Grants Online
Grants Online is a handy subscription site with directories of funding broken down into Government, European, lottery and trust funds. It also includes a news-feed on new funds and approaching deadlines and links to funder’s websites. Again this can be accessed for seven days on a free trial basis. Costs start at £100 + VAT for voluntary and community groups.
Grantfinder
Grantfinder is an online database of funding providers that is constantly updated. It allows you to build a profile of the project and organisation seeking funding and generates reports on potential funders which can be e-mailed or printed off, containing more information about the funder, what their priorities are and how to contact them. Subscription to this website is quite expensive but some local authorities subscribe to it and you can arrange for a search to be run for your project and the results will be e-mailed to you. Find out more at:
Charity Excellence Framework
The Charity Excellence Framework is a free, online toolkit that helps charities assess their work and provides FREE access to a funding database.
Local Grant Schemes
Note: Most of the schemes listed below have a limited life and although available at time of writing may close. Other similar schemes will however start, so you need to keep looking.
Note 2: Some of the schemes here are Manchester based but similar schemes may be available in other towns and cities.
Most Councils have a Funding Team providing advice and guidance to public service providers, organisations and community groups who are seeking funding. As part of the service they:
- Conduct on-line funding searches via Grantfinder Service;
- Provide the latest information on European, Government and Lottery funding;
- Appraise and support funding applications;
- Provide strategic and technical advice and guidance.
Councils often have pots of grant money available. Apply to the Council via the Funding Team to see if there is one in your area.
Manchester Airport Community Trust Fund
Each year Manchester Airports Group contributes £100,000 to a Community Trust Fund; any fines levied at aircraft that have breached noise limits are also paid into the Fund. These funds are then used to support neighbourhood and community projects throughout the area. The maximum award given to each project is £3,000.
To be eligible to apply groups must
• Undertake positive work in the community and be of charitable nature and have ‘Not for Profit’ status.
• Be Community, Socially or Environmentally focused
• Based within 10 miles of Manchester Airport
For further information and to access the online application form click here.
Other local airports will probably have a similar scheme.
Forever Manchester
Is a charity that raises money to fund and support community activity across Greater Manchester. The manage and administer a number of funds.
https://forevermanchester.com/funding-and-support/
Sage Community Fund
This fund has a focus on projects related to local employment, children and young people and ICT skills development.
https://www.sage.com/en-gb/company/sage-foundation/support-and-funding/
Landfill Community Funds
If you have a landfill site in your area (within a set distance – usually 10 miles) you may be eligible to apply for Landfill money. Further information is contained in the Parks Community UK article on Landfill Community Funds.
To check whether your area has a landfill fund visit the entrust.org website
Other companies which may also run grant schemes are:
- Petrol companies
- Big supermarkets – Tesco, Sainsbury, Asda, Morrisons and the Co-operative Society
- Local big companies may consider sponsoring or partnering with your group for a specific project.
Reproduced with permission of North West Parks Friends Forum
