Funding and income

General funds (listed A-Z)

Funds with upcoming deadlines

Adur and Worthing Councils Warm Welcome Spaces Grants Deadline: Sunday 15 December at midnight. For groups and organisations to deliver warm spaces across Adur and Worthing to support those in need. Up to £600 to open your venue up as warm welcome space, in addition to your normal activity.

Arnold Clark Community Fund – Cost-of-Living Support Deadline: Tuesday 31 December. Funding (amount decided by Arnold Clark) to registered charities, CICs and community groups whose work directly supports those most affected by the cost-of-living crisis, such as foodbanks, accommodation, poverty relief and where people/communities in the UK are the primary and immediate focus of investment.

Baobab Foundation Community Fund Deadline: Monday 3 February 2025 at 11:59pm. Grants of between £5,000 and £30,000 per year for up to 5 years. For organisations who are Black African/Caribbean and Global Majority collectives or  organisations dismantling systems of oppression for their communities. Organisations must meet their 4 by and for principles.

Benefact Trust £1,000 draws  Last draw of the year – winners announced in December. 120 lots of £1,000 available. Ask as many people as you know to nominate your organisation as the more nominations you get, the more chance you have of winning. Nominations open until 19 December.

Big Give, Arts for Impact Deadline: 18 December. In partnership with New Philanthropy for Arts & Culture (NPAC), is launching their Arts for Impact campaign. This initiative supports arts and culture charities driving societal impact across the UK.

Big Give, Green Match Fund Deadline: 17 January. Applications for Big Give’s Green Match Fund, in partnership with the Environmental Funders Network (EFN), are open. Charities focused on tackling critical environmental issues can apply.

Brighton and Hove Legacy Fund (apply through Sussex Community Foundation) Deadline: Friday 10 January 2025. Grants of up to £5,000 are available to community groups and charities that support children and young people (up to age 25).

The Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust Deadline: round opens Saturday 4 January 2025, closes Tuesday 4 February for a ‘medium’ grant of between £10,001 and £20,000. Registered charities only who support people in Sussex, focusing on: care of the elderly, disability, general welfare, hospices, youth, wildlife & environmental conservation.

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) – Your Station, Your Community Improvement Fund Deadline: Wednesday 18 December. For projects that make a positive impact on communities within 15 miles of a GTR network station (Southern). General Grant Scheme offers up to £10,000 that clearly links to one of the following areas – mental health, education and employability skills, confidence building, diversity and inclusion, environment and sustainability. For a larger grant, up to £50,000, contact them to discuss your proposal.

The Homity Trust Deadline: Friday 28 March 2025. Grants of up to £1,000 available to organisations helping people most affected by the ongoing cost of living crisis.

Lloyds Bank Foundation Deadline: Thursday 23 January, 5pm. Grants of £75,000 for small specialist charities with an annual income between £25,000 and £500,000 working with people facing complex issues. Successful applicants will also receive tailored support. 

The MSE (Money Saving Expert) Charity Deadline: opens  Monday 13 January 2025, closes Friday 31 January. Up to £10,000 for registered charities or Community Interest Companies (and other registered not-for-profit organisations) with an annual income under £750,000. For projects focused on delivering activities which make a lasting impact on how people think, behave and manage their money.

The Pearce Foundation Deadline: Sunday 15 December. Grants of up to £2,000 for capacity building and personal coaching support to small, fledgling charities and not-for-profit organisations. You must have been operating for under 2 years, have an annual income under £50,000 and operate only in Sussex.

Pride of Britain Fund Deadline: none given. To mark the 25th anniversary of Pride of Britain, the Pride of Britain Fund is giving £100,000 in grants of £500, £1,000 or £2,500. You can apply for help with work you are doing, or you can nominate someone you know about to receive funding. The Pride of Britain team create a shortlist, but then voting by people in your area will decide the winner.

Sussex Community Foundation Deadline: Friday 10 January 2025. Funding is prioritised for small and medium organisations  and those who are led by and support people from underrepresented communities. Grants of up to £10,000 available (on average grants awarded are just over £5,000) and must fit under one of 4 funding priorities (Tackling Poverty, Improving Health, Reaching Potential and Acting on Climate).

Sussex Resilience Forum Community Resilience Fund Deadline: 5pm Friday 31 January 2025. A total pot of £20,000 available for community resilience activity. Must address top risks in the Community Risk Register, such as poor air quality, public disorder, surface water flooding and coastal flooding. Contact sussexresilienceforum@sussex.police.uk for more information.

West Sussex Domestic Abuse Small Grants Fund Deadline: 12pm on Friday 10 January 2025. To support new or existing projects/organisations who are trying to reach individuals experiencing domestic abuse who are not already accessing specialist domestic abuse support or might find this challenging. Contact DASmallGrants@westsussex.gov.uk for guidance notes. 3 ‘routes’ available to bid under:

• Route 1 – applications up to £20,000 for delivery of support and provision (organisation turnover less than £5M per year)
• Route 2 – applications up to £20,000 for service development leading to support and provision (organisation turnover less than £1M per year)
• Route 3 – applications for £1,000 for upskilling and training (organisation turnover less than £100,000 per year)

West Sussex County Council Sexual Health Funding Deadline: 10am Thursday 16 January 2025. Grants of up to £25,000 for projects that run for between 6 and 12 months (delivery to start in March). For activities such as training for staff and volunteers, peer support and advice to individuals that: increases knowledge of and motivation to access condoms and other contraception, STI and HIV testing, and supports people to develop their own risk reduction strategies. Email Moira.Jones@westsussex.gov.uk and Patrick.stoakes@westsussex.gov.uk for more information.

