What sources of funding are available for the UK Charity Sector?
There is funding available for organisations from all business sectors. Typically, the difficulty that many charities have is knowing where to look for grants and funding when they need it.
Potential funding sources for charities and non-profit organisations
Below are some sources of funding, and information about funding, that we have unearthed for charities and non-profit organisations in the UK:
• Esmée Fairbairn Foundation - Providing grant funding towards a wide range of work in support of improving our natural world, securing a fairer future, and nurturing creative, confident communities. Funding is also available for social investments.
• Funding Circle – Providing small to medium sized businesses with access to finance since 2010.
• Garfield Weston Foundation - Supporting a range of charities from many different sectors in the UK, including welfare, youth, community, environment, education, health, arts, heritage, and faith.
• Grants Online - An online resource highlighting the latest funding news, with links to grant funding opportunities for many categories, including: Cost of Living Crisis, Arts, Culture & Heritage, Business Development, Children and Young People, Community Development, Education and Training, Employment, Energy, Environment and Transport, Health, Justice and Welfare, Housing and Homelessness, Innovation, Research and Development, International, Land Buildings and Equipment, Neighbourhood Renewal and Regeneration, Rural Development, Schools and Colleges, Sports and Leisure.
• Percy Bilton Charity - A grant-making trust that helps charities that assist people with disabilities, disadvantaged youth, people with mental health problems and over 60s may apply for grants towards furnishings and equipment (excluding office items). Social Workers, Community Psychiatric Nurses and Occupational Therapists within Local Authorities or NHS Trusts may also apply for grants on behalf of individuals in financial need who have a disability or severe mental health problem, or who are over 65 on low income.
• Supporting Communities - An online resource which lists up-to-date details of funding available to charities, non-profits, and community groups.
• The Access Foundation - Supporting organisations who have as a key objective the mitigation of the digital divide, by making computing facilities, support and learning available to disadvantaged and vulnerable people. Also, supporting charities for whom there is a strong emotional connection with a member of staff.
• The Bernard Sunley Charitable Foundation - A family grant making foundation which supports charities in England and Wales working to raise the quality of life and provide greater opportunities for the young, the elderly, the disabled and the disadvantaged.
• The Directory of Social Change (Funds Online) - A database with over 8,000 funders with the potential to give away billions of pounds overall to organisations and individuals.
• The Foyle Foundation - An independent grantmaking trust that distributes grants to UK charities. The Foundation does not support applications from individuals. The Foundation welcomes applications from across the country and from all areas outside London and the South East.
• The Public Health Agency Scheme (NI) - Supporting communities, families and workplaces through our mentoring, training, and funding programmes, and champion healthcare needs with decision makers.
• The Social Investment Business - Support for charities and social enterprises to build stronger and fairer communities, offering funding and support to the organisations that make up the social economy, providing them with the tools they need to make a positive difference to communities.
• The Stable Company - An online resource that lists some of the key charitable funding organisations in the UK.
• The Which? Fund - Grants to support research projects aiming to improve understanding of the specific consumer harms experienced by diverse and disadvantaged communities, and to develop evidence-based solutions to tackle these harms.
• The Grants Hub - Information about voluntary sector grants in your area.
Additionally, there are funding opportunities currently accepting applications, such as CICs and community groups, and social enterprises.
You can also access and apply for government grant funding on Gov.uk. To avoid any delays, you will need to know exactly what type of grant you need and enter that in the search bar, otherwise you may struggle to find something suitable for your needs.
How you can protect your charity with our charity insurance
Charity organisations can protect themselves with Markel Direct’s charity insurance, which has been designed specifically to cover small charities, community groups and not-for-profit organisations from their daily business risks.
Charity insurance offers cover against a range of risks facing your organisation, including:
• An accident involving a visitor at a fundraising event, resulting in a personal injury claim being made against your charity (charity public liability insurance).
• An allegation of wrongdoing against a charity trustee and a subsequent investigation by a regulatory body (trustee indemnity insurance).
• A volunteer injuring themselves while working for the charity and being unable to work (employers' liability insurance).
• A service user alleging the charity provided sub-standard services and making a claim for compensation (professional indemnity insurance).
Few charities have the financial strength to pay the costs, damages and any awards made against them in the event of a claim. Charity insurance provides cover against these scenarios, giving you the peace of mind that if something unexpected happens, your organisation will be covered.
Understanding the different types of insurance available to your charity can be confusing. If you’d like more information covering what insurance your charity should consider, you can find out more by following the ‘decision tree’ in our charity insurance guide.