Who’s Funding?

The latest grant funding open for October 2025: 

Unrestricted / Core Funding

Unrestricted or core funding can sometimes be hard to find but it is essential running costs, salaries, and overheads. The following Trusts and Foundations are currently offering unrestricted funding: 

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

Focus: Broad social change across the UK, with a strong commitment to racial justice and addressing social/economic inequality.

What they offer: A significant proportion of their main grants (around 66%) are for unrestricted or core costs, typically for three to five years.

Deadline: Ongoing

Trust for London

Focus: Fighting poverty and inequality specifically within London. Key areas include Economic Justice (decent work, social security) and Social Justice (racial justice, migrant destitution).

What they offer: Provides both project and crucial unrestricted funding. They co-lead the Racial Justice Fund, offering unrestricted grants to Black and minority-led London groups.

Deadline: Ongoing

Forte Charitable Foundation

Focus: Supports UK-based small-to-medium sized local organisations working in communities experiencing extreme urban deprivation and deprived rural districts.

What they offer: Funds Revenue costs, including core costs, salaries, running, and project costs. They have Small Grants (for charities with income up to £250k) and Major Grants (up to £500k income).

Deadline: None on Small Grants. For Major Grants, there is a rolling programme with grant committee decision meetings taking place in January, April, July and October. 

The Fore

Focus: Supporting the development of exceptional small charities and CICs across the UK that work with marginalised groups.

What they offer: Unrestricted grants of up to £30,000 designed to create transformational change within the recipient organisation.

Deadline: The Fore operates seasonable rounds. The Autumn 2025 round is now closed however Spring 2026 will open for initial registration From 12pm (midday) on Wednesday 26th November to 12pm (midday) on Wednesday 3rd December. Following confirmation of registration, the deadline for a full application is 12 January 2026. Competition is fierce, organisations are advised to mark their calendars now. 

Project & Capital Funding

The following funders are looking to support specific projects, programmes, or capital expenditures (like new equipment or building renovations) that align with their mission.

Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation – General Fund

Focus: Supports registered charities in England, Wales, the Isle of Man, and the Republic of Ireland. Aims to provide vital help to communities in need, including homelessness (especially young people), ex-offenders and their families, and care for the elderly.

What they offer: Funding for charitable projects. Grants can be substantial, with annual expenditure for applicants needing to be under £10 million.

Deadline: The fund has re-opened for Autumn applications (October 2025), interested organisations are advised to apply as soon as possible. 

The Clothworkers’ Foundation – Open Grants Programme

Focus: Funds capital costs for charities working with disadvantaged and marginalised people. Relevant areas include those addressing economic disadvantage and communities experiencing racial inequalities.

What they offer: Specifically for capital costs (e.g., equipment, building repairs, refurbishment) for small and medium-sized charities.

Deadline: Ongoing

The King Charles III Charitable Fund – Small Grants

Focus: Supports small UK registered nonprofits (income between £25,000 and £500,000) that assist disadvantaged communities across various themes, including Social Inclusion and Health & Wellbeing.

What they offer: Small grants of up to £3,000 per year, for up to three years, for projects or revenue costs.

Deadline: October 31^st for Education, Heritage and Conservations rounds. The Social Inclusion and Health rounds will open early January 2026. 

Network for Social Change

Focus: Supports work in areas like Racial Justice (including projects led by people from racialised minorities) and Economic Justice (tackling inequality, fairer taxation, labour rights).

What they offer: Grants are available through three streams: Fast Track (up to £8,000), Pools (£8,000 to £25,000), and Major Projects (multi-year, £100,000+).

Deadline: NSC invites applicants to share their project which is then reviewed by members of the network. There is no deadline.

You can find more information over on our Grant Funding page including our Funding Guide and Checklist. If you would like specific guidance for your organisation, please get in touch at: [email protected]