External funding

In addition to community grants, we also support our local voluntary and community sector by signposting to other funding opportunities. See the latest funding news below.

For access to a database of funding opportunities, not-for-profit organisations can register with Herts Community's fundraising tool and search for appropriate funds, grants or awards.

Hertfordshire Community Foundation is an independent charity that provides a range of grants to support the county's community and voluntary groups.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) funding opportunities

Added: 30 March 2020
Deadline: see website
Apply now to your councillor for a grant to support coronavirus efforts and, if they agree, you should receive funds within a week, normally quicker. This is open to any local organisation offering support to anyone affected by COVID-19. 

Coronavirus (COVID-19) online grants round-up
Added: 30 March 2020
Deadline: various - see website
A number of Community Foundations and other organisations have launched funding programmes to assist local organisations in responding to the challenges of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The list of organisations and the types of funding available will be updated as and when information becomes available.

Latest funding opportunities  

Funding support for arts and culture organisations
Added: 13 January 2022
Deadline: see website
Arts Council England has announced new funding support for arts and culture organisations and individuals, including Emergency Resource Support, Benevolent funds for freelancers, refreshed Project Grants and Developing Your Creative Practice grant.

Funding to support leisure activities for people with physical disabilities
Added: 24 February 2021
Deadline: See website
The Bruce Wake Charitable Trust is accepting preliminary grant applications relating to the provision of leisure activities for people with physical disabilities. The Trustees are keen to see applications for projects that include a sporting or leisure activity which benefits wheelchair users. 

Families First Grants and Funding providers
Added: 1 December 2020
Deadline: various, see websites
Families First Partnership Groups have produced a list of national and local grant providers. This is a useful resource for organisations working with families. Please visit the website for more information.

Funding for school breakfast provision
Added: 24 February 2021
Deadline: Ongoing
Magic Breakfast, which is a registered charity that aims to end hunger as a barrier to education in UK schools, has announced that its Magic Breakfast programme is open for applications. The programme provides funding and support to schools that want to set up new, or improve an existing breakfast club. 

Neighbourhood planning grants
Added: 3 June 2019
Deadline: Ongoing
Groups undertaking a neighbourhood plan or neighbourhood development order are eligible to apply for grants through the Neighbourhood Planning grant scheme. The scheme provides three types of grants: basic funding of up to £9,000 to undertake a neighbourhood plan; additional grant funding of up to £8,000 for those groups meeting specific criteria, and grants of up to £10,000 for groups that wish to evaluate the case for bringing forward affordable housing for sale by undertaking housing needs assessments and other relevant studies. 

Kellogg's Breakfast Club Grants Programme
Added: 8 August 2019
Deadline: Ongoing
The Kellogg’s Breakfast Club Grants Programme offers grants of up to £1,000 to schools in the UK to set up breakfast clubs for those children in most need. A limited number of grants are available so priority will be given to schools that have either 35 per cent and above of children eligible for pupil premium funding and / or eligible for free school meals.

Funding for football facilities
Added: 8 August 2019
Deadline: Ongoing
Large and small grants are available, for everything from goalposts to 3G pitches, from the Football Foundation Fund. Funding comes from the Premier League, FA and Government (via Sport England).

Asda Foundation funding for local community projects
Added: 15 October 2019
Deadline: Ongoing
Charities or good causes requiring funding for a significant project can approach their local Asda store to find out if they would be eligible for a grant. Projects invited to apply could benefit from grants that have previously ranged from £2,600 to £32,000. Projects supported will tackle the underlying problems in the local area and make a real long-term difference by transforming the community and improving the lives of the people who live there. 

Equipment grants for youth clubs
Added: 24 October 2019
Deadline: Ongoing
Variety, the children's charity, has grants of between £250 and £600 available to youth organisations that are affiliated to either Ambition, UK Youth or the National Association of Boys and Girls Clubs. The grants can be used to buy equipment to provide challenging activities that engage young people aged 8-18 and provide them with alternatives to becoming involved in anti-social behaviour. Applicants have to raise some of the funds and applications that have young people involved in the fund raising will be looked upon favourably. 

Funding for projects that use the arts and media to address the concerns of children
Added: 13 January 2020
Deadline: Ongoing
Not-for-profit organisations in the UK that are working with children and young people using the arts and creative media can apply for grants of up to £50,000 through the Ragdoll Foundation's Open Grants Programme. Organisations can apply for both one-off, short-term projects as well as those lasting up to three years. Preference will be given to those projects that are committed to listening to children and allow the perceptions and feelings of children themselves to be better understood. The Foundation is mainly interested in applications that involve children during their early years, but appropriate projects for older children (up to 18 years) will also be considered. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Funding for projects that improve people’s lives
Added: 31 March 2020
Deadline: Ongoing
Grants of between £20,000 and £60,000 per year for up to three years are available to charitable organisations that help people at times of crisis in their lives. In particular, funding is available when other sources of support have failed, are inappropriate, or are simply not available. The funding is provided through the Henry Smith Charity Improving Lives Programme.

BBC Children in Need Emergency Essentials Programme
Added: 16 April 2020
Deadline: Ongoing
The BBC Children in Need Emergency Essentials Programme supports children and young people who are facing exceptionally difficult circumstances. The programme provides items that meet a child’s most basic needs such as a bed to sleep in, a cooker to provide a hot meal and other items or services critical to a child’s wellbeing. The funding is delivered by Family Fund Business Services.