Supporting you through the application process
Current Programmes (please SCROLL DOWN for each programme’s criteria and how to apply)
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Cheshire Community Foundation Main Grants Programme (two grants round a year April and October in 2020)
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Cheshire Community Foundation Small Grants Programme (bi-monthly in 2020) – Grants panels January, March, May, July, September and November
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Warrington Older Peoples Fund Main Grants Programme (two grants rounds per year March and September 2020)
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Warrington Older Peoples Fund Small Grants Programme (bi-monthly in 2020) – Grants panels February, April, June, August, October and December
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MBNA Inspiring Education Programme (one round in 2020) – To open March 2020
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.
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 (Bi-monthly) |
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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 |
| Age range of beneficiaries supported by this programme | All ages |
| Minimum/maximum | £1-£2000 (typically c.£1000 NB: for a one off trip or luncheon, the maximum contribution is £250) please call to discuss if you have any queries regarding the amount to apply for |
| Frequency | Bi-monthly Panel meetings – January, March, May, July, September and November |
| Deadlines |
15th for every other month as above |
| Criteria | Please click HERE for the Grant Making Principles that apply to this Programme
We are particularly interested in supporting smaller charities through this programme (with a turnover of less than £300,000) and to assist local grass roots organisations that support one, or more, of the following priority areas: |
| Application form | Please click HERE to go directly to the application form |
| Date you will hear the outcome of your application | between two and ten weeks depending on when the application is received (if the applications misses a bi-monthly deadline it would carry forward to the next available Panel. |
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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 |
| Age range of beneficiaries supported by this programme | All ages |
| Minimum/maximum | £1,000-£25,000 (Note: The average grant awarded is typically £8,000) |
| Frequency | The main grants programme is moving to two grant panels a year. April and October the next Panel will be April 2020 |
| Current deadline | For the April 2020 Panel
The round will open on Thursday 2nd January 2020 – it will be possible obtain a link to the application form in December ahead of the round opening – as we only give this out by discussion at so that we can take into consideration available funds at that time and give you an idea of realistic chances of success.
Friday 7th February 2020 round closes
Grants Panel – will be held in early April 2020 |
| Criteria | Please click HERE for the Grant Making Principles that apply to this Programme |
| Application form | As mentioned above, we are reliant on funding for this programme from a number of donor funds, some of which are restricted to a particular geography, disadvantage or need. We encourage applicants to contact us beforehand to discuss likely chances of success. Angela Richardson our Grants Director will be available to discuss your applications on 01606 330607. If we feel that there are potential donor funds available, we will provide you with a link to the application form. |
| Date you will hear the outcome of your application |
Announcements to applicants will be week commencing 22nd of May |
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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 |
| Age range of beneficiaries supported by this programme | People over 50 in Warrington |
| Minimum/maximum | £1-£2000 (Note: for a one off trip or lunch the maximum contribution is £250) |
| Frequency | Bi-monthly Panel meetings – February, April, June, August, October, December |
| Current deadline | 15th for every other month as above |
| 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 to eight 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 |
| Age range of beneficiaries supported by this programme | People over 50 in Warrington |
| Minimum/maximum | £1,000 to £10,000 |
| Frequency | Two Grants Panels per year in March and September. For this programme applicants are asked to come along to the Grant Panel, please see our top 10 tips for this process HERE |
| Current deadline | For the March Panel applications must be submitted by 3rd February 2020 |
| 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 for the application form |
| Date you will hear the outcome of your application |
Week commencing 13th March – March Panel |
Partner Grants Programmes Managed by Cheshire Community Foundation
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#iWill Programme 2019 |
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| Grant type | Project costs (see #iWill Criteria) |
| Fund supporters | Department for Culture Media & Sport
The National Lottery Community Fund |
| Status | Closed |
| Applications accepted from social enterprises? | Yes |
| Age range of beneficiaries supported by this programme | Young people 10 to 20 years (up to 25 for disabled young people) with a priority for children 10-14 years old |
| Minimum/maximum | £1,000-£5000 |
| Opening | Closed |
| Deadline | Closed |
| Criteria |
Please click HERE for the Programme criteria also click HERE for the Key Funding Principles and examples of projects previously funded. |
| Application form | Please click HERE for the application form |
| Date you will hear the outcome of your application | Closed |
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MBNA Inspiring Education Programme 2019 Round |
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| Grant type | This programme is for State secondary education organisations (Schools, Academies and Multi Academy Trusts – referred to below collectively as “schools”) which have been nominated to apply by an MBNA Associate.
