We encourage any eligible charity to apply
Grants are for up to £30,000 a year for up to three years
Grants are unrestricted and can be used by the charity in a way they choose
We make aim to decisions about grants awarded each year
We aim to fund between ten and twelve charities at a time. We're currently funding six charities and aiming to fund another five or six. Read stories from our current partner charities here.
Our priorities
We fund small, local and inspiring charities that are rooted in their communities and bring communities together to overcome severe and multiple challenges. We want charities to be stronger and more stable so they can carry on working alongside residents to overcome these challenges and be active in these communities.
We fund charities that have strong leadership, a vision for the future and have good governance in place. We fund charities that have Trustees and staff who are from their communities or have personal and lived experience of the challenges these communities face.
We are giving priority to Black-led charities. By this we mean charities that are primarily led by Trustees and staff identifying as Black, African, Caribbean, Black British or Any Other Black, African or Caribbean background (more than half of Trustees and and more than half of staff). Other eligible charities should still apply. We aim to fund between five and six charities and hope that around four will be Black-led charities - see here for more information in FAQs.
Are you eligible?
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UK Registered Charity |
you’re a UK Registered Charity and have submitted at least 3 years of annual returns to the Charity Commission |
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| Income |
your most recent total annual incoming resources are over £25,000 and under £300,000 |
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Local |
the communities and people your charity works with are from Lambeth and Southwark – not from other boroughs. Your work is only in Lambeth and Southwark. your charity’s office is in Lambeth or Southwark. We don’t fund charities that are based outside Lambeth or Southwark or have a main office elsewhere see our FAQs to understand why |
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Embedded in community |
you can show you understand your community’s needs you work with residents experiencing severe and multiple disadvantage your Trustees and staff include people with personal and lived experience of the challenges your community faces |
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Inspiring |
you have a strong leadership and can show us the difference your charity has made in your community |
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Good Governance in place
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you know your strengths and challenges you have a vision for your charity’s future you have good governance in place including signed Safeguarding and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policies, and efficient financial processes. See FAQs for why we just fund charities with good governance in place |
Who we don’t fund
We don’t fund individuals or nurseries, schools, colleges, higher education institutions, universities and associated charities (including Parent Teacher Associations), places of worship or one-off events.
How to Apply, our DeadlINES and sample forms
Our Current OPEN FUND Partners
Other Funders
Find out more about other funders in Lambeth and Southwark