Grants for social enterprises and CICs
Social enterprises and CICs sit between the charity and commercial worlds, and the funding landscape reflects that. Some traditional charity funders exclude CICs; others actively welcome them. There's also a growing pool of social investment and blended finance you wouldn't see as a pure charity.
Who this is for: Community Interest Companies (CIC), social enterprises, B-Corps and mission-led trading organisations.
What to look for in a funder
- Funders who explicitly accept CICs (not all charity funders do)
- Funders who fund the trading element, not just the social mission
- Social investment alongside grants, blended deals stretch your runway
Application tips
- Be explicit about your asset lock and how surplus is reinvested. Funders care.
- Show the trading model alongside the impact model. Both must be credible.
- Where grants are scarce, look at blended finance, a small grant plus a social loan can unlock work neither would on its own.
Frequently asked questions
Can a CIC apply to charity grants?
Some, but many funders restrict eligibility to registered charities. Always check the criteria before investing time in an application.
Should we register as a charity to access more funding?
Only if the governance model and trading restrictions suit your organisation. The funding pool is larger as a charity, but the operating constraints are tighter.
See funders that fit your organisation
Tell Serin about your organisation once and it shows you the funders whose criteria you actually meet, with the reasons for each match.
Related reading
Grants for small charities
Funders who deliberately back smaller, community-rooted organisations.
ReadWhat grants are available for charities
The main types of UK funding and who each one suits.
ReadHow to write a charity grant application
Structuring answers, evidencing need and writing in the funder's language.
Read