22.12.2025

Last week, the UK’s trust and foundation sector navigated a challenging landscape marked by both financial warnings and landmark milestones. The Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) issued a stark alert, predicting a £300 million shortfall in festive donations, which is expected to increase the reliance on independent grantmakers.

Conversely, the Westminster Foundation celebrated a prolific year, awarding over £10 million in total grants, including a significant £500,000 partnership for inclusive cricket. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) released its winter tracker, highlighting persistent economic hardship while opening new social investment avenues for climate justice. Additionally, the Charity Commission published updated guidance on mergers—a timely move as the Foyle Foundation enters the final days of its historic £185 million spend-down and closure this month.

15.12.2025

The Big Give’s Christmas Challenge campaign was a highlight, raising a record-breaking £57.4 million in one week, proving the power of match funding during the festive season. However, this success was tempered by predictions that festive donations overall are expected to fall by up to £300 million, with children’s charities facing the hardest hit.

Finally, in a structural shift, Save the Children announced it would cease local funding bids, urging others to follow suit, in a move to encourage better-distributed funding, noting that only 8% of humanitarian funding went to local NGOs in 2024.

08.12.205

Several smaller grant-makers, including The Hamilton Wallace Trust and The Jane Hodge Foundation, announced temporary pauses or winding-down operations due to fully allocated or declining funds. Conversely, there was news of The MacRobert Trust launching a new 10-Year Strategy, committing substantial multi-million-pound funds across four new programmes for Spring 2026, signaling a focus on long-term, impactful grants.

Furthermore, several deadlines, such as those for the Henry Moore Foundation and Baily Thomas Charitable Fund, highlighted ongoing funding opportunities, but the message remains clear: charities must focus on targeted, well-aligned applications for repeat or new funding to navigate the high competition.

31.11.2025

Over the last week there have been several notable funding updates from major UK grant‑makers, mainly around new or highlighted programmes and approaching deadlines.

National Lottery Community Fund

The Climate Action Fund – Our Shared Future is being heavily promoted, offering from £500,000 upwards (often £1–1.5m over 3–5 years) for partnership projects linking climate action with community engagement across the UK, with applications currently open.

Additional NLCF schemes featured this week include UK‑wide community funds focused on volunteering and social connection, with some programmes closing in early December 2025, prompting last‑minute calls for applications.

Other trusts and foundations flagged in weekly bulletins

NICVA’s 24 November 2025 funding news highlighted the Schroder Charity Trust’s small grants (typically up to £5,000) for UK‑registered charities covering core and project costs, signalling an active round open for applications.

Sector round‑ups also drew attention to ongoing or newly‑publicised grant streams from various family and corporate foundations (for example Forte Charitable Foundation’s small and major grants) with decisions made on an 8‑week cycle for smaller awards.

Sector‑level grant‑making context

Recent analysis from UKGrantmaking 2025 shows that, structurally, UK trusts and foundations have increased overall grant‑making by around 12–16% compared with the previous year, with the largest 300 foundations distributing over £6bn in 2023–24, which frames the current week’s announcements within a generally expansionary funding environment.

24.11.2025

BBC Children in Need,a major sector grantmaker, defied falling viewership to raise £45.5m on Friday, securing vital funds for future distribution. In opportunities, the Allen Lane Foundation highlighted grants of up to £15k for marginalised youth projects, while the Masonic Charitable Foundation was noted for its support of disadvantaged groups.

However, the operating environment remains difficult. A survey released Thursday revealed many charities are cutting services following the recent National Insurance rise, intensifying pressure on foundations to cover core costs.

17.11.2025

Last week, the UK’s fundraising landscape saw some notable developments. The 2025 Status of UK Fundraising report revealed that 54% of charities reported static or declining fundraising income, with inadequate resources and economic uncertainty being major factors. On a positive note, exceptional gifts drove growth for almost half of the charities that saw an increase in income.

The Chartered Institute of Fundraising also announced new guidance on accepting and refusing donations, aiming to support fundraisers in making informed decisions.

Additionally, the Royal Foundation made significant donations to mental health initiatives, including a £1 million grant to establish a National Suicide Prevention Network in the UK.

10.11.2025

Major New Funds & Strategy Launches

Several significant new funding streams and strategies have been announced this month:

• City Bridge Foundation (London): The foundation is launching its new 10-year strategy, “Standing with Londoners.” Its first new programme, the Access to Justice Fund, opens for applications on November 14th, with a pre-application webinar held on November 11th.

• DCMS/Wolfson Fund: A £4 million package, the Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund, was announced for regional museums and galleries across England to improve displays and accessibility.

• St Martin in the Fields Charity: The new Access to Accommodation Fund is making up to £500,000 available for smaller, frontline organisations in England working to tackle homelessness.

• National Lottery Community Fund: The #iwill Fund 2025, a £20 million programme, has a deadline of November 19th.

• Kristina Martin Charitable Trust: This trust has made £400,000 available for projects focusing on mental health.

Key Funding Deadlines This Month

A number of notable trust deadlines are creating a busy period for fundraisers:

• The Ernest Kleinwort Charitable Trust: Deadline for medium grants (£10,001 – £20,000) on November 12th.

• Common Ground Award (MHCLG): This £1.7 million capital fund for VCSE organisations closes on November 21st.

• The Boring Fund: A fund specifically for small core costs (e.g., insurance, web hosting) for organisations with low income, closing on November 30th.

Sector-Wide Trends & Reports

Beyond specific funds, several key reports published this month highlight the broader strategic context for trust fundraising:

• Intense Competition: The “Foundations in Focus 2025” report from the Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF) is a major highlight. It confirms that relentless demand, driven by cuts in public spending and rising need, is the primary challenge. Fundraisers are advised to build strong relationships, as a “2025 Trusts and Foundations Insights Survey” by Gifted Philanthropy noted that applications to repeat funders are significantly more successful.

• Focus on AI: The use of Artificial Intelligence is a growing topic. Reports from THINK Consulting and the ACF note that AI is increasingly being used by charities to write proposals and by some (particularly in the US) to sift a high volume of applications.

• Trustees’ Week (Nov 3-7): This week-long event celebrated the work of trustees, who are the ultimate decision-makers for all charitable trusts. This has placed a renewed focus on good governance and the importance of clearly communicating impact to foundation boards.

28.10.2025: To celebrate Giving Tuesday on 2nd December, I am donating two hours of free prospect research time to six charities. I will select the first six emails I receive.

08.10.2025 Current trends: Trusts and foundations in the UK are shifting from cautious stewardship to more active, targeted grant-making as economic and social pressures persist. Large foundations reported a modest overall increase in grant commitments in 2023–24, with notable rises among family and fundraising grantmakers and continued heavy contributions from postcode trusts and other lottery-funded bodies. 

Donor behaviour is also changing: while fewer people give overall, those who do are giving larger amounts — a trend that amplifies the influence of major foundations and high-net-worth donors, and increases the importance of strategic, measurable funding. 

Foundations are responding by prioritising multi-year grants, flexible funding, and partnerships that address systemic issues such as poverty, mental health and climate resilience. Some grantmakers are rebalancing between direct service delivery and commissioning models, and there’s growing attention to equitable application processes and local community power. 

However, the sector faces headwinds: inflationary pressures on nonprofit costs, fluctuating investment returns and a squeeze on smaller donors mean trusts must balance ambitious giving with prudent endowment management. The overall picture is one of cautious expansion — more strategic, concentrated grants aimed at long-term impact, even as everyday public giving becomes less widespread.