For charities, CICs and CIOs working in arts, culture, environmental sustainability and wellbeing, grant funding usually comes from several different sources rather than one place. This guide sets out the main routes worth knowing, and how to think about which to prioritise.
The main types of grant funding
Statutory funders
Such as Arts Council England, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and local authority arts and culture grants, which fund work aligned with public policy priorities.
Independent trusts and foundations
Ranging from large national funders such as Garfield Weston or Paul Hamlyn Foundation to smaller, regional or subject-specific trusts.
National Lottery distributors
Including Awards for All and other National Lottery Community Fund programmes, generally aimed at smaller and community-led projects.
Corporate foundations and giving schemes
Which vary widely in focus but can be a good fit for organisations with a clear community or social impact story.
Where to start if you are new to grant funding
Smaller, faster programmes such as Awards for All are a sensible starting point for organisations without a track record of grant funding, since they build a track record that larger funders will later look for.
From there, organisations can build up to statutory funders like Arts Council England, and to trusts and foundations whose funding criteria match their work closely.
Start with funding opportunities that match your organisation's current experience, rather than immediately targeting the largest grants.
Matching your project to the right funder
The biggest time-waster in fundraising is applying to funders whose criteria do not really match the project.
Before applying anywhere, it is worth checking a funder's stated priorities, their typical grant size, whether they fund your type of organisation (some trusts exclude CICs or only fund registered charities, for example), and whether they have funded similar work before.
A shorter list of well-matched funders, applied to properly, tends to outperform a long list of speculative applications.
Prioritise funder alignment and eligibility before investing time in writing an application.
What funders generally look for
Across most grant funding, whether statutory or independent, funders are looking for a clear need or case for the work, a realistic budget and delivery plan, evidence the organisation can deliver (track record, governance, financial health), and a clear sense of what will be different for people or communities as a result.
Charities, CICs and CIOs that can evidence these clearly, in plain language, consistently do better than those relying on ambition alone.
A persuasive grant application needs evidence, clear outcomes and realistic delivery alongside a strong project idea.
Building a fundraising pipeline
Rather than applying to one funder at a time, it helps to build a pipeline: a small number of live applications, a medium-term list of prospects being researched, and a longer list of possible future funders as the organisation grows.
This spreads risk and means income is not dependent on a single decision.
How Alira Arts can help
Finding the right grants is only part of successful fundraising. Alira Arts supports charities, CICs and CIOs with the research, strategy and expertise needed to develop stronger funding applications and sustainable fundraising plans.
Trusts & foundations fundraising
Identify suitable funders, develop a targeted fundraising pipeline and create compelling grant applications.
02Capital campaign consulting
Plan major fundraising campaigns, assess feasibility and develop a realistic strategy to secure significant funding.
03Fundraising masterclasses
Build your team's fundraising skills and confidence through practical training and expert guidance.
04ACE application review
Receive specialist feedback on your Arts Council England application before submission.
Ready to find the right funding?
From identifying suitable grants to building a sustainable fundraising pipeline, we can help you plan your next steps with confidence.
Book a free discovery call
