Virgin Money Foundation

Could Virgin Money Foundation be a fit? Check free — then find open funders like them if not.

Typical grants: £5,000 – £100,000
Applications: By invitation only
Decisions: Bi annually

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

Check fit free · no card

virginmoneyfoundation.org.uk

About Virgin Money Foundation

The Virgin Money Foundation is an independent UK registered charity established in 2015 by Virgin Money. It is committed to sustainable regeneration in socially and economically deprived communities, with a strong focus on combating digital poverty and fostering digital inclusion. The Foundation values community leadership, local knowledge, and capacity-building, preferring to support grassroots organisations to lead local solutions. It supports neighbourhood-level organisations in the UK's most deprived areas, prioritising the North East of England and Glasgow. The Foundation's work builds digital skills, confidence, and access for vulnerable groups, including low-income families and young people. It emphasises long-term impact over top-down interventions, with an independent board and transparent policies guiding its approach.

What Virgin Money Foundation funds

The Foundation funds multi-year projects that tackle digital exclusion through skills training, device access, and financial resilience initiatives. It also historically supports work addressing homelessness, racial equity, and social justice. The Foundation focuses on the most deprived areas of the UK, with a particular emphasis on the North East of England and Glasgow. Its funding can cover project costs and often includes core costs to strengthen organisational capacity. The types of support include building digital skills, providing hardware, and promoting financial resilience for vulnerable groups such as low-income families and young people. The Foundation seeks to fund neighbourhood-level solutions that are led by local communities, ensuring that the work is rooted in local knowledge and needs.

Who can apply

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities, community interest companies, or community groups with a proven track record in their local area. The Foundation primarily supports grassroots or medium-sized 'community anchor' organisations addressing digital needs. There are no religious restrictions or strict income thresholds. Priority is given to organisations embedded in the target geographies of the North East of England and Glasgow. Beneficiaries include low-income families, young people, and other vulnerable groups affected by digital exclusion. The Foundation looks for organisations that understand their local context and can lead sustainable solutions.

What Virgin Money Foundation doesn't fund

The Foundation does not fund unrestricted grants, capital-only projects, or work that is not based in its target geographies. It also avoids supporting initiatives that are not led by local community organisations or that do not align with its focus on digital inclusion and sustainable regeneration. The emphasis is on project-based or programme-based funding that directly addresses deprivation and digital exclusion within priority areas.

How they like to fund

The Foundation operates by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited applications. It provides multi-year grants, often including core costs, to support sustained impact. The Foundation is distinguished by its transparency through 360Giving data sharing and uses participatory assessment processes to involve community perspectives in grant decisions.

How much does Virgin Money Foundation give?

£5,000 – £100,000

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

Poverty & hardshipEducationCommunity

How to apply to Virgin Money Foundation

Virgin Money Foundation 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 bi annually.

What you can do here

1
Check fit. See if your project aligns with Virgin Money Foundation.
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 Virgin Money Foundation could be a fit — then find open funders like them.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Virgin Money Foundation provide?

Virgin Money Foundation typically provides grants of £5,000 - £100,000.

Where does Virgin Money Foundation fund charities?

Virgin Money Foundation funds charities operating in the UK.

Does Virgin Money Foundation accept unsolicited applications?

Virgin Money Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

How do I apply for funding from Virgin Money Foundation?

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