Comprehensive UK Grant Directory 2025: Complete Funding Database

How to Use This Grant Directory

Directory Structure and Navigation

This directory is organized by funding source type, then by sector, funding level, and geographic focus. Each entry includes contact information, funding ranges, application deadlines, eligibility criteria, and success tips. Use the sector indexes to quickly locate relevant opportunities, then cross-reference with geographic and funding level filters to identify your optimal prospects.

Funding Categories Explained

Government Grants: Direct funding from UK government departments and agencies
Lottery Funding: National Lottery distribution through various good causes
Foundation Grants: Private charitable foundations and trust funding
Corporate Grants: Company foundation and CSR funding programs
EU/International: Post-Brexit accessible international funding
Regional Funding: Devolved administration and local authority grants

Government Grant Programs

Major Government Departments

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

• Innovate UK Smart Grants: £25,000 - £2 million for innovation projects
• AI and Data Grand Challenge: £100,000 - £10 million for AI applications
• Digital Skills Bootcamps: £3,000 - £8,000 per learner for skills training
• 5G Testbeds and Trials: £500,000 - £5 million for 5G innovation
• Future Flight Challenge: £250,000 - £15 million for aviation innovation

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

• Environmental Land Management: £100 - £1,500 per hectare for sustainable farming
• Nature for Climate Fund: £10,000 - £5 million for nature-based solutions
• Flood and Coastal Resilience Innovation: £50,000 - £2 million for flood defense
• Farming Innovation Programme: £100,000 - £3 million for agricultural innovation

Department for Transport

• Transport Decarbonisation Fund: £500,000 - £50 million for clean transport
• Capability Fund: £25,000 - £500,000 for transport innovation
• Active Travel Fund: £50,000 - £10 million for cycling and walking infrastructure

Department for Work and Pensions

• Community Ownership Fund: £250,000 - £2 million for community asset acquisition
• Household Support Fund: Distributed through local authorities for crisis support
• Levelling Up Fund: £500,000 - £20 million for regeneration projects

National Lottery Funding Streams

National Lottery Community Fund

• Awards for All England: £300 - £10,000 for small community projects
• Community Fund: £10,001 - £500,000 for medium to large projects
• Reaching Communities: £10,000 - £500,000 over 1-5 years
• Partnerships and Shared Outcomes: £500,000+ for strategic partnerships

Arts Council England

• Project Grants: £1,000 - £100,000 for arts activities
• Developing Your Creative Practice: £2,000 - £10,000 for individual artists
• National Portfolio Organisations: Multi-year funding for established arts organizations
• Capital Investment Programme: £500,000 - £5 million for buildings and equipment

Sport England

• Small Grants: £300 - £10,000 for grassroots sports projects
• Medium Grants: £10,001 - £100,000 for facility improvements
• Large Grants: £100,001+ for major sports facilities
• Tackling Inequalities Fund: £10,000 - £200,000 for inclusive sports

Heritage Fund

• National Lottery Grants for Heritage: £3,000 - £5 million for heritage projects
• Heritage Emergency Fund: £3,000 - £250,000 for heritage at risk
• Digital Skills for Heritage: £10,000 - £100,000 for digital capacity building

Major Foundation and Trust Funding

Large Grant-Making Foundations (£1 million+ annual distribution)

Garfield Weston Foundation

• Regular Grants: £5,000 - £100,000 for general charitable purposes
• Capital Grants: £100,000+ for building and equipment projects
• Education Grants: £20,000 - £200,000 for educational institutions

Wellcome Trust

• Discovery Research: £50,000 - £3 million for health research
• Innovator Awards: £50,000 - £500,000 for early-career researchers
• Public Engagement Fund: £10,000 - £50,000 for science engagement

Leverhulme Trust

• Research Project Grants: £10,000 - £500,000 for academic research
• International Networks: £25,000 - £100,000 for research collaboration
• Major Research Fellowships: £500,000+ for senior researchers

Medium-Sized Trusts (£100,000 - £1 million annual distribution)

Paul Hamlyn Foundation

• Arts Programme: £30,000 - £100,000 for arts organizations
• Education and Learning: £40,000 - £150,000 for educational innovation
• Justice Programme: £25,000 - £75,000 for justice reform

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

• Main Grants: £20,000 - £150,000 for social change organizations
• Food Programme: £30,000 - £200,000 for food system change
• Climate Programme: £50,000 - £300,000 for climate action

Corporate Foundation Funding

Major Corporate Programs

Lloyds Bank Foundation

• Enhance Programme: £15,000 - £25,000 for small charity development
• Enable Programme: £75,000 - £150,000 for medium charity growth
• Invest Programme: £150,000+ for large charity transformation

