Resources

Fundraising

Information on finding sources of funding:

Grants Online https://www.grantsonline.org.uk/coronavirus.html

Grants Online has pulled together a comprehensive and regularly updated list of funding opportunities specifically related to supporting organisations through the pandemic which can be accessed on their website without a subscription.

Herts Sports Partnership https://sportinherts.org.uk/app/uploads/2020/04/Covid-19-Relief-Funding-NEW.pdf

HSP have produced a funding newsletter which is extremely useful and can be found on their website. It includes information on local authority funding alongside other local, national and sport specific funding packages.

Local Funding:

Hertfordshire Community Foundation an independent charity which manages a range of funding sources for local voluntary and community sector organisations. For information on currently available funding visit their website: www.hertscf.org.uk/grant-making

Connect Hertfordshire Community Hub is a service supporting voluntary and community services across the county. Working together, we can help you find support for your group, fundraise, explain your social value and develop new partnerships.

The page includes details of the Herts.Community funding database - Find local, regional, national and European Union funding opportunities. You can also sign up for email alerts for this service, or a weekly newsletter. https://www.connecthertfordshire.org/our-services/fundraise.aspx

HCF Workforce Development Grants. Grants of up to £2,000 are now available for learning and development in voluntary and community organisations in Hertfordshire. HCC Adult Care Services are funding this grant scheme for VCS organisations that provide adult social care in Hertfordshire. The grants are managed by HCF Training and Development and can be used to support workforce development, training, coaching, equipment and costs associated with accreditation. For more information and to check your eligibility, visit the website: https://www.hertscf.org.uk/hcft-workforce-development-grants

Hertfordshire County Council Locality Budget. You can apply to your local county councilor directly: https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/about-the-council/how-the-council-works/locality-budgets/locality-budgets.aspx

You can also find information and support for your organisation via your local Council for Voluntary Service. You can also find out about volunteering opportunities to support others across the County via #TeamHerts.

National Funding:

Grants for the Conservation of Wildlife and the Environment. Monthly grants are made to support the conservation of wildlife and the environment by the HDH Wills 1965 Charitable Trust. The Trust makes grants of between £250 and £500 (sometimes up to £5,000) to general, environmental and wildlife charities, so long as they are registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales or they are exempt or excepted charities (within the meaning of the Charities Act 2011). Supported charities will be small in size or be applying for support for a modest project, such that the grant will have a meaningful impact. There are no deadlines, grants may be made towards revenue, capital or project expenditure and email, postal or online applications are accepted. https://hdhwills.org/grants/

Theatre Artists Fund. The fund has been set up to provide emergency support for theatre workers and freelancers who remain out of work. The fund has reopened as of 27 August 2020 following a donation of £1m from the Arts Council. www.uktheatre.org

BBC Children In Need - Small and Large Grants Programme

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Children in Need have temporarily broadened the types of applications they are accepting. They are currently offering funding that can be used more flexibly than usual. They are encouraging applications for:

Project delivery (Including staffing and salary costs)
Creative solutions to deliver much needed services
Organisational costs to support stability and adaptation. (Including the day-to-day running costs of an organisation as opposed to specific project costs)

All applications will have to show how this funding will make a difference to children and young people’s lives during this crisis. Applications are not limited to one specific project and a request can be made for organisational running costs. https://www.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk/grants/covid-19-funding-streams/

Tesco Bags of Help - Tesco Bags of Help is offering grants of up to £1000 to support organistaions working with children and young people. In store voting is currently suspended. Visit the website for more information: https://tescobagsofhelp.org.uk/

North Star Project (artist support for applications and advice). The New Diorama have always worked to support the best artists and companies through difficult times – now, in this moment of crisis, they want to throw support open to whoever needs it across the sector. They are offering a suite of support for artists and companies through COVID-19 and its effects. https://www.middlechildtheatre.co.uk/2020/04/03/get-help-applying-for-emergency-funding-with-the-north-star-project/

Grocers' Charity - Financial support for UK-registered charities, with the selection of recipients being regularly reviewed in line with a policy to support specific areas of need. The relief of poverty (including youth poverty) and help for the disabled usually take priority, with medicine, the arts, heritage, the Church and the elderly also designated. - http://www.grocershall.co.uk/index.php/charity/memorial/

Association of Independent Music (UK) Aim Crisis Fund for Independent Music Contractors - The Association of Independent Music (AIM) has announced that AIM and its members have launched a support fund aimed at the contractors and freelance workers in the independent music industry whose source of income has been severed without warning due to lost work in April and May as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. AIM Rightsholder members can now invite their artists and their artists’ managers to nominate candidates to be pre-approved on this basis. https://www.aim.org.uk/#/opportunities/view/aim-crisis-fund-for-independent-music-contractors

