Grants for small charities
Small UK charities (typically those with annual income under £500k) have access to a focused set of funders who deliberately back grassroots and community-rooted work. The list below covers the most active, with realistic award sizes and what each funder looks for.
Who this is for: Registered charities, CIOs and unincorporated associations with annual income up to roughly £500k.
What to look for in a funder
- Funders who explicitly back smaller organisations (some cap income at £250k, £1m or similar)
- Programmes that fund core costs, not only restricted project work
- Multi-year grants where available, they reduce future fundraising overhead
- Application forms designed for small teams (light evidence requirements, plain English)
Application tips
- Apply for unrestricted or core funding when funders offer it, it's more valuable than equivalent restricted income.
- Lead with the problem and the people, not the activity. Funders fund change, not running.
- Have your last two years of accounts, a reserves policy, a safeguarding policy and a basic theory of change ready before you start.
Frequently asked questions
Can a small charity apply to large funders?
Yes, but read the criteria carefully, some funders set minimum income thresholds, while others actively cap eligibility to smaller organisations. Match by intent, not size alone.
Are there grants for unregistered groups?
Yes, Awards for All accepts constituted but unregistered community groups. Many local Community Foundation small-grants programmes do too.
How long does it take to hear back?
Awards for All: 8, 12 weeks. Most trusts: 3, 6 months. Multi-stage programmes can take 6, 9 months.
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.