Grants and Church Grants Database

Many churches have experience in successfully applying for grants from trusts and foundations, they are a welcome source of income and are frequently part of a wider fundraising strategy.

Restrictions on grants can come from either the applicant or the grant-making organisation, often dictated by the organisation’s charitable objectives. These restrictions may include specific spending purposes or time frames. Grant-making organisations, mostly registered charities, adhere to Charity Commission regulations. Use the Charity Commissions page to look at the various annual reports and get a clearer picture of the funders expenditures. You will also find the funders objectives and details of trustees so you can personalise your letters.

Each trust will have its own unique application procedure and you will find information on their website on what this entails. Grants are typically obtained through formal solicitations, either through written letters, paper or online applications. Some funders will request that you already have raised a sum of your budget, this equally shows your commitment to the project. The Trust & Foundation market is incredibly competitive (1 in 7 is successful) and your application must stand out. One way of doing this is using stories and create a warm approach with the organisation. Some trusts may limit grants by geographic area and they vary greatly in size, ranging from small amounts to multi-million-pound awards. While most grants are one-off, some trusts offer multi-year funding, particularly for revenue projects.

The Church Grants website is a searchable database of hundreds of UK trusts and foundations, all of which have funded church or Christian projects before. You will need your parish code which your treasurer should have or contact mission.resources@exeter.anglican.org. The Church of England also provide a list of funders for work in a wider variety of areas. Including conservation, preservation, heritage and restoration; environmental and sustainability projects; community projects and improvements to church facilities. You can find the latest list (April 2023) here.  Find all our webinars in one place here.

Raising Grants from Major Donors	Watch Video
Raising Grants from Trusts & Foundations	Watch Video
Raising Money from Crowdfunding	Watch Video
Top Tips on How to Write an Application	Watch Video
Building a Case for Support	Watch Video
Planning for a Church Fundraising Appeal	Watch Video
How to encourage a Culture of Legacy Giving	Watch Video