Aviva Community Fund - Small charities and constituted community groups with innovative ideas that benefit their community can apply for funding of up to £50,000 for projects that build more connected, more resilient communities and give people the tools to become more financially independent. In response to the Covid-19 Aviva are temporarily opening up the Fund to projects that will ensure organisations can adapt or maintain critical services and infrastructure in response to the impacts of COVID-19. Projects must still relate to one of Aviva’s key funding areas. https://www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/start-crowdfunding#criteria

Comic Relief (UK), Capacity Building Grants Scheme - The Comic Relief Community Fund (England) is offering grants to grassroots community organisations with an income of less than £250,000. There are two types of grants available to organisations whose work delivers on one of Comic Relief’s four strategic themes:

Children Survive & Thrive: projects that support children up to the age of 11 to reach their potential and have the best start in life.
Fighting for Gender Justice: projects that improve equality for women, girls and initiatives that help people affected by domestic violence, abuse or exploitation due to their gender.
A Safe Place to Be: projects that support people who are rebuilding their lives because of homelessness or forced migration.
Mental Health Matters: projects that support good mental health in communities, improve access to support and tackle stigma and discrimination.

Funding is available to help you develop your organisation through a Capacity Building Grant or to deliver projects through a Project Delivery Grant. This new and exciting programme aims deliver long lasting community driven change and we will work closely with successful projects to gather learning from the programme to share widely. https://www.groundwork.org.uk/apply-for-a-grant/national-grants/comic-relief-community-grants/

The Foyle Foundation (UK) - The Foyle Foundation has re-opened its Small Grants Scheme to support smaller, grass-roots and local charities across the UK during the Covid-19 crisis. Organisations which are currently delivering services to the young, vulnerable, elderly, disadvantaged or the general community either directly or through online support can apply for grants of between £1,000 and £10,000. Funding can be used to cover core costs or essential equipment, to enable ongoing service provision, homeworking, or delivery of online digital services for charities with a turnover of less than £150,000 per annum that can show financial stability and a clear need for their services. Competition for funding is expected to be strong. Applications can be submitted at any time. http://www.foylefoundation.org.uk/how-to-apply/

Musician Union (UK) Coronavirus Hardship Fund - In response to the widespread cancellation of work that has hit the profession as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Musician Union have set up a £1 million hardship fund that members with genuine and pressing hardship can apply to. Grants of £200 are available. https://www.musiciansunion.org.uk/hardshipfund

The Prince’s Trust and NatWest Enterprise Relief Fund -The Prince’s Trust and NatWest have launched a £5million grant fund for young entrepreneurs affected by coronavirus. The Fund is available to entrepreneurs aged 18-30, who can apply for grants and tailored support from today. Grants can be used to maintain core business operations during the crisis, as well as meet any existing financial commitments, such as paying for essential equipment or settling invoices from suppliers. In conjunction with these grants, the initiative will also offer one-to-one support and guidance to applicants who need it. https://www.princes-trust.org.uk/about-the-trust/coronavirus-response/enterprise-relief-fund

Social Investment Business (UK) Resilience and Recovery Loan Fund -The Resilience & Recovery Loan Fund (RRLF) is a new £25 million fund for social enterprises and charities who are experiencing disruption to their normal business model as a result of COVID-19. It has been established to make an existing government scheme (the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme more easily accessible to charities and social enterprises. This fund is only for social sector organisations: charities and social enterprises. Deadline: 31st March 2021. https://www.sibgroup.org.uk/resilience-and-recovery-loan-fund

Sport England Active Together Programme -Sport England has committed another £1 million to combating the impact of coronavirus by match funding money raised by sports clubs and community activity groups through the fundraising platform Crowdfunder. Through the ‘Active Together’ partnership with Crowdfunder Sport England are matching crowd funds of up to £10,000 raised by clubs and organisations hit by the coronavirus crisis. Clubs and organisations can sign up via the Crowdfunder website. They’ll then need to set their crowdfunding target and put in place incentives and rewards. Once 25% of the crowdfunding is met, Sport England will confirm the match funding – up to £10,000 – and can distribute the money within seven days of being raised. https://www.sportengland.org/news/%C2%A31-million-crowdfunding-support-clubs-and-organisation

Covid-19 Fund to Support Black and Minoritised Women’s Organisations (UK) Rosa, a grantmaking charity that funds grassroots women’s organisations, has announced plans to build a Covid-19 response fund that gives multi-year grants to specialist not-for-profit organisations led by and for Black and minoritised (BME) women such as those with disabilities, older women, LGBTQ+, homeless women, and survivors of gender violence.

