Grants for community groups
Community groups, including residents' associations, sports clubs, faith groups, parent-led initiatives and informal volunteer collectives, can access a meaningful set of grants without being a registered charity. The funders below explicitly include constituted-but-unregistered organisations.
Who this is for: Constituted community groups, unincorporated associations, sports clubs, faith groups, school PTAs and resident-led initiatives.
What to look for in a funder
- Funders that accept a written constitution and bank account in the group's name (charity registration not required)
- Local rather than national funders, they often have smaller pots, faster decisions and less competition
- Programmes scoped to your activity (sport, arts, environment, youth, older people)
Application tips
- Get a constitution and a bank account in the group's name before applying, most funders require both.
- Apply locally first. Local funders are less competitive and decisions come faster.
- Build a relationship with your local Community Foundation; they know other funders too.
Frequently asked questions
Do we need to be a registered charity?
No, not for most small community grants. You'll typically need a written constitution, a management committee and a bank account in the group's name.
What's the easiest first grant to apply for?
A local ward member fund or a local Community Foundation small grant. Both have light requirements and decisions within weeks.
From finding funding to a completed application
Most platforms stop once you've found a grant. Serin surfaces application questions and guidance inside the platform, so you can move from discovery to a stronger completed application in one workflow.