delivery, salaries, and core costs. It values meaningful relationships with partner charities, providing light-touch reporting and allowing re-application after an award ends. The Trust requires match funding from applicants and welcomes unsolicited applications.

How much does Lewin Trust give?

Lewin Trust runs one grant programme. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.

Last verified 8 August 2026 · 22 sourced facts

The Lewin Trust Grant ProgrammeOpen to applications

£10,000 – £50,000

Two-stage process
Next deadline 29 October 2026
3 rounds a year
Multi-year funding
Match funding required

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 Lewin Trust funds — and what they won't

Their stated priorities

Projects making a tangible difference to poverty and inequality, breaking cycles of dependence, helping children aged 0-5 and their parents/carers to have the best start in life. The Trust values meaningful relationships with partner charities, offering larger multi-year grants, light-touch reporting, and allowing re-application after award ends.

Where they fund

United Kingdomoverseas

Costs they'll cover

Project deliverySalariesCore costs

The full exclusions list (1)

Cannot accept applications for projects working with children of a wider age range than 0-5; grant cannot represent 25% or more of applicant's income; only one application per organisation per round; unsuccessful applicants cannot re-apply for same project within 12 months.

Good to know

FaithNo restriction

Focus areas

Children & youthPoverty & hardship

How to apply to Lewin Trust

Lewin Trust takes applications via two-stage application.

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

What Lewin Trust's application asks

We hold the 16 questions from Lewin Trust's application form, word for word — so you know exactly what you're signing up to answer.

Question 1

“Charity Name”

Question 2

“UK Charity Number”

14 more questions from their form, plus answers drafted from your charity's real data if you decide to apply.

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 Lewin Trust could be a fit. Draft if yes.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Lewin Trust provide?

Lewin Trust runs one grant programme — The Lewin Trust Grant Programme: £10,000 – £50,000.

Where does Lewin Trust fund charities?

Lewin Trust funds charities operating in United Kingdom, overseas.

Does Lewin Trust accept unsolicited applications?

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

What does Lewin Trust not fund?

Their published exclusions include: Cannot accept applications for projects working with children of a wider age range than 0-5; grant cannot represent 25% or more of applicant's income; only one application per organisation per round; unsuccessful applicants cannot re-apply for same project within 12 months.. The full exclusions list is further up this page.

How do I apply for funding from Lewin Trust?

Lewin Trust takes applications via two-stage application. Published programme route: two-stage process.