2025 Funding Landscape

2025 presents exceptional grant funding opportunities with government innovation priorities, post-COVID recovery funding, net-zero investment, and continued lottery distribution creating a diverse, well-funded landscape for all types of organisations.

How to Use This Directory

This comprehensive list organises grant opportunities by sector, funder type, and grant size to help you quickly identify relevant programmes. Each entry includes key details about eligibility, deadlines, and application processes.

Quick Reference Guide

Grant Size Indicators

💷 Small: £500 - £10K
💷💷 Medium: £10K - £100K
💷💷💷 Large: £100K - £1M
💷💷💷💷 Major: £1M+

Application Complexity

⭐ Simple: Basic form
⭐⭐ Standard: Detailed application
⭐⭐⭐ Complex: Comprehensive proposal
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Advanced: Multi-stage process

Section 1: Government Grant Programmes

Innovation and R&D Funding

Innovate UK Smart Grants 💷💷💷💷 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Funder: Innovate UK | Range: £25K - £2M | Rate: Up to 70%

Game-changing R&D projects across all sectors. Rolling applications with 6-12 month assessment.

Eligibility: UK businesses, academic institutions | Next deadline: Open applications

SBRI (Small Business Research Initiative) 💷💷💷 ⭐⭐⭐

Funder: Various government departments | Range: £100K - £1M+ | Rate: 100%

Innovation to solve public sector challenges. Government as first customer.

Eligibility: SMEs with innovative solutions | Next deadline: Varies by department

Innovation Vouchers 💷 ⭐⭐

Funder: Innovate UK | Range: £5K - £10K | Rate: 100%

Collaborate with universities on innovation projects.

Eligibility: SMEs seeking academic collaboration | Next deadline: Rolling applications

Business Development and Growth

UK Shared Prosperity Fund 💷💷💷 ⭐⭐⭐

Funder: Local authorities | Range: £10K - £500K | Rate: Varies

Local economic development and community projects. Successor to EU structural funding.

Eligibility: Local organisations | Next deadline: Check with local authority

Made Smarter Innovation Programme 💷💷💷 ⭐⭐⭐

Funder: BEIS via regional partners | Range: £25K - £500K | Rate: Up to 60%

Digital manufacturing and Industry 4.0 adoption.

Eligibility: Manufacturing SMEs | Next deadline: Quarterly rounds

Section 2: Lottery Funding Opportunities

National Lottery Community Fund

Awards for All 💷 ⭐

Funder: National Lottery Community Fund | Range: £300 - £10K | Rate: 100%

Quick, accessible funding for community projects. 68% success rate.

Eligibility: Voluntary groups, charities, schools | Next deadline: Rolling applications

Community Fund 💷💷💷 ⭐⭐⭐

Funder: National Lottery Community Fund | Range: £10K - £500K | Rate: 100%

Larger community projects with strategic impact.

Eligibility: Established community organisations | Next deadline: Rolling applications

Climate Action Fund 💷💷 ⭐⭐

Funder: National Lottery Community Fund | Range: £10K - £150K | Rate: 100%

Environmental projects with community benefit.

Eligibility: Community groups with environmental focus | Next deadline: Check website

Arts Council England

Project Grants 💷💷💷 ⭐⭐⭐

Funder: Arts Council England | Range: £1K - £100K | Rate: Varies

Creative projects and artistic development.

Eligibility: Artists and creative organisations | Next deadline: Rolling applications

Developing Your Creative Practice 💷 ⭐⭐

Funder: Arts Council England | Range: £2K - £10K | Rate: 100%

Individual artist development and skills building.

Eligibility: Individual creative practitioners | Next deadline: Three rounds annually

Section 3: Charitable Foundation Grants

Major National Foundations

Garfield Weston Foundation 💷💷💷 ⭐⭐⭐

Funder: Garfield Weston Foundation | Range: £2K - £100K+ | Rate: Varies

General charitable purposes including welfare, education, arts, heritage.

Eligibility: Registered charities | Next deadline: Rolling applications

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation 💷💷💷 ⭐⭐⭐

Funder: Esmée Fairbairn Foundation | Range: £10K - £1M+ | Rate: Varies

Social change, arts and culture, food and environment.

Eligibility: Charities and social enterprises | Next deadline: Check specific programmes

Tudor Trust 💷💷 ⭐⭐

Funder: Tudor Trust | Range: £1K - £60K | Rate: Varies

Smaller voluntary organisations working with disadvantaged communities.

