What you can spend the money on
What we can fund
We can fund direct project costs, such as:
- equipment
- one-off events
- staff costs
- training
- transport
- utilities
- volunteer expenses
- marketing and communication costs
- evaluation costs
- professional and legal fees
We can also fund some indirect project costs (sometimes called overheads). This might include:
- rent or insurance
- part of a salary for someone not working directly on the project, such as a senior manager or admin worker
For example, if the project you’re applying for makes up half of your organisation’s work, we may fund half of your overheads.
This is sometimes known as full cost recovery. You can read more in our guide to full cost recovery.
Political activity and campaigning
We can fund some political activity or campaigning but only in certain circumstances.
Your project must:
- not be party political. It should focus on policy, practice, or legislation not support or oppose a political party
- support your organisation's purpose and benefit the public or society
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