Sussex Community Foundation

Could Sussex Community Foundation fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.

Typical grants: £1,000 – £10,000
Where they fund: East Brighton Trust area, Rother District
Applications: Accepted
How to apply: Two-stage application

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

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About Sussex Community Foundation

Sussex Community Foundation is an independent community foundation that supports grassroots charities, community groups and social enterprises across East Sussex, West Sussex, and Brighton & Hove. Their mission is to create a fairer, more equal Sussex by channelling local philanthropy to small organisations often overlooked by larger funders. The Foundation funds a wide range of work including core costs, project delivery, salaries, equipment and training. They support projects that tackle poverty, help people reach their potential, improve health and wellbeing, and act on climate change. A distinctive feature is their focus on local giving, with programmes tailored to specific areas such as Rother District, East Brighton, and the Chagossian community in Crawley and Sussex.

What Sussex Community Foundation funds

Sussex Community Foundation funds a broad range of causes including poverty and hardship, mental and physical health, children and youth, older people, disability, education and skills, employment, environment, and community development. They support core costs, project delivery, salaries, equipment, training, capital works, and events through specific programmes. Grants are focused on organisations based in and delivering benefit to East Sussex, West Sussex, Brighton & Hove, with some programmes targeting Rother District, East Brighton Trust area, or the Chagossian community in Crawley and Sussex. The Foundation does not fund animal-related causes.

Who can apply

Sussex Community Foundation welcomes applications from registered charities, community groups, social enterprises, community interest companies (CICs), unincorporated associations, and charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs) that are based and working in Sussex. They prioritise small grassroots organisations delivering local benefit. The Foundation does not fund individuals, schools, or faith groups. Some programmes have additional local or community-specific eligibility, such as the Chagossian Fund which supports organisations working with the Chagossian community in Crawley and Sussex.

What Sussex Community Foundation doesn't fund

The Foundation does not fund individuals, schools, faith groups, political activities, animal-related causes, or retrospective costs. They also exclude contributions to major capital appeals, grants that will be awarded to a third party, and organisations that have not returned monitoring from previous grant awards. Programmes may have additional exclusions such as events (Main Grants Programme) or discrimination-promoting activities.

How they like to fund

Sussex Community Foundation makes one-year grants through its Main Grants Programme, while the Chagossian Fund supports multi-year grants. They fund both revenue and capital costs, including core costs, project delivery, salaries, equipment, training, and capital works. The Foundation welcomes unsolicited approaches and tailors its programmes to specific themes and geographies across Sussex.

How much does Sussex Community Foundation give?

Sussex Community Foundation runs 4 grant programmes. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.

Last verified 8 August 2026 · 71 sourced facts

Chagossian Fund

£1,000 – £10,000

Expression of interest first
Decisions in ~6 weeks
Multi-year funding

East Brighton Trust – Community Cohesion Grants

Up to £750

Expression of interest first
2 rounds a year
Decisions in ~8 weeks
Single-year grants

Main Grants ProgrammeRolling applications

Up to £10,000

Expression of interest first
3 rounds a year
Decisions in ~10 weeks
Single-year grants

Rother District Council Community Grants SchemeCurrently closed

Expression of interest first

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 Sussex Community Foundation funds — and what they won't

Their stated priorities

["Supporting the Chagossian community in Crawley and Sussex in the areas of education, health, employment, social support, and culture"]

Where they fund

East Brighton Trust areaRother District

Costs they'll cover

Core costsProject deliveryTrainingEventsEquipmentSalariesCapital works & buildings

They don't fund

AnimalsRetrospectiveEventsIndividualsSchoolFaith groups

The full exclusions list (8)

Organisations that have no formal constitution or bank account in the organisation's name
Organisations that discriminate based on race, religion, national origin, disability, age, gender or sexual orientation
Organisations where the service provided is used as a vehicle or means to promote religious beliefs
Political activities
Grants which will be used to make awards to a third party
Organisations who have not returned monitoring from previous grant awards
Small contributions to major capital appeals or campaigns
Retrospective funding for activities or projects that have already taken place

Good to know

FaithNo restriction

Focus areas

Poverty & hardshipMental healthEducationEnvironmentCommunity

How to apply to Sussex Community Foundation

Sussex Community Foundation takes applications via two-stage application.

Published programme route: expression of interest first.
Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.

What Sussex Community Foundation's application asks

We hold the 9 questions from Sussex Community Foundation's application form, word for word — so you know exactly what you're signing up to answer.

Question 1

“Describe your project and how it responds to the needs of the Chagossian community”

Question 2

“Provide evidence of consultation with Chagossian community members”

7 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 Sussex Community Foundation could be a fit. Draft if yes.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Sussex Community Foundation provide?

Sussex Community Foundation runs 4 grant programmes — Chagossian Fund: £1,000 – £10,000 · East Brighton Trust – Community Cohesion Grants: Up to £750 · Main Grants Programme: Up to £10,000.

Where does Sussex Community Foundation fund charities?

Sussex Community Foundation funds charities operating in East Brighton Trust area, Rother District.

Does Sussex Community Foundation accept unsolicited applications?

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

What does Sussex Community Foundation not fund?

Their published exclusions include: Organisations that have no formal constitution or bank account in the organisation's name; Organisations that discriminate based on race, religion, national origin, disability, age, gender or sexual orientation; Organisations where the service provided is used as a vehicle or means to promote religious beliefs; Political activities; Grants which will be used to make awards to a third party. The full exclusions list is further up this page.

How do I apply for funding from Sussex Community Foundation?

Sussex Community Foundation takes applications via two-stage application. Published programme route: expression of interest first.