The Step Forward Fund

Overview

The Step Forward Fund is funding co-designed with The Phoenix Community Trust and their partners. It’s for grassroots groups from Global Majority and racially minoritised communities who:

• have received £20,000 or less from The National Lottery Community Fund between April 2023 and March 2026

• have applied to Reaching Communities fund between April 2023 and March 2026 and been unsuccessful

• need funding to make a step forward in their size and activities

It provides further investment to:

• continue to advocate and care for their communities

• develop and grow their organisation

• sustain and build on the positive impact of their work

Our commitment to equity

This funding comes as part of The National Lottery Community Fund’s commitment to equity:

• investing truly life-changing funding where there is greatest need

• putting community power at the heart of grant-making

What we mean by Global Majority and racially minoritised communities

When we refer to Global Majority and racially minoritised communities, it includes but is not limited to the following groups:

• Black / African / Caribbean

• any mixed / multiple ethnic background

• Asian

• Arab

• Jewish

• Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities

This funding is only for people with lived experiences of structural racism and oppression.

Lived experience refers to knowledge gained through direct, first-hand and personal experience.

Where this language came from and why we use it

The language we use for this funding is:

• based on our research with these communities and how they describe themselves

• agreed with The Phoenix Community Trust and their partners from Global Majority and racially minoritised communities

We use it because:

• they're the authority on language that represents them and their communities best

• one of the key aims of this funding is to prioritise Global Majority and racially minoritised lived experiences, which includes the language they use

What funding is available and for how long

The Step Forward Fund has £4 million to award.

We plan to give £50,000 to £75,000 per year for between 2 to 3 years. This means you can apply for:

• a minimum of £100,000, which is £50,000 a year for 2 years

• a maximum of £225,000, which is £75,000 a year for 3 years

We expect to make between 20 and 30 awards.

Criteria you must meet

To be eligible for this funding you must:

• have received a small grant (£20,000 and under) from The National Lottery Fund between April 2023 and March 2026

• have applied to Reaching Communities fund between April 2023 and March 2026 and been unsuccessful

• have a board or leadership team where most of the members are from Global Majority and racially minoritised communities

• prioritise services and activities for Global Majority and racially minoritised communities

• have an annual income of less than £300,000 per annum (based on a 3-year average)

For more information, read about what we want to fund.

Our funding aims

The purpose of The Step Forward Fund is to:

• provide funding and support to grassroots organisations from Global Majority and racially minoritised communities

• help them move from smaller project-based funding to larger grants and investment

Our funding aims are to:

• invest in the growth of these grassroot organisations

• give support and encouragement to organisations wanting to deliver on longer-term plans

• generate learning to improve our practice and influence positive changes in the wider sector

For more detail, read our funding aims.