Barclays Foundation

• Community Investment: £5,000 - £50,000 for local community projects
• Digital Skills: £10,000 - £100,000 for digital inclusion projects

Tesco Community Grants

• Bags of Help: £1,000 - £4,000 for community projects
• Stronger Starts: £25,000 - £75,000 for children and families

Sector-Specific Funding Directories

Health and Social Care Funding

NHS Charities Together

• COVID-19 Response: £5,000 - £100,000 for health system support
• Mental Health Programme: £10,000 - £200,000 for mental health initiatives

Health Foundation

• Improvement Science Fellowships: £50,000 - £150,000 for healthcare improvement
• Health Equity Programme: £100,000 - £500,000 for reducing health inequalities

Education and Training Funding

Education Endowment Foundation

• Efficacy Trials: £100,000 - £500,000 for education intervention testing
• Innovation Fund: £50,000 - £200,000 for educational innovation

Teach First

• Leadership Development Programme: £25,000 - £100,000 for educational leadership

Environmental and Sustainability Funding

Environmental Funders Network Members

• Esmée Fairbairn Environment Programme: £50,000 - £300,000
• Garfield Weston Environment Grants: £10,000 - £150,000
• Trust for London Environment Fund: £20,000 - £100,000

Regional and Devolved Funding

Scotland Funding

• Scottish Government Third Sector Fund: £10,000 - £500,000
• Creative Scotland Regular Funding: £30,000 - £500,000
• Highlands and Islands Enterprise: £5,000 - £250,000

Wales Funding

• Welsh Government Third Sector Support: £5,000 - £200,000
• Arts Council of Wales Investment: £2,000 - £100,000
• Community Foundation Wales: £500 - £25,000

Northern Ireland Funding

• Department for Communities Funding: £10,000 - £300,000
• Arts Council Northern Ireland: £1,000 - £75,000
• Community Foundation Northern Ireland: £500 - £15,000

Specialized Funding Streams

Emergency and Crisis Funding

• BBC Children in Need Emergency Grants: £1,000 - £15,000
• Comic Relief Crisis Fund: £5,000 - £50,000
• National Lottery Community Fund Emergency: £300 - £10,000

Innovation and R&D Funding

• UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships: £1 million - £1.5 million
• Royal Society Research Grants: £15,000 - £50,000
• British Academy Small Grants: £1,000 - £10,000

Application Strategies by Funding Type

Government Grant Applications

Government grants require extensive policy alignment, detailed outcome measurement, and value-for-money demonstration. Applications typically take 6-12 weeks to complete and require multiple approval stages. Focus on economic impact, job creation, and strategic policy contribution. Include detailed risk assessments, stakeholder engagement evidence, and sustainability planning.

Lottery Funding Success Factors

National Lottery grants prioritize community benefit, participation, and long-term impact. Demonstrate genuine community need through consultation, include diverse beneficiary groups, and show clear outcomes measurement. Applications benefit from community letters of support, partnership evidence, and volunteer involvement demonstration.

Foundation Grant Approaches

Foundation applications require careful alignment with specific foundation interests and giving patterns. Research foundation trustees, previous grants, and strategic priorities thoroughly. Applications should be concise, outcomes-focused, and demonstrate organizational sustainability. Personal connections and introductions can be valuable for major foundations.

Directory Search and Filter Strategies

By Organization Type

• Registered Charities: Access to virtually all funding streams
• CICs and Social Enterprises: Eligible for social investment and innovation funds
• Schools and Universities: Education-specific funds plus general grants
• Local Authorities: Infrastructure and service delivery grants
• Private Companies: Innovation and R&D funding primarily

By Geographic Focus

• National Programs: UK-wide eligibility
• Regional Funds: England regions, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland
• Local Authority Area: Borough and county-specific funding
• Urban Priority Areas: City-specific regeneration funding
• Rural Focus: Countryside and remote area funding

By Funding Amount

• Micro Grants (Under £1,000): Community foundation and corporate small grants
• Small Grants (£1,000-£10,000): Awards for All and similar programs
• Medium Grants (£10,000-£100,000): Most foundation and trust funding
• Large Grants (£100,000+): Government and major foundation programs

Using This Directory for Strategic Planning

Annual Funding Calendar Development

Use this directory to create annual funding calendars identifying optimal application timing across multiple funding streams. Stagger applications to avoid resource conflicts while maximizing opportunities. Include preparation time, deadline dates, and decision timeframes in comprehensive planning schedules.

Diversified Funding Portfolio Strategy

Identify 8-12 potential funders across different categories to build resilient funding portfolios. Combine government grants for policy-aligned work, foundation grants for innovation, lottery funding for community benefit, and corporate grants for local impact. Diversification reduces dependency and increases sustainability.