MCS Foundation

The MCS Foundation, legally the MCS Charitable Foundation (charity number 1165752), was established in 2016 to accelerate a carbon-free future for all UK homes by driving adoption of renewable energy and low-carbon technologies. Originating from oversight of the UK's MCS standards scheme for small-scale renewables, it acts as a strategic catalyst for systemic change in the built environment. Guided by values of ambition, evidence-based decisions, collaboration, transparency, and determined action, it convenes partners, funds innovation, scales retrofits, expands skills, and supports research amid the climate emergency.

It prioritises projects advancing home decarbonisation, including whole-home retrofitting, heat pumps, solar renewables, community energy planning, low-carbon workforce development, and policy advocacy. Funded activities encompass pioneering research, proof-of-concept pilots, capacity building, and scalable interventions like the Local Area Retrofit Accelerator (LARA), National Retrofit Hub, and UK Green Building Council collaborations, targeting UK households and vulnerable communities for equitable access. Beneficiaries span England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Eligible applicants include UK-registered charities, social enterprises, academic institutions, and public-sector partners with no income thresholds, provided projects demonstrate strong mission alignment, impact potential, and collaborative approaches. Typical grants range from £5,000 to £50,000 (average ~£46,000; exceptional up to £100,000). Applications are via email (grants@mcsfoundation.org.uk) during the annual open call, opening March and closing early May (next: early May 2026), with decisions by late June; projects start post-July. It excludes building installations, capital refurbishments, transport infrastructure, and non-scalable, one-off efforts. Distinctively, its sector expertise, standards leadership, and rigorous evidence focus set it apart for transformative housing decarbonisation.