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What you can spend the money on

What we can fund

You can apply for funding to cover core costs and project costs.

This includes costs for:

  • one-off events

  • staffing, including volunteer expenses

  • development work, for example staff training, governance or leadership support and improving IT

  • equitable access - including translation costs

  • learning and evaluation

  • minor capital costs for land or building work - these should not be a large part of your request

Political activity and campaigning

We can fund some political activity and campaigning. But only if:

  • the activity is not party political. This means that it must be about policy, practice, or legislation rather than opposing or supporting a political party

  • the activity is meant to help the cause of your organisation and benefit the public or society

We will not fund projects where political activities are the main purpose. But we can fund projects that are mainly about campaigning.

What we cannot fund

We cannot fund:

  • retrospective costs (for things that have already happened or you've paid for)

  • alcohol

  • contingency costs, loans, endowments or interest

  • paying someone to write your application

  • fundraising or activities where you make a profit

  • VAT you can reclaim

  • religious activities (we can fund religious organisations if the project benefits the wider community and does not include religious content)

  • activities that statutory or public bodies are legally required to do

  • activities that help children or young people with schoolwork during school hours

  • travel outside the UK

  • projects that take place outside of the UK

  • activities that make profits for private gain

  • cash given directly to individuals

  • large capital projects