Contents
- Funders pause their giving programmes
- New multi-million pound National Lottery programme targets communities in greatest need
- Foyle Foundation Small Grants now closing 31 January 2025
- NICVA and Business in the Community's continued support of Corporate Community Partnerships
- Fundraising Regulator: Changes to the Fundraising Levy and registration fees
- Chartered Institute of Fundraising Northern Ireland launches mentoring programme
Funders pause their giving programmes
The Schroder Charity Trust which offered one-off grants of up to £5,000 towards a broad range of charitable purposes, has announced the halting of their giving programme. They anticipate reopening the grants programme in early 2025. The Trust will take this time to undertake a review of their grant making programme and strategy for 2025 and beyond. The decision comes after recognising that the volume of applications has increased to an unsustainable level and recent analysis identified that only 1 in 14 grant applications were successful.
The Will Charitable Trust has also announced that it will temporarily be closed to applications with effect from 15 November 2024. The Will Charitable Trust, established in 1990, makes grants to other charities providing services of blind care, long-term care of people with learning disabilities and cancer care.
Applications received after the 15 November 2024 will not be considered. The closure will enable the Trustees to review their strategy, and it is likely that changes will be made to the grants programme. They expect to be able to reopen to applications for their revised programme from around midsummer 2025. Applications made before 15 November as part of capital appeals which will still be running in autumn 2025 are unlikely to succeed. Find out more here.
New multi-million pound National Lottery programme targets communities in greatest need
The National Lottery Community Fund has launched a major new funding programme, ‘Strengthening Communities,’ to support people in greatest need, investing £20 million each year across Northern Ireland. This new programme comes from The Fund’s strategy to 2030, ‘It starts with community,’ and will start by targeting two of its mission areas: help children and young people thrive and enable people to live healthier lives. Multi-year grants of up to £500,000 will be available. Organisations applying will be expected to show how their project has made a difference and how they will measure that impact.
Foyle Foundation Small Grants now closing 31 January 2025
Earlier this year we reported on the Foundation's decision to make £23m-worth of grants as it closes after 25 years. Initially the planned cut off date for applications to the Small Grants Scheme was April 2025. However, due to unprecedented demand, they will stop accepting new applications to the scheme on 31 January 2025. You can apply at any time up to the final cut off dates, but note that all projects/activities need to be completed by the end of 2025 to be eligible for consideration.
NICVA and Business in the Community's continued support of Corporate Community Partnerships
After successfully partnering on the Community Connections Conference in 2023, NICVA and Business in the Community (BITC) continue to support businesses and the voluntary community sector in 2024/25. Thanks to funding from the Halifax Foundation NI, the Community Connections project offers a series of pre- and post-conference workshops. Introduction to Corporate Community Partnerships takes place in November, shortly followed by December's Developing a Successful Corporate Community Partnership, both ahead of 29 January 2025 Community Connections Conference 2025.
Fundraising Regulator: Changes to the Fundraising Levy and registration fees
Celia Currie, Fundraising Regulator, provided an update on changes to the Fundraising Levy and registration fees. The proposal to increase the Levy and registration fee which funds their work will be the first increase since they were established in 2016.
Chartered Institute of Fundraising Northern Ireland launches mentoring programme
The Chartered Institute of Fundraising Northern Ireland has announced the return of its highly anticipated Mentoring Programme, thanks to funding received from the Halifax Foundation of Northern Ireland. This highly rated programme will offer participants a one-to-one mentoring relationship with skilled and highly experienced fundraisers over 18 months.Read the latest update to our Guest Blog from The Chartered Institute of Fundraising in Northern Ireland and find out how you can get involved with their upcoming Mentoring Programme.
