Motor Neurone Disease Association
Could Motor Neurone Disease Association fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.
- Typical grants
- Up to £255,000
- Where they fund
- England, Wales, Northern Ireland
- Applications
- Accepted
- How to apply
- Two-stage application
Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.
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mndassociation.orgAbout Motor Neurone Disease Association
The Motor Neurone Disease Association is a national charity dedicated exclusively to motor neurone disease. Founded in 1979 by people affected by MND, its mission is to improve care, fund and promote research toward a cure, and support those living with or affected by the condition. The charity balances direct practical help with ambitious research investment, guided by values of compassion and evidence-led impact. It works across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with research partnerships extending to Ireland.
What Motor Neurone Disease Association funds
The association funds three main areas: biomedical research into causes, diagnosis, treatments and cures through project grants and PhD studentships; individual grants for people with MND, including Quality of Life Grants for equipment, transport and activities that maintain independence and social connections; and Support Grants for equipment, training, transport and capital works. Research is carried out by universities, hospitals and established institutions across the UK and Ireland. Individual grants support people with MND, their families and carers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Who can apply
Research grants are open to universities, hospitals and established research organisations in the UK and Ireland. Individual grants are available to anyone living with or affected by MND, including family members, Association Visitors and Area Support Coordinators, living in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. The charity prioritises people with MND, their families and carers, and aims to maintain independence, dignity and comfort through its individual grant programmes.
What Motor Neurone Disease Association doesn't fund
The charity does not fund indirect or overhead costs of institutions such as general travel, finance services, staff facilities, public relations, publication costs or general departmental costs. Individual grants cannot cover statutory responsibilities such as equipment, adaptations or medicines that should be provided by the NHS, nor unproven treatments. Retrospective funding, emergency healthcare needs, funeral costs, debt repayment, legal costs and insurance policies are also excluded.
How they like to fund
Research grants are typically multi-year, supporting projects and PhD studentships. Individual grants are one-off payments, with limits on the total amount that can be received from both grant types within a rolling twelve-month period. Part funding may be offered in the first instance, with the person with MND or their family asked if they can contribute. The association welcomes unsolicited applications for its research and individual grant programmes.
How much does Motor Neurone Disease Association give?
Motor Neurone Disease Association runs 4 grant programmes. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.
Last verified 8 August 2026 · 54 sourced facts
- Two-stage process
- Decisions in ~6 weeks
- Multi-year funding
- Online application form
- Decisions in ~2 weeks
- Single-year grants
- Two-stage process
- Decisions in ~6 weeks
- Multi-year funding
- Online application form
- Decisions in ~2 weeks
- 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 Motor Neurone Disease Association funds — and what they won't
to help maintain a person with MND’s independence, dignity, comfort, and social connections
The full exclusions list (4)
- indirect or overhead costs of the institution such as general travel, finance services, staff facilities, staff development, public relations, publication costs, general institutional libraries, routine secretarial work, personnel services, recruitment, stationery or contributions to general departmental costs
- Equipment and adaptations that are a statutory responsibility
- Medicines/ drugs that are a statutory responsibility
- Medicines/drugs that are unproven treatments
Good to know
How to apply to Motor Neurone Disease Association
Motor Neurone Disease Association 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.
What Motor Neurone Disease Association's application asks
We hold the 8 questions from Motor Neurone Disease Association's application form, word for word — so you know exactly what you're signing up to answer.
“Please state the principle aims of the project”
Max 750 words
“Please give an outline of the proposed workplan”
Max 4000 words
6 more questions from their form, plus answers drafted from your charity's real data if you decide to apply.
How it works
- 1Describe your project. Once — used for this funder and others.
- 2See if this could be a fit. Honest check on cause, place, size, and rules.
- 3Draft if yes. From your real data — or move on if not.
See if Motor Neurone Disease Association could be a fit. Draft if yes.
Frequently asked questions
How much funding does Motor Neurone Disease Association provide?
Motor Neurone Disease Association runs 4 grant programmes — Healthcare Project Grants: Up to £345,000 · MND Support Grant (Care): Up to £1,500 · Quality of Life Grant: Up to £500.
Where does Motor Neurone Disease Association fund charities?
Motor Neurone Disease Association funds charities operating in England, Wales, Northern Ireland.
Does Motor Neurone Disease Association accept unsolicited applications?
Motor Neurone Disease Association accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.
What does Motor Neurone Disease Association not fund?
Their published exclusions include: indirect or overhead costs of the institution such as general travel, finance services, staff facilities, staff development, public relations, publication costs, general institutional libraries, routine secretarial work, personnel services, recruitment, stationery or contributions to general departmental costs; Equipment and adaptations that are a statutory responsibility; Medicines/ drugs that are a statutory responsibility; Medicines/drugs that are unproven treatments. The full exclusions list is further up this page.
How do I apply for funding from Motor Neurone Disease Association?
Motor Neurone Disease Association takes applications via two-stage application. Published programme route: two-stage process.
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Could Motor Neurone Disease Association be a fit?
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