The Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland is one of four independent grant-making trusts, covering England & Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands. They are funded by the profits of Lloyds Banking Group and together receive 0.5% of the Group’s pre-tax profits.
The Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland is an independent charitable foundation and their policies are determined by their own Board of Trustees.
They envision a sustainable and inclusive Northern Ireland where everyone thrives and invests in local charities, empowering communities in greatest need to flourish.
The Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland believe in supporting communities that champion good causes, because we’re better together.
After listening to their applicants and grant holders, the Foundation is delighted to launch Better Together – Our Strategy for 2024-2028.
As part of their new Strategy, 'Better Together', they have designed a suite of new grant programmes to enable applicants to help those in greatest need. Below is a summary of each programme, please click the links for further information and available support.
Ignite
- Currently open for applications
- 12 month grant
- Maximum award - £2000
- Rolling programme*
IGNITE provides funding to support a charity to get started. Open to organisations recently set up (within last 2 years). Groups must be registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. (If registered with another charity regulator in the UK/Ireland, it must show that you operate in Northern Ireland.) Priority will be given to charities with limited funds available to them. In line with the priorities of The Halifax Foundation, your charity must support people in greatest need. For example, supporting people living in poverty; those who are unemployed; those with disabilities or mental ill health. (This is not an exhaustive list – other areas of need will be considered.). *While IGNITE is a rolling programme, it will close when the budget is reached.
This is a pilot programme with the potential to support 20 – 40 applications.
Community Flex
- Currently open for applications
- 12 month grant
- Maximum award - £10,000
- Rolling programme
The Community FLEX programme is open to registered charities with an income of £500,000 or less, with a least one year of annual returns published on the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’s website. In line with the priorities of The Halifax Foundation, your charity must support people in greatest need. For example, supporting people living in poverty; those who are unemployed; those with disabilities or mental ill health. (This is not an exhaustive list – other areas of need will be considered.) Community FLEX is a rolling programme, which means you can apply at any time.
Collaborate
- Currently open for applications
- 12 month grant
- Maximum award - £20,000
- Rolling programme*
- Collaboration training available
The COLLABORATE programme is open to 2 or more charities coming together to tackle a social issue at a local level. All collaborating charities must have individual income levels of £500,000 or less. In line with the priorities of The Halifax Foundation, your charity must support people in greatest need. For example, supporting people living in poverty; those who are unemployed; those with disabilities or mental ill health. (This is not an exhaustive list – other areas of need will be considered.)
*COLLABORATE is a rolling programme and will close when the budget is reached. This is a pilot programme with the potential to support approximately 5 – 10 collaborating grants.
Applicants must have a pre-application call with a member of the Grants Team prior to submitting an application. To book a call, please contact [email protected].
Empower
- Opening June 2024
- Infrastructure charities
- 1-2 year grants
- Maximum award - £20,000
The EMPOWER programme is open to infrastructure charities, both regional or sub-regional who support voluntary & community groups. To be eligible for this fund, your group must be registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. If you are registered with another charity regulator in the UK/Ireland, it must show that you operate in Northern Ireland.
Applicants must have at least one year of annual returns published on Charity Commission NI website. Applications must be strategic/transformational in nature. Projects must not duplicate activities supported by or the responsibility of government departments.
EMPOWER opens for applications on Monday 3rd June and closes on Friday 28th June 2024 at 12noon. Awards will be made in August, with a start date of September 2024.
Applicants must have a pre-application call with a member of the Grants Team prior to submitting an application. To book a call, please contact [email protected].
40 Invest
- Opening September 2024
- 2 year grants
- Up to £40, 000
- Capacity building support
To celebrate 40 years of grant-giving in Northern Ireland, in September 2024 ,40 INVEST will open for applications. 40 INVEST is open to registered charities with an income of £250,000 or less, with a least one year of annual returns published on the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland’s website. If your charity is registered with another charity regulator in the UK/Ireland, it must show that you operate in Northern Ireland.
40 INVEST will provide support of up to £40,000 over 2 years (approx. £20,000 per year). 10% of the budget can be allocated towards a contingency fund for unexpected expenditure. An additional £5,000 will be held for each grantee to support capacity building initiatives. Such initiatives can be identified and discussed with your Grants Officer.
In line with the priorities of The Halifax Foundation, your charity must support people in greatest need. For example, supporting people living in poverty; those who are unemployed; those with disabilities or mental ill health. (This is not an exhaustive list – other areas of need will be considered.)
40 INVEST opens for applications on Monday 2nd September and closes on Monday 30th September 2024. Awards will be made in December, with a start date of January 2025.
Grantees of their other programmes may also apply.
Supporting Applicants
Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland are committed to being a flexible funder. As such, they have signed up to be an 'Open and Trusting' grant maker, an initiative developed by IVAR (Institute of Voluntary Action Research).
Additionally, the Foundation offers a wide range of support including mentoring through their partnership with the Lloyd's Banking Group and can offer organisations the chance to avail of one-to-one and group pre-application sessions with a member of their grants team.