The aim of the programme is to provide increased extra-curricular opportunities for young people in secondary education, allowing them to develop their passion and inspiration for learning by encouraging them to try new activities at a time of increasing exam and social pressures. The programme encourages applications which support vulnerable or disadvantaged young people to take part – particularly from areas which are most densely populated by MBNA staff, working at MBNA’s Chester Campus. Under the MBNA programme, over £600,000 will be made available over the next three years – with approximately £200,000 available in 2020. |
| Fund supporters | MBNA Foundation |
| Status | Opens 4th March 2020 |
| Applications accepted from charitable organisations and social enterprises? | Charitable organisations including social enterprises can be a partner to an application, however a secondary education School, Academy or Multi-Academy Trust must be the lead applicant with the application in their name. |
| Minimum/Maximum | Maximum £8,000 with typical grant size being £6,500 |
| How to access application form | MBNA staff member must nominate your school |
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Current deadline |
26th April 2020 |
| Criteria | Schools are strongly advised to download the MBNA Inspiring Education Programme Criteria before applying to see the full criteria. |
| Application form | Only an MBNA associate nominating your school, can provide your organisation with a link to the online application form. We will only accept applications on this bespoke application form. |
| Date you will hear the outcome of your application | July 2020 |
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Nationwide Community Grants Programme 2019 |
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| Grant type |
Nationwide Building Society was founded to help people into homes of their own and its ambition that everyone should have a place fit to call home stands firm today. The Nationwide Community Grants programme awards up to £500,000 across 11 UK regions annually. |
| Fund supporters | Nationwide Building Society |
| Status | now closed for applications |
| Eligible Organisations |
This fund is open to registered charities, charitable incorporated organisations, Community Land Trusts and housing co-operatives. Co-operatives and community benefit societies registered with the Financial Conduct Authority are also eligible as long as their associated activities target housing and/or homelessness. Partnership and consortia are encouraged to apply, the lead partner must be an eligible entity and will manage the funds if successful. Eligible organisations need to have a minimum of three unrelated trustees and two unrelated bank signatories. Community Land Trusts can be registered with the charity commission or OSCR in Scotland, the Financial Conduct Authority or with Companies House as a community interest company ltd by guarantee. Companies or community interest companies ltd by shares are not eligible for this fund.Statutory organisations, housing associations, companies limited by guarantee with charitable objectives, community interest companies, constituted community or voluntary sector groups are welcomed to apply in partnership with an eligible lead organisation, partnerships should be established before applying. See more information HERE |
| Minimum/Maximum | £10,000/£50,000 |
| Opening | Currently closed |
| Current deadline | Currently closed |
| Criteria | You can download the General Guidance HERE, the Frequently Asked Questions HERE, the Nationwide Building Society Community Grants programme criteria HERE |
| Application form | Please click HERE for the application form |
| Date you will hear the outcome of your application | Currently closed |
Funding for specialised disability equipment for people of all ages |
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Steve Morgan FoundationPositive Steps Social Prescribing Programme for Crewe |
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| Grant type | This programme will support charitable project/activity costs for groups receiving referrals from health care professionals in Crewe only |
| Fund supporters |
Cheshire Community Foundation is delighted to be working in partnership with The Steve Morgan Foundation to deliver this grants programme specifically for projects in Crewe |
| Status | Now closed |
| Applications accepted from social enterprises? | Yes – Registered UK charities, Constituted Community groups,Companies Limited by Guarantee with charitable aims, Community Interest Companies, Co-operatives – registered Community Benefit Societies and registered Industrial and Provident Societies, Credit Unions and Social Enterprises are all eligible to apply |
| Minimum/Maximum | £1,000 to £4000 (average grant £3000). This programme aims to fund |
| Frequency | Currently Closed |
| Current deadline | Currently Closed |
| Programme Criteria | Click Steve Morgan Foundation Positive Steps Social Prescribing Grants Programme – Crewe Programme Criteria for the full programme Criteria |
| Online Application form | Click HERE for the online application form |
| Date you will hear the outcome of your application | Currently closed |
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Tampon Tax Community Fund |
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| Grant type | This programme will support charitable project/activity costs – a total of £45,102 is available and therefore we are likely to make around 5-10 grants depending on the size of grant requests made. |
| Fund supporters |
Cheshire Community Foundation is delighted to be working in partnership with UK Community Foundations and Department for |
| Status | Currently closed |
| Applications accepted from social enterprises? | Yes |
| Minimum/Maximum | £5000 to £10,000 |
| Frequency | Currently closed |
| Current deadline | Currently closed |
| Programme Criteria | Criteria Tampon Tax 2019 Criteria FINAL |
| Online Application form | Click HERE for the online application form, when the programme opens |
| Date you will hear the outcome of your application | Currently closed |