Eligibility: Small community organisations | Next deadline: Rolling applications

Section 4: Sector-Specific Opportunities

Health and Social Care

NHS Charities Together 💷💷 ⭐⭐

Funder: NHS Charities Together | Range: £5K - £75K | Rate: 100%

Health and wellbeing projects supporting NHS priorities.

Eligibility: NHS charities and health organisations | Next deadline: Quarterly rounds

Wellcome Trust Discovery Awards 💷💷💷💷 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Funder: Wellcome Trust | Range: £500K - £3M | Rate: 100%

Biomedical research and health innovation.

Eligibility: Researchers and institutions | Next deadline: Multiple rounds annually

Environment and Sustainability

Energy Entrepreneurs Fund 💷💷💷 ⭐⭐⭐

Funder: BEIS | Range: £100K - £2M | Rate: Varies

Clean energy innovation and demonstration projects.

Eligibility: Energy technology companies | Next deadline: Biannual rounds

Community Energy Fund 💷💷 ⭐⭐

Funder: BEIS via local partners | Range: £5K - £100K | Rate: Up to 75%

Community-owned renewable energy projects.

Eligibility: Community energy groups | Next deadline: Regional variations

Education and Young People

Youth Investment Fund 💷💷 ⭐⭐

Funder: Department for Education | Range: £10K - £100K | Rate: Up to 80%

Services for young people at risk of poor outcomes.

Eligibility: Youth organisations | Next deadline: Annual rounds

Children in Need 💷💷 ⭐⭐

Funder: BBC Children in Need | Range: £1K - £60K | Rate: 100%

Projects supporting disadvantaged children and young people.

Eligibility: Not-for-profit organisations | Next deadline: Four rounds annually

Important Notes

Deadlines and criteria change regularly - always check funder websites
Some programmes have limited geographical availability
Grant rates and match funding requirements vary by organisation size
Competition levels differ significantly between programmes
Professional application support improves success rates substantially

Section 5: Regional and Local Opportunities

London

Mayor's Community Action Fund - £5K-£50K for London community projects
London Community Foundation - Various small grants for local causes
City Bridge Trust - £5K-£1M+ for London charities

Scotland

Scottish Enterprise grants - Business development and innovation
Robertson Trust - £1K-£60K for Scottish charities
Corra Foundation - Various programmes across Scotland

Wales

Welsh Government Community Facilities Programme - Capital funding
Wales Council for Voluntary Action - Various small grants
Community Foundation Wales - Local charitable funding

Northern Ireland

Community Relations Council - Good relations funding
Big Lottery Fund NI - Community development grants
Community Foundation NI - Local charitable programmes

Section 6: New and Emerging Opportunities

Post-COVID Recovery Funding

Community Recovery Fund - Supporting pandemic recovery
Digital Inclusion programmes - Technology access and skills
Mental Health support grants - Wellbeing and resilience

Net Zero and Climate Funding

Green Recovery programmes - Environmental job creation
Community climate action - Local environmental projects
Sustainable transport grants - Low-carbon mobility

Application Strategy Tips

Research and Planning

Match assessment: Ensure 80%+ alignment with funder priorities
Timing strategy: Plan applications 6-12 months ahead
Portfolio approach: Apply to 5-10 aligned funders annually
Relationship building: Engage with funders before applying

Success Factors

Clear need: Evidence-based problem definition
Strong solution: Innovative, effective approaches
Capable delivery: Track record and expertise
Measurable impact: Specific outcomes and evaluation
Professional presentation: High-quality applications

Professional Support and Next Steps

This directory provides starting points for grant research, but successful applications require detailed understanding of specific requirements, strategic positioning, and professional presentation.

Crafty's AI-powered grant writing service helps organisations navigate this complex landscape, identifying optimal opportunities and creating compelling applications that win funding. Our technology has analysed thousands of successful applications across all these programmes.

Staying Updated

The grant funding landscape changes constantly with new programmes launching, deadlines shifting, and priorities evolving. Successful organisations maintain ongoing research and monitoring systems to identify emerging opportunities.

Key resources for staying current include:

Funder websites and mailing lists
Sector publications and networks
Professional associations and peer networks
Government funding announcements
Grant finding databases and services

Remember that this directory represents a snapshot of opportunities available in 2025. Always verify current information directly with funders before applying, and consider professional support for significant applications.