Supporting you through the application process
Current Programmes (scroll down for more information)
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Cheshire Community Foundation Main Grants Programme
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Cheshire Community Foundation Small Grants Programme
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Warrington Older Peoples Fund Main Grants Programme
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Warrington Older Peoples Fund Small Grants Programme
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#iWill Programme 2018 (Formerly Youth Social Action)
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MBNA Inspiring Education Programme
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High Sheriff Fund 2018/19
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 |
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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-£1000 (Note: for a one off trip or lunch the maximum contribution is £250) |
| Frequency | Rolling programme |
| Deadlines | No deadline ongoing programme |
| 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 | Closed |
| 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 | Three Grants Panels per year in March, July and November |
| Current deadline | Reopens 3rd September |
| Criteria | Please click HERE for the Grant Making Principles that apply to this Programme |
| Application form | Please call 01606 330607 for a discussion about your proposed application. 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. 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 | for the July 2018 round notification will be by 27th July 2018 |
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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-£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 | For the July Round we aim to provide an outcome by 27th July 2018 |
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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 | Closed |
| Applications accepted from social enterprises? | Yes |
| Age range of beneficiaries supported by this programme | People over 50 in Warrington |
| Minimum/maximum | £1,000 to typically £5,000 |
| Frequency | Three Grants Panels per year in March, July and November. 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 | Reopens 3rd September |
| 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 | For the July Round we aim to provide an outcome by 27th July 2018 |
Partner Grants Programmes Managed by Cheshire Community Foundation
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#iWill Programme 2018 (Formerly Youth Social Action) |
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| Grant type | Project costs (see #iWill Criteria) |
| Fund supporters | Department for Culture Media & Sport
Big Lottery Fund |
| Status | Open |
| 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) |
| Minimum/maximum (Total funding available) | £1,000-£10,000 (£90,000) |
| Opening | Open |
| Current deadline | The #iWill programme will now stay open until 14th September 2018 and all applications will go to the November round which will take place on 1st November |
| Criteria | Please click HERE for the Programme criteria and HERE for background to the Programme |
| Application form | Please click HERE to go directly to the application form |
| Date you will hear the outcome of your application | For the July Round by 27th July |
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MBNA Inspiring Education Programme |
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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 the first round in 2018. |
| Fund supporters | MBNA Foundation |
| Status | Open |
| 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 |
| Opening | Open now – by nomination only |
| Current deadline | Applications must be submitted by midnight 28th September 2018 |
| Criteria | Schools are strongly advised to download the MBNA Inspiring Education Programme Criteria document HERE before applying to see the full criteria. |
| Application form | Only an MBNA associate nominating your school, can provide your organiation 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 | You will hear the outcome in December 2018. Projects must be ready to commence by January 2019. |
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High Sheriff Fund 2018/19 |
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| Grant type | This programme will support local creative arts and cultural charities, voluntary organisations and community groups delivering activities in Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East, Halton and Warrington.
Projects must be complete and fully spent including completing an online monitoring form by the 31st March 2019 |
| Fund supporters | The High Sheriff of Cheshire |
| Status | Open |
| Applications accepted from social enterprises? | Yes |
| Minimum/Maximum | Maximum £2,000 with typical grant size being £1,000. The maximum grant size may be increased marginally. Applicants wishing to apply for a marginal increase must contact the Foundation before submitting their application. |
| Opening | Open |
| Current deadline | The programme will be open on an ongoing basis until sufficient applications to distribute the funds have been received. Should we receive three times the total value of applications the programme will be closed therefore groups are encouraged to apply early. |
| Criteria | Please download the High Sheriff Fund 2018/19 programme criteria HERE |
| Application form | Please click HERE for the application form |
| Date you will hear the outcome of your application | Applications will be assessed and reviewed monthly. We aim to process you application within six to eight weeks of receipt of a fully complete application. |