Local funders committed to distribute grants to third sector
21 July 2008
Local funders across England have been selected to give out grants as small as £250 to grassroots third sector organisations as part of the Government’s £130m Grassroots Grants programme.
Grassroots Grants, funded by the Office of the Third Sector and administered by the Community Development Foundation (CDF), will provide much needed grants to small third sector organisations and help local funders build endowment funds to provide a continuous source of small grant funding, by matching funds raised in the community.
63 local funders have been selected to distribute grants and set up endowments, and 57 have officially accepted. CDF are keen to give those which will be working in partnership more time and support to develop the structures, processes and relationships required to ensure they fully benefit from Grassroots Grants, as do the community and voluntary groups in their catchment areas.
Local funders will distribute grants of up to £5000 to small community and voluntary groups in both urban and rural settings across England – with the potential to reach out to new projects and communities that have not previously received funding.
A £50 million endowments programme sits along side the £80 million grants programme, and these two elements of Grassroots Grants will work together for maximum impact.
The endowments programme will enable local funders to generate additional donations on a matched basis, invest them and build their capacity to provide long term funding for small community and voluntary organisations.
A list of the local funders providing the small grants and the endowment funds can be found on the CDF website [external website].
