The process of securing funding should never seem impossible to achieve. Small charities, CICs, and community-led groups face an overwhelming challenge when they attempt to discover their funding options. The combination of old directories with unclear eligibility criteria and numerous application forms leads to many deserving causes being denied their rightful funding.

This guide exists to make a difference in your life.

Understand What You Need

Your first step requires determining the exact amount of funding your organisation requires. Is your organisation seeking funding for a particular initiative or for basic operational expenses? Are you a new charity or do you possess an established funding history?

Your funding goals will determine which grants to pursue, since you can eliminate unsuitable options. This clarification also makes answering application questions easier.

Where to Find Grants

The following five methods provide effective ways to discover grant opportunities:

1. Local Infrastructure Support
   Your local CVS (Council for Voluntary Services) or infrastructure body serves as the first point of contact for grant information. These organisations distribute periodic information about small local grants while providing assistance with grant applications.
2. National Lottery Community Fund
   The National Lottery Community Fund operates as a primary funding source for small organisations that serve grassroots community-based projects.
3. Smart Google Searching
   You can find suitable grants by searching for terms like “grants for CICs UK 2025” or “youth funding small charities.” Adding your sector focus and the current year to your search terms will produce more relevant results.
4. Foundation Websites
   The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Tudor Trust, and Paul Hamlyn Foundation all publish their complete funding criteria and application deadlines on their websites.
5. Sector Newsletters
   Essential grant opportunities become accessible through email subscriptions from funders, sector bodies, and umbrella organisations. These newsletters provide subscribers with monthly grant opportunities that others may overlook.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Organisations with strong potential often fail to secure funding due to simple mistakes in the application process.

• Always verify your eligibility before starting an application to ensure you meet all requirements.
• Set alerts or maintain a calendar to track application deadlines, missing them means instant disqualification.

Avoiding these errors will significantly improve your chances of success.

A Simpler Way to Do It

The weekly process of grant research and application preparation can become burdensome for small teams with limited time and capacity.

UK Grant Finder Pro (GFP) provides a solution to help organisations locate relevant grants and streamline the application process.

Here’s how our service works:

• We deliver personalised weekly grant notifications tailored to your sector, size, and mission.
• We search across whole of market providing one central place where you can find suitable grants
• Our platform generates up to 3 AI-written application drafts per year on the £20/month plan, and up to 20 drafts per year on the £50/month plan.
• Human assessment is available upon request.
• We email you suitable grants directly, no database browsing or jargon.

It’s like having a grant researcher and bid writer in your team,  but at a fraction of the cost.

Join Our Flock

You can stop losing out on grant opportunities by joining our service.

• UK Grant Finder Pro offers a monthly subscription for £20, giving you access to weekly alerts and up to three AI-written application drafts annually.
• Our system matches verified grants to your specific requirements which you can access through our flock membership.
• Still got questions? Speak with a team member, watch our service overview video, or join an upcoming webinar.

The process of obtaining funding should not present such difficulties. We make it easier.