Grants news digest
A roundup of recent grants-related news
Bank expands commitment to unrestricted funding (11/2024)
The Bank of Scotland Foundation has outlined its transition to a more responsive grantmaking approach, with a new five-year strategy prioritising multi-year unrestricted funding. In this blogpost, CEO Jillian Baillie highlights the foundation’s commitment to flexible funding models, citing positive outcomes from Covid-19 contingency grants and cost-of-living crisis support.
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Charity withdraws from council contract over reduced funding (17/12/2024)
An autism charity has pulled out of a service contract after its funding council significantly reduced its funding offer. The council said it had offered reduced funding because the charity had been unable to fill the original terms of the contract.
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Call for funders to take more risks in supporting small charities (16/01/25)
Grantmakers have been urged to be more risk-tolerant when awarding grants to small charities, with experts arguing that cautious funding practices can stifle innovation and prevent smaller organisations from achieving long-term impact.
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Charity sector bodies push for multi-year government funding (21/01/25)
Leading sector organisations, including ACEVO and NCVO, have urged the UK government to prioritise multi-year local government funding. The organisations argue that competitive funding pots undermine the financial stability of charities delivering essential public services.
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Concerns raised over AI-generated grant applications (01/2025)
Charity Commission CEO David Holdsworth has voiced concerns about the increasing number of AI-generated grant applications. The regulator warns that while AI tools can aid efficiency, overreliance on them could undermine the integrity of applications. Meanwhile, a major funder has signalled openness to AI-assisted submissions, provided they maintain quality and authenticity.
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Philanthropy and digital society Blueprint 2025: key insights (01/2025)
In her 16th annual Philanthropy and Digital Civil Society Blueprint, US social sector academic and thought leader Lucy Bernholz highlights risks such as digital surveillance and threats to democracy. The report calls for ethical data governance and strategic adaptation within the sector.
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Trump’s foreign aid pause likely to impact UK charities (29/01/2025)
The US government's decision to pause foreign aid spending is expected to have significant consequences for UK charities reliant on USAID funding. Sector leaders, including umbrella body Bond and LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall, warn of disruptions to international development and human rights initiatives.
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Scottish government announces multi-year charity funding pilot (10/02/25)
The Scottish government has committed over £60 million in multi-year funding to 45 charities as part of its Fairer Funding pilot. The grants, subject to budget approval, will support projects tackling poverty, health, education, and cultural initiatives.
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Henry Smith Charity calls for greater funder collaboration (11/02/25)
Henry Smith Charity CEO Anand Shukla has called for more collaboration among funders to maximise impact. The charity plans to announce new funding partnerships to foster greater coordination in the sector.
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Funders encouraged to examine their own biases (18/02/25)
Grantmakers must reflect on their own privileges and biases when supporting charities, a solicitor has advised. Speaking at the Charity Finance ESG Imperative conference, Bates Wells solicitor Emma Clague stressed the importance of recognising grassroots organisations’ lived experience over formal credentials.
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90% of charities miss out on Northern Ireland core funding (21/02/25)
Sector leaders have criticised the Northern Ireland government's core funding scheme after only 10% of applicants received support. The funding pot, already halved from previous levels, left more than 230 charities without critical financial backing, Civil Society reports.
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Social justice grants fall below 5% of major foundation giving (24/2/25)
New research reveals that less than 5% of funding from the UK’s largest grantmakers in 2022-23 was allocated to tackling social justice issues. The Funding Justice report raises concerns about the declining prioritisation of systemic change initiatives.
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Podcast: The history of philanthropy in the UK (21/02/25)
A new podcast episode explores key moments in UK philanthropy and their influence on modern charitable giving. Hosted by sector luminaries Fozia Irfan and Rhodri Davies, the Civil Society Media discussion provides valuable insights into the evolution of funding models.
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Charities urged to demand funding uplifts for NICs increase (17/02/25)
Charities are being encouraged to request additional funding from grantmakers or adjust service delivery expectations in the face of an increase to National Insurance Contributions. CEO of the Directory of Society Change Debra Allcock Tyler says the NIC increase is an “absolute calamity” that will cost the sector around £1.4 billion.
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NPC identifies five key trends for 2025 (11/02/25)
New Philanthropy Capital (NPC) has outlined five major funding and philanthropy trends for 2025. NPC’s Director for Transforming Funding Alex Hayes has foreshadowed increased use of AI and growth of impact investing, as well as a need for funders to respond to government policies, increased collaboration and (perhaps) a gentle re-opening to applications.
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UK aid budget faces further cuts (26/2/25)
Charities have strongly criticised the UK government’s decision to cut the Official Development Assistance budget from 0.5% to 0.3% of GNI. Sector leaders say the move, which is intended to fund defence spending, "disgraceful" and "short-sighted".
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Digital sourcing: when to build and when to buy (06/03/25)
A new digital sourcing plan will help government departments decide when to develop in-house solutions and when to procure external digital services. The framework aims to optimise efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
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Research highlights impact of unrestricted philanthropy (18/02/25)
New research finds that American philanthropist MacKenzie Scott’s large, unrestricted donations have provided sustained benefits for nonprofits and the communities they serve, reinforcing the importance of flexible funding.
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