Start Upright

Could Start Upright be a fit? Check free — then find open funders like them if not.

Typical grants: £5,000 – £30,000
Applications: By invitation only
Decisions: As needed

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

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About Start Upright

Start Upright is a registered charity in England and Wales focused on delivering life skills training, lecture courses, and educational and welfare grants. Its mission is to bridge gaps in essential education and welfare support, empowering people facing social or educational disadvantage with practical skills for self-sufficiency and improved life chances. Guided by three trustees and funded primarily through donations and legacies, the charity directs all expenditure to charitable activities, emphasising prudent stewardship and strategic resource allocation. Its funding character is trustee-led and selective, with a clear focus on practical empowerment rather than broad infrastructure or advocacy.

What Start Upright funds

The funder supports education and welfare initiatives, including life skills programmes, structured lecture courses, project costs for educational delivery, and direct beneficiary support. It targets a wide range of work that fosters personal development and lasting opportunities, with a particular focus on practical skills and self-sufficiency. Geographically, Start Upright operates exclusively in England and Wales, and its funding reaches individuals as well as small organisations and grassroots groups. The emphasis is on immediate and sustainable life skills interventions rather than large-scale projects or advocacy.

Who can apply

Eligible applicants include individuals, small organisations, and grassroots community groups based in England and Wales. The funder prioritises those facing social or educational disadvantage, with a preference for smaller entities and grassroots projects over larger organisations. There are no strict income thresholds or religious restrictions; support is entirely at the trustees’ discretion. Crucially, applications are invite-only — the funder does not accept unsolicited approaches, and trustees identify and approach grantees directly.

What Start Upright doesn't fund

Start Upright does not support capital, unrestricted, or core funding costs. It avoids partisan, promotional, or non-charitable activities, focusing instead on specific programme costs related to education and welfare. The funder also does not fund advocacy, broad infrastructure, or activities outside England and Wales.

How they like to fund

Funding is invite-only, with trustees identifying and approaching grantees at their discretion; unsolicited applications are not accepted. Grants are restricted to specific programme costs rather than capital, unrestricted, or core funding. The funder works with individual grantees on a one-off basis, with awards directed to immediate life skills and welfare interventions rather than multi-year commitments or general overheads.

How much does Start Upright give?

£5,000 – £30,000

Typical published range. What your charity could realistically get — and whether you would clear their rules on income, location and legal structure — is the free fit check.

Deadlines & timelines

When to apply, and how long their decisions take.

Your specific fit

Income, location, legal structure and exactly who they fund — matched to your charity.

Good to know

FaithNo restriction

Focus areas

Education

How to apply to Start Upright

Start Upright does not accept unsolicited applications. Funding is by invitation.

A fit check still tells you whether your work aligns with their published remit.
If you cannot apply directly, shortlist open funders with a similar focus instead of writing into a closed door.
Decisions are typically as needed.

What you can do here

1
Check fit. See if your project aligns with Start Upright.
2
Find open funders. Shortlist similar funders you can approach.
3
Save the notes. Keep the fit check if you are later invited to apply.

See if Start Upright could be a fit — then find open funders like them.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Start Upright provide?

Start Upright typically provides grants of £5,000 - £30,000.

Where does Start Upright fund charities?

Start Upright funds charities operating in the UK.

Does Start Upright accept unsolicited applications?

Start Upright does not accept unsolicited applications.

How do I apply for funding from Start Upright?

Start Upright does not accept unsolicited applications. Funding is by invitation. A fit check still tells you whether your work aligns with their published remit.