Funds you can apply to anytime

Arts Council National Lottery Project Grants Grants between £1,000 and £100,000 for projects lasting up to 3 years. For creative and cultural projects that directly create and deliver creative and cultural activity with a long-term positive impact. Includes music, dance, visual arts, festivals. See their website for current ‘time-limited priorities’.

Architectural Heritage Fund (Project Viability Grants) Grants up to £15,000 to support early-stage feasibility work on historic building projects. This is Stage 1, Expression of Interest. You will then be invited to Stage 2 (full application) to access Project Development Grants of up to £20,000. This stage has set deadlines and can cover some of the costs of developing and co-ordinating your project and taking it towards the start of work on site.

BBC Children in Need – Project Cost and Core Cost grants Expression of Interest form submitted, then you’ll be invited to apply. From £1,000 to £40,000 available per year for up to 3 years for projects that focus on addressing issues of disadvantage affecting children and young people.

Charles Hayward Foundation Small Grants Programme – Older People Grants of up to £7,000 available for registered charities only. They want to fund preventative and early intervention programmes delivered at a community level, allowing older people to stay in their own homes and remain independent. Also, programmes which can demonstrate their effectiveness in improving the quality of life of older people. Projects should have a consistent and sustained benefit rather than one-off event or short-lived activities. Decision within 4 months.

The Clothworkers’ Foundation Open Grants Programme for registered charities and CICs only, where 50% of your service users fall within their 10 programme areas (e.g. Communities Experiencing Racial Inequalities, LGBT+ Communities or Economic Disadvantage). Funding available for capital costs only – you don’t specify the amount (smaller projects are those with a balance of less than £15,000, larger projects are considered £100,000+ and they will generally fund 10% of the remaining balance). Decisions on grants over £15,000 take 6 months.

The Dodgson Foundation Projects particularly aimed at the over 55s who are living in deprivation anywhere in Sussex.

Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust  For Small grants under £10,000. For registered charities only; for start-up, core or specific project costs.

The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation awards grants with the aim of improving the natural world, securing a fairer future and strengthening the bonds in communities in the UK.

Focus Foundation For charities or community groups with an annual income under £2 million, who need funding for a whole project which helps socially or economically underprivileged children or young people, or projects supporting mental health.

Foyle Foundation For registered charities with less than £150,000 annual income, to apply under the Small Grants Scheme. Apply for between £2,000 and £10,000 if you are working at a grass roots local community level delivering services to the young, vulnerable, elderly, disadvantaged or the general community. Keen to attract more applications from charities focussing on Arts, Learning, Small charities and state schools/SEND. Projects must be completed by end 2025 (when the foundation will close their grants programmes). Closes 31 January 2025.

The Henry Smith Charity is an independent grant making trust funding organisations who help reduce social and economic disadvantage.

Morrisons Foundation For grants of up to £10,000 for registered charities only. For projects that improve people’s lives under at least one of their funding objectives: 1) Tackling poverty and social deprivation; 2) Enhancing community spaces, facilities and services; 3) Improving health and wellbeing.

The National Lottery Community Fund Awards for All Grants up to £20,000 for up to 2 years.  For groups that build strong relationships in communities, improve places and spaces, help people reach their potential or support people facing increased challenges due to the cost-of-living crisis.

The National Lottery Community Fund Reaching Communities

UPDATE: you are strongly advised not to make a bid to this funding pot until Spring 2025 when new criteria will be launched. Grants from £20,001 for up to 5 years. For projects that work to make positive changes in your community (i.e. people living in the same area, or people with similar interests or life experiences). Funding to deliver new or existing activity. Or to support your organisation to change and adapt to new and future challenges. Or projects that test new approaches to help with community issues.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund For grants between £10,000 and £250,000. For organisations looking to care for and sustain heritage where your new project (it can’t have already started) is about saving heritage, protecting the environment, inclusion, access and participation, and organisational sustainability. NB 20% of the payment will be made after your project has finished (in arrears). The Heritage Fund recently announced they have simplified their application process.

The Paley Trust Grants under £1,000 available for not-for-profit organisations that enhance the well-being of people aged over 60 in Brighton and Hove. Activities can include exercise groups, music groups, outings, social activities, equipment, and contributions to running costs.

The Paul Hamlyn Foundation works collaboratively with organisations and individuals who are working to build a just society. Their funds focus on the arts, education and learning, migration and young people. They only fund work that is charitable, and it takes about 4 to 6 months from application to decision.

Sport England Movement Fund  Between £300 and £15,000 available for projects that tackle inequalities and help get more people active (promote physical activity), for people that face barriers. For example, active travel, walking, cycling, dance, fitness and sports activities. Funding is awarded as either a contribution to a crowdfunding campaign or as a grant (Sport England will assess this). This fund replaces their Small Grants scheme and Active Together fund.

Stobart Sustainability Fund Applications for green, ecological or sustainability projects or initiatives that benefit the environment. Must be able to explain how it will positively impact the environment and support creating a sustainable world. Short form completed and someone from Stobart will get in touch. No restrictions on type of organisation that can apply (talks about community groups in publicity).

Why do I need fundraising?

Fundraising is an ongoing concern for most and can present multiple challenges. If you’re starting on your fundraising journey, your first steps will involve:

• developing a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your project
• being certain that your project is needed
• knowing how much your project will cost
• creating a clear plan as to how you’re going to raise those costs

There are lots of resources that you can use to help you with your planning. If you are a community group, we recommend the Resource Centre website as an excellent starting point.

Local funding searches

Brighton and Hove specific

• GrantFinder via Jubilee Library
• Funds Online via Community Base (email centremanager@communitybase.org for access)
• Brighton and Hove Food Partnership Quarterly funding update

Adur and Worthing specific

• Grants Online via Adur and Worthing Councils
• Adur and Worthing Councils Grants and Funding web page