We receive many more applications than we can fund.
We appreciate the time and energy it takes to write grant applications. With this in mind, we strongly recommend you read these guidance notes carefully before you apply.
When should you apply?
Applications are currently closed. In 2025/26, the application will open as follows:
- 9am on the 6th August to 12 noon on the 20th August – environment and countryside funding themes
- October – Education and heritage and conservation funding themes
- January – Social inclusion and health and wellbeing funding themes
The precise dates of our application windows will be published on our website and social media two weeks before the application window opens.
We know that many applicants will feel that their project could fit in any of our six funding themes and encourage applicants to carefully consider the best fit for their project.
If we receive a large number of applications, priority will be given to projects serving the most disadvantaged communities. In England, we will use the Index of Multiple Deprivation to assess need, while in Scotland and Wales, equivalent indicators will be applied. This would be publicised on our website and social media before the application window opens.
Who we support
Our full eligibility criteria can be found here. We support UK-registered nonprofit organisations with any of the following legal statuses:
- Charity
- Charitable Incorporated Organisation
- Community Interest Company
- Company Limited by Guarantee
- Excepted Charity
- Unincorporated organisations who can demonstrate a clear social purpose, as evidenced in governing documents.
The project for which you apply for funding must be legally charitable, as defined in the Charities Act 2006.
How to apply
- Review these guidance notes, our ‘guidance for grantees‘ page and our eligibility criteria in full
- Complete the eligibility quiz and receive your unique application link
- Submit an application via the online application form
Please email us at contact@kccf.org.uk if you have any accessibility needs.
What we will support
This grant programme awards up to £9,000 over three years. Awards are limited to a maximum of £3,000 per year. The maximum amount you can apply for in total is £9,000 and the average annual award is £3,000.
As set out above, we support organisations delivering activity in any of our six funding themes: environment, countryside, education, heritage and conservation, social inclusion and health and wellbeing. Any organisation seeking to submit an application for work addressing food waste or food poverty should not apply to the Small Grants Programme and apply instead to the Coronation Food Project grants programme.
You can learn more about the projects we support and see what we have funded in your area.
We aim to support organisations which complement, rather than duplicate, the work of other charities close to His Majesty and funded by KCCF including The King’s Foundation and The King’s Trust.
We will consider applications from organisations working across all four nations of the United Kingdom. We will also consider applications from organisations working across the Commonwealth and internationally who are UK registered.
We want to direct funding to where it is needed most. Applications from areas of deprivation, or those that can show how the project will benefit those most in need within an area of wealth disparity will be prioritised. There will be space in the application form for you to demonstrate the level of need in the area your organisation serves.
What information will you need?
We ask for the following information in our online application form. Note that applicants can start their application, save their progress and resume at a later date. Please answer each question concisely, using bullet points where possible.
Section One: Contact details
In this section, we ask for the contact details of the person making the application.
- Basic contact information: name, organisation’s address, email address and phone number.
Section two: organisational details
In this section, we ask about your organisation, its income level and legal status. This includes:
- Vision, mission and objectives of your organisation (100 words).
- Legal status of your organisation.
- Financial information: annual income and level of unrestricted free reserves as per last published accounts. Your ‘unrestricted’ or ‘free’ reserves are those which could be used for any of the organisation’s charitable purposes, without any specific restrictions or limitations.
Section three: Project details
In this section, we ask how much funding you would like, what for, and how funds would be used. We request this information as follows:
- An outline of your funding request (20 words).
- The KCCF funding theme your project aligns with.
- Whether the project is new, or existing?
- The amount of funding you would like to request, and over how many years. Please note that KCCF reserves the right to award funds at a different level than requested.
- The overall cost of the project: please include any unit costs where appropriate, e.g. the cost to run one session or cost per person.
- Whether you have secured any additional funding towards the project, and if so from whom.
- Where the project is based: country, region, county and local authority.
- Estimated project start date and end date. Please note that we do not offer funding for projects which have already taken place. As a guide, we aim to communicate grant decisions to all applicants within two months.
Section 3.1: for organisations directly supporting people and communities
If your organisation directly supports people and communities, please complete this section. Note that it may be relevant for you to complete both sections 3.1 and 3.2.
- How many people would be directly supported by this funding?
- How many people would be indirectly supported by this funding?
- Is the project aimed at supporting a diverse community or group of service users? Check the relevant boxes and then 50 words to provide further details.
- Does your organisation have an Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policy?
- For organisations supporting people in need, please outline how the project will benefit an area of high deprivation or wealth disparity (50 words).
Section 3.2: For organisations directly supporting the natural and / or built environment
If your organisation directly supports the natural or built environment, please complete this section. Note that it may be relevant for you to complete both sections 3.1 and 3.2.
- Which environmental categories would this project help? Check the relevant boxes and then 50 words to provide further details.
Section Four: About the Project
In this section, we ask about your plans for the project, and its expected impact.
- What would you like funding for? What are the aims and objectives of the project? 100 word limit. Please include quantitative (measurable in numbers) information where possible.
- Please outline the changes you are looking to achieve with this funding and how you will evidence this. 100 word limit. You can use bullet points. Please provide quantifiable information where possible.
- What risks could affect delivery of the project and how do you propose to mitigate / manage them? 50 word limit. You can use bullet points.
- How does your organisation listen and respond to the voices of service users and / or the wider community in which you work? 50 word limit. You can use bullet points.
- Who are your key collaborators in delivering this project and how will you work together? 50 word limit. You can use bullet points.
- Any other information which is pertinent to this application (100 words). You should use this section to explain any potential issues, such as any exceptional reason for consistent late regulatory reporting history or significant fluctuation in annual income. If further information is required, we will request this via email. There is no need for you to submit any additional information via email unless specifically requested to do so.
Section Five: Policies
We ask for a copy of your most recent published accounts and, if you work with children or vulnerable adults, we also ask for your safeguarding policy.
If you are applying on behalf of a place of worship for a project which falls under the heritage and conservation funding theme, please provide a short history of the building, and at least one image.
Section six: Declarations
We ask you to confirm that you are authorised to make this application on behalf of your organisation, that it is true and accurate, and that you consent to your data being used for the purposes of processing the grant application.
Decision-making
After you submit the full application form, you will receive a confirmation email and a copy of your application.
All applications are screened using a standardised process to confirm eligibility.
We will request more information, if required.
Applications are shortlisted by KCCF before being considered by a grants committee, where a funding recommendation is made.
Recommendations are passed to our trustees, and a final funding decision is made.
You can expect to receive a funding decision via email within two months of the application window closing.
Once a decision has been reached, we will email you to confirm the outcome. If your application is successful, this will explain more about what happens next. If you are unsuccessful, you may reapply in two years.
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