Grant funding for small charities

Small charities in the UK face several challenges when it comes to securing funding and grants and there can be a significant disparity in funding between small and large charities for various reasons.

Post-pandemic it seems that the income for small charities has declined, while larger charities have seen an increase. The rising costs of living and economic uncertainty make it harder for individuals and corporate donors to contribute. Rising bills and falling real incomes mean people have less disposable income. This is all further impacted by the Employer’s National Insurance increases.

We know that small charities often face rising demand for their services, which can outpace their funding and resources, and many small charities struggle with visibility.

Being involved as a Trustee and advisor to many small charities I know that the process of applying for grants can be time-consuming and complex, which is a significant burden for small charities with limited staff experience and resources.

Potential donors and philanthropists may not be aware of the impactful work that these charities do due to them not having the resources to publicise it, making it harder for them to attract donations.

There are also many worthy causes competing for often limited funds, making it essential for charities to work harder to retain existing donors and attract new ones.

Addressing these challenges requires a combination of policy changes, increased awareness, and innovative fundraising strategies.

NCVO (The National Council for Voluntary Organisations) are a membership community for charities, voluntary organisations and community groups in England.

They have useful resources to help charities find and apply for grants. This page tells you about different ways to search for grants. It also has some recommended steps for first time grant applicants. 

To mark Small Charity Week 2025, NCVO is partnering with Big Give and Global’s Make Some Noise to launch a match funding campaign that will provide crucial financial support to small charities.

From 23 to 30 June 2025, the Small Charity Week Match Funding campaign will help small charities sustain their essential work across the UK by providing vital financial support.

In general, the funding your charity can apply for will depend on your own charity’s charitable objectives and activities. If you are in a particular charity sector, such as helping young people or providing care or education, there may be other potential specific funders on top of those I have listed, that you may wish to research.

Signposted below are a number of resources that small UK charities could investigate to obtain grant funding

• Charity Excellence Framework: This is a completely free one-stop-shop to find grant funding, and free help and resources. Here is the link to the latest available opportunities for small grants for UK charities.
• National Lottery Awards for All: This program offers grants ranging from £300 to £20,000 for community projects
• Community Foundation Network: There are currently 47 accredited community foundations across the UK that provide funding to local charities and community projects. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have a single community foundation that serves communities across their respective nations.  Many English community foundations have a county boundary, and others serve smaller, defined metropolitan areas. Find your local community foundation here.
• Ashworth Charitable Trust: This trust provides grants to registered charities with an income under £1 million per year, supporting a wide range of causes.
• The Morrisons Foundation: This foundation supports registered charities making a positive difference in local communities across England, Scotland, and Wales. Grants are available for up to £10,000 for capital spend or direct project delivery.
• Esmée Fairbairn Foundation: Founded in 1961, is one of the UK’s largest independent funders. They make unrestricted, core, project, and delegated grants for charitable work in the UK.
• Greggs Foundation Community Grants: This foundation offers grants of up to £20,000 per year for up to two years to local organisations addressing community challenges. Priority is given to organisations near Greggs outlets or in areas of social deprivation.
• Aviva Community Fund: This fund supports small charities with innovative ideas that boost community resilience and financial inclusion.

The final recommendation is to search other volunteer and not for profit organisations’ websites. You can also review the lists of donations on grant-making trust websites.  

The funders or supporters page on charities website or potentially in their Trustees’ report or Impact Report, may show you what grants they have been successful in securing previously.

Do talk about funders with other not for profit organisations and your community. Let’s encourage a cooperation rather than competition in these ever-pressured times.  

If you would like further information on charity funding, please do get in touch.