The Fund will provide a tailored and responsive support package including the opportunity to join an online platform, access online training, take part in smaller discussion groups, and more. https://rosauk.org/2020/11/24/rosa-builds-next-phase-covid-19-response-for-bme-led-womens-organisations/

B&Q Community Reuse Scheme (UK) - DIY store B&Q operates a community re-use scheme through all its branches across the UK. The scheme donates unsellable products and materials for re-use by local schools, other educational institutions and community groups, for the benefit of the local community and the environment. All items are donated on the understanding that they will be re-used or disposed of responsibly if they are not used.

Charities, community groups, colleges or schools interested should get in touch with B&Q. B&Q will add the organisation's details to their database of community groups. When a B&Q store has something to donate, they will use this list to get in touch with groups in their area. http://www.diy.com/corporate/community/waste-donation/

The National Lottery Heritage Fund has resumed accepting small and medium project funding applications and launched an interest free loans pilot. The aim is to help the UK’s heritage sector respond to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Phase one will see the National Lottery Grants for Heritage programme reopen to applications for grants of between £3,000 and £100,000 for heritage not-for-profit and public sector organisations, and local authorities to build their resilience. Applications can be made at any time. https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/news/new-project-funding-and-loans-support-sector-resilience

Heritage Recovery and Resilience Loans will also be available, providing sums of between £50,000 and £250,000 to not-for-profit organisations currently or previously in receipt of National Lottery Heritage funding looking to restart and develop their income generating potential. The deadline for applications is the 14th February 2021.

Phase 2 will start in February 2021 and heritage organisations will be able to apply for grants from £100,000-£250,000 and £250,000-£5 million.

Funding Available to Enhance the Cultural Impact of Arts Organisations (England) - Nesta, the innovation agency, has announced changes to its Cultural Impact Development Fund, which offers investment up to £150,000 for arts and culture organisations. The Cultural Impact Development Fund, which was previously a loan fund, will now include grants up to 50 per cent of the total investment.

The £3.5m Fund has been restructured to make it more responsive to the economic shock of COVID-19 and aims to offer more flexible financial support to organisations as they adapt. The fund has been specifically designed to offer flexible finance to arts and culture organisations working with the people and communities in greatest need. https://www.artsculturefinance.org/enquire/ or email: artsculturefinance@nesta.org.uk

Arts-Based Learning Fund to Re-opens for Applications (UK) - The Paul Hamlyn Foundation’s Arts-based Learning Fund will re-open to applications on the 30th October 2020.

The Foundation will accept applications from arts organisations that are working with schools, colleges and other formal education settings to enhance the lives, development and achievements of children and young people through high quality arts-based learning activities.

Charities, community organisations, social enterprises and not-for-profit companies can apply for grants of between £30,000 and £400,000 for two to three-year projects. The Foundation is particularly interested in funding work for the benefit of primary-age children and work taking place in areas of social and economic deprivation and inequality outside of London. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. https://www.phf.org.uk/funds/arts-based-learning-fund/#purpose-of-the-fund

Arts Council England is the national development agency for the arts in England and supports a range of artistic activities. The organisation runs a range of funding programmes, such as Grants for the Arts, and lists other places to look for arts funding (http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/apply-funding/other-sources-of-arts-funding

Crowdfunding is way of raising finance by asking a large number of people each for a small amount of money. There are a number of websites now doing crowdfunding and some are specifically for creative projects. Do your own search for ‘crowdfunding’ and see what comes up.

Hertfordshire now has its own crowdfunding platform. For more information go to: Crowdfund Hertfordshire | Crowdfunder UK

Crowdfunder and Hertfordshire Community Foundation (HCC) have teamed up to award £500 to 5 projects that matter in Hertfordshire.The ‘Projects that matter: Hertfordshire’ competition has been launched to find incredible not-for-profit projects in Hertfordshire. https://www.hertscf.org.uk/crowdfunding-hertfordshire

Funding for creative businesses: Working in partnership with industry and informed by leading research, Creative Skillset directs collective investment through the Skills Investment Fund to create new and innovative training in priority skills and in-demand roles to ensure growth in the UK’s Creative Industries: https://www.screenskills.com/

Herts Insight:

Not a place to find funding, but a useful place to gather statistics for your funding bids. The Hertfordshire Insight website enables access to a wide range of data, information and intelligence relating to the county of Hertfordshire. Herts Insight