Supporting you through the application process
We give grants to groups addressing priority needs within Cheshire and Warrington.
Through our grant making we aim to:
- Target community need that is informed by local research and local consultation
- Focus support to achieve maximum effectiveness
- Enhance community and voluntary activity in Cheshire
- Encourage best practice among community and voluntary groups
- Give help where it is needed most
We strive to make our grants process simple and easy for you. Our grants team are available to talk with you about your project idea and if the project is eligible to apply, and will suggest the most relevant grants programme for your application. Please contact us on 01606 330607 with any questions you may have.
Grants programmes open and close regularly so please do check the latest opportunities and deadlines. Applying to the most appropriate grants programme helps improve your chances of success and so we recommend you read and fully understand the guidelines for each programme.
For our Grant Making Complaints procedure please click here.
We recommend that you apply early within a grants programme application window – particularly where there may be a limited amount of funding available – as some programmes become over subscribed quickly. Wherever possible, avoid leaving the submission of your application to the last week or few days of the applications window as we have found that where an applicant has rushed in an application, it can affect the quality of the submission. It can also be beneficial for someone not closely connected to the project, to read the application, to see if they fully understand the project before it is finalised.
Capital projects
Recently we have found that there are less funds available to fund capital projects (building refurbishment or purchase of larger capital items). If you do have a capital project that you are considering applying for, please do talk to us about the likely chances of success with the project, before embarking on the application process.
Current Open Programmes
- Cheshire Community Foundation Main Grants Programme
- Cheshire Community Foundation Small Grants Programme
- Warrington Older Peoples Fund Main Grants Programme
- Warrington Older Peoples Fund Small Grants Programme
- Youth Social Action
Below you will find further details of our current open grants programmes including application deadlines. If you would like to discuss which fund is best for you, please call the grants team on 01606 330607 or email us at grants@cheshirecommunityfoundation.org.uk
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Cheshire Community Foundation: Small Grants Programme |
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| Grant type | Project costs (see Cheshire Community Foundation criteria below) |
| Fund supporters | Click HERE to see our current donors and key themes |
| Status | Open |
| Applications accepted from social enterprises? | Yes |
| Minimum/maximum | £1-£1000 (Note: for a one off trip or lunch the maximum contribution is £250) |
| Frequency | Rolling programme |
| Deadlines | No deadline |
| Criteria | Please click HERE for the Grant Making Principles that apply to this Programme |
| Application form | Please click HERE to go directly to the application form |
| Date you will hear the outcome of your application | We aim to provide an outcome of your application within six weeks from receipt of a complete application (including the required documents) |
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Cheshire Community Foundation: Main Grants Programme |
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| Grant type | Project costs (see Cheshire Community Foundation criteria below) |
| Fund supporters | Click HERE to see our current donors and key themes |
| Status | Open |
| Applications accepted from social enterprises? | Yes |
| Minimum/maximum | £1,000-£25,000 (Note: The average grant awarded is typically £8,000) |
| Frequency | Three Grants Panels per year in March, July and November |
| Current deadline | The next window to apply will open on 7th August for the November Round |
| Criteria | Please click HERE for the Grant Making Principles that apply to this Programme |
| Application form | Please check back here on 7th August |
| Date you will hear the outcome of your application | For the July Grants Round – 4th August 2017 |
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Warrington Older Peoples Fund – Small Grants Programme |
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| Grant type | Project costs (see Cheshire Community Foundation criteria below) |
| Fund supporters | The Warrington Fund has been created through the transfer of two dormant Warrington Trusts Funds which have created the fund for this programme |
| Status | Open |
| Applications accepted from social enterprises? | Yes |
| Minimum/maximum | £1-£1000 (Note: for a one off trip or lunch the maximum contribution is £250) |
| Frequency | Rolling programme |
| Current deadline | No deadline – we aim to provide an outcome of your application within six weeks from receipt of a complete application |
| Criteria | Please click HERE for the Grant Making Principles that apply to this Programme. For additional criteria relevant to the Warrington Fund please click HERE |
| Application form | Please click HERE to go directly to the application form |
| Date you will hear the outcome of your application | We aim to provide an outcome of your application within six weeks from receipt of a complete application (including the required documents) |
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Warrington Older Peoples Fund – Main Grants Programme |
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| Grant type | Project costs (see Cheshire Community Foundation Criteria below) |
| Fund supporters | The Warrington Fund has been created through the transfer of two dormant Warrington Trusts Funds which have created the fund for this programme |
| Status | Open |
| Applications accepted from social enterprises? | Yes |
| Minimum/maximum | £1,000-£5,000 |
| Frequency | Three Grants Panels per year in March, July and November |
| Current deadline | The next window to apply will open on 7th August for the November Round |
| Criteria | Please click HERE for the Grant Making Principles that apply to this Programme. For additional criteria relevant to the Warrington Fund please click HERE |
| Application form | Please check back here on 7th August |
| Date you will hear the outcome of your application | For the July Grants Round – 4th August 2017 |
Partner Grants Programmes Managed by Cheshire Community Foundation
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Youth Social Action Programme 2017 |
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| Grant type | Project costs (see Youth Social Action Criteria) |
| Fund supporters | Department for Culture Media & Sport
Big Lottery Fund |
| Status | Open |
| Applications accepted from social enterprises? | Yes |
| Minimum/maximum (Total funding available) | £1,000-£5,000 (£90,000) |
| Opening | The next window to apply will be open on 7th August for the November round |
| Current deadline | Not currently open |
| Criteria | Please click HERE for the Programme criteria and HERE for background to the Programme |
| Application form | Please check back here on 7th August |
| Date you will hear the outcome of your application | For the July Grants Round – 4th August 2017 |
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Comic Relief Local Communities Programme 2017 |
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| Grant type | Project costs (see Comic Relief Criteria) |
| Fund supporters | Comic Relief |
| Status | Currently closed |
| Applications accepted from social enterprises? | Yes |
| Minimum/maximum | £1,000-£5,000 |
| Opening | Further information to follow |
| Current deadline | Please check back to this page in early 2017 for further information. |
| Criteria | Further information to follow |
| Application form | Further information to follow |
| Date you will hear the outcome of your application | Further information to follow |
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Young Minds Matter 2017 – 2018 |
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| Grant type | Projects aimed at tackling mental health, specifically projects that focus on early intervention, coping mechanisms, outreach programmes in deprived areas, awareness building and increasing empathy and understanding of mental health issues experienced by young people. |
| Fund supporters | To be confirmed |
| Status | In development |
| Applications accepted from social enterprises? | Yes |
| Expected funding to be available | £500,000 over 2 years (size of individual grants to be confirmed) |
| Opening | 10th October 2017 |
| Current deadline | Please check back to this page in October 2017. |
| Criteria | Further information to follow |
| Application form | Further information to follow |
| Date you will hear the outcome of your application | Further information to follow |