Favourite funders for general community groups

Key facts on Favourite Funders for general community groups. Click the funder's name for more information.
Name of Funder Size of grants given Notes Next deadline
Allen Lane Foundation £500 to £15000 per year   For local groups with an annual income below £100,000. Will fund start up, core or project costs. Focus on projects that reduce isolation, stigma and discrimination and make a lasting difference. No deadlines. Applications take 2 - 6 months to process
The Argus Appeal From a few hundred to several thousand. No limits Projects that will make a difference to local groups or individuals. Deadlines throughout the year. Phone for details.
Awards for All £300 to £10,000 Funding for not-for-profit groups. Projects for up to a year.  Arts, heritage, sports or community activities. Promotion of education, environment or health in the local community. No deadlines. Applications take 8 weeks to process.
Biffaward: Landfill Tax Credit Scheme £250 to £5000 For projects that improve the environmental, economic of social circumstances of a community with 10 miles of a Biffa operations (nearest sites are Worthing and Burgess Hill). No deadlines. Applications take 3 months to process.
Brighton & Hove Council: Community Festivals grants Up to £1500 To organise events or festivals that celebrate the life of local communities 3rd Oct 08
Brighton & Hove Council: Implementing Organisational Equalities grants Up to £2500 To promote the implementation of equalities in community and voluntary groups 3rd Oct 08
Brighton & Hove Council: Annual grants for smaller organisations Up to £5000 Funding for local groups with an annual income below £35,000. For core costs, capital expenditure or specific projects. 3rd Oct 08
Brighton & Hove Council: Environmental Sustainability grants Up to £2500 Funding to community and voluntary organisations or projects that improve the local environment. 3rd Oct 08
Brighton Lions Anything from £50 to over £10,000, but most grants from £1000 to £5000 Local community groups in Brighton or local branches of national charities. No deadlines. Applications take 4 - 6 weeks to process
CanDo Health Up to £1,500 To have a positive impact on a community or neighbourhood’s health and wellbeing. Thursday 2nd October 2008
Changing Spaces: Community Spaces £10,000 - £150,000 Big Lottery funding to empower community groups to improve public spaces in their neighbourhood. £10,000 - £24,999: no deadlines. Applications over £25,000: Summer 2008.
Changing Spaces:
Local food grants
£2,000 - £500,000 Big Lottery fund to to make locally grown food accessible and affordable to local communities. £2,000 - £300,00: no deadlines.
Applications over £300,000: June 2008.
Changing Spaces: Community sustainable energy grants Project development: up to £5,000. Capital projects: up to £50,000 Big Lottery fund to help community based organisations in England to reduce their energy bills and environmental impact. No deadlines: Project Development applications take 6 weeks. Capital project applications take 3 -4 months.
Comic Relief Small grants up to £5000. No limit for main grants. Grant programmes: Young people, Older people, Mental health, Refugees and asylum seekers, Domestic violence, Disadvantaged communities. No deadline for small grants. Decision within 3 months.
Main grants next deadline 15/8/08. Decision in 5 months.
Co-op Community Dividend £100 to £5000 but most grants are £500 or less. Community self help and voluntary groups, community charities. Strong preference for small local groups. No deadlines. Applications take 4 months to process.
Esmee Fairbairn Foundation Average £50,000 Cultural life, education, the natural environment and enabling people who are disadvantaged to participate more fully in society. No deadlines. Applications take 4 months to process.
Gannett Foundation Fund £1000 to £5000 Local charities. Education and neighbourhood improvement, economic development, youth development, community problem solving, assistance for disadvantaged people, environmental conservation, cultural enrichment. Usually March and September
Grassroots Grants £250 - £5000 To support community activity by small groups with an annual income below £20,000 £250 - £900: no deadlines.
£901 - £5000: 31st Aug 08 then about every 6 weeks.
Gulbenkian Foundation: Social Welfare Up to £15,000 Financial inclusion, environmental awareness, older people. Usually April, August and December
HBOS Foundation Up to £10,000 Registered charities only. Money advice and financial literacy, developing and improving local communities. No deadlines. Decisions take 8-12 weeks.
Hedgcock Bequest Up to £1000 Small community and voluntary groups in Brighton and Hove with a turnover of less than £25,000 per year. 3rd Oct 08
Henry Smith Charity £500 to £10,000 Hospices and palliative care; medical research; disability; elderly people; young people at risk; drugs and alcohol rehabilitation; communities in areas of deprivation; families at risk; homelessness; holidays for children.

Trustees meet four times a year.
It's Your Community O2 awards Up to £1000 Projects that improve community spaces or environments, tackle local issues or bring people together. No deadlines
LankellyChase Foundation Varies by programme Arts; Heritage: Breaking the Cycle of abuse; ; Developing Communities; Free and Quiet Minds; Offenders and Society; Refugees and Asylum Seekers; Summer Play schemes. Applications take 6 months to process.
Lloyds TSB Foundation No limit. Grants tend to be between £5000 and £75,000 Core and project funding for recognised charities, particularly small local and underfunded charities. No deadlines. Decisions take 3 - 6 months.
Millennium Awards Level 1: £500 - £5000. Level 2: £10,000 - £20,000 Support for social enterprises. Level 1: No deadlines. Level 2: twice a year.
Reaching Communities: Big Lottery Fund £10,000 - £50,000 To improve local communities and people most in need. 31st October 2008
Robin Hood Pub Usually £1000 Local charities and community groups in Brighton and Hove No deadlines
Rotary Clubs in Brighton and Hove A few hundred up to a few thousand Local community groups and charities in Brighton and Hove. No deadlines
South Downs Sustainable Development Fund £500 - £25,000 To develop practical projects that enhance and conserve the special environment whilst developing local communities and economy Please contact them.
Southern Housing Foundation Up to £2,000 For residents groups to run events, outings or sports activities Please contact the grants officer
Sussex Community Foundation Up to £5,000 but most awards around £2000 Any local charity or not-for-profit group in Sussex, with some specific funds for homelessness, older people, hospices, animal charities, music and recycling projects. Quarterly. Decision in 6 - 8 weeks. Next deadline 31st October 08.
Sussex Police: Joint initiative fund Up to £2,500 To address community safety and fear of crime issues. 1st August and 1st December each year.
Switching On Local Community Grants Up to £500 for computer equipment To support local organisations deliver grass roots programmes around technology and training No deadlines
Tarner and Eastern Road Community Chests Up to £500 Five community chests for Tarner and Eastern Road area for community projects that: promote healthy living and lifestyles; contribute to community safety; support education, employment or community engagement; or reduce crime/anti social behaviour. These funds run to early 2009. Deadlines vary.
Tudor Trust £1,000 - £250,000 Fund smaller local organisations that are 'embedded in and have developed out of their community - whether the local area or a community of interest.' No deadlines
Yapp Charitable Trust Up to £3,000 per year Elderly people, children and young people aged 5 - 25 years, people with disabilities or mental health problems, people trying to overcome life-limiting problems of social, rather than medical, origin such as addiction, relationship difficulties, abuse, or a history of offending, education and learning (including life long learning). No new projects. No deadlines. Applications take 2 - 6 months to process.
Your Heritage £3,000 - £50,000 To enable communities to celebrate, look after and learn more about their diverse heritage. No deadlines. Application process 3 - 4 months.