Grant-Giving Bodies

Grants from all sorts of different organisations can be a blessing when trying to find funds for large projects. When planning your project, start by looking at potential grant funders first, as they often have the potential to gift significant donations, which can encourage match-funding from the local community.

Keep in mind that each grant funders has a purpose that they want to see achieved; and will give grants to those delivering a project that meets their aims.

Some will give grants towards the upkeep of the building, whether for heritage or for community purposes, while others will be inspired to help further the mission of your church, and to help grow our faith. It is important to read the grant provider’s terms before applying to make sure your project qualifies.

If you are looking for funding to pursue a project, below is a list of organisations that may be able to help.

If you are looking for funding to pursue a project, below is a list of organisations that may be able to help.

Church Grants Database
Church Building Grants
Community Work and Cost of Living Grants
Mission and Ministry
Environmental Projects
Grant Giving Guides
Tips for Writing a Proposal

* New * Church of England Grants Database

As part of a new online giving tool, called Cornerstone, all churches now have free access to a database of over 600 grants, curated for churches.

This searchable, filterable database is updated weekly and is the biggest range of grants currently available to churches. All the existing funders on the CofE Environmental Funders list are included in the database.

Churches using the Cornerstone Grants database can also input information to track what has been applied for and when, and whether it was successful, creating a record to help future applications.

If you would like access to the platform, please email anna.hardy@salisbury.anglican.org and an account will be created for you.

Church Building Grants

When starting a project of any kind, we encourage you to make a plan for raising the funds. Knowing where you think the funds will come from, makes your ask to others stronger – and could influence the grant amount you receive.

There are several funders who are ready to accept applications for church building projects, although their criteria will differ, and some will expect you to have some funds in place - or pledged - already. This can seem off-putting, but actually it can help pave the way for an ask to individual donors to pledge an amount in writing, that will enable you to apply for a grant. It can also act like a target for community fundraising events.

Do take a look at this Income Plan from Garfield Weston Foundation, as an example of best practice.

The Giving Advisor is here to help, and would encourage a conversation as early as possible in the planning process.

This list of funders is not exhaustive, but it is a good starting point.

Wiltshire and Dorset Historic Churches Trusts
Erskine Muton Trust Fund (Dorset churches only)
National Churches Trust (50% required)
Benefact Trust (30% required)
Garfield Weston Foundation (50% required)
Laing Family Trusts
Bernard Sunley Foundation
Church Care grants
Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme (to reclaim VAT)
Heritage Fund from the National Lottery
Buildings For Mission, Minor Repairs and Improvements Grant Fund

Crossing the Threshold Toolkit

The Diocese of Hereford has created a detailed resource for anyone looking to manage a church buildings project. At 268 pages, it is a detailed and thorough step-by-step guide covering everything from articulating your vision, raising funds, cash flow and managing a successful build.

Specialist Funders

There are other funders with specific interests in the repair, replacement or restoration of eg church bells, monuments, clocks etc.

The Ouseley Trust – Setting high standards in choral worship

Organ Funders

Stained glass funders

How we did it! Bell restoration at Barford St Martin

Church Care grants

Church Clock Guide (from Smith&Derby)

Living alongside bats grant (not for bat surveys)

Community Work and Cost of Living Grants

Sometimes the work we carry out in our communities can be attractive to funders, if we are delivering social support that is open to all. This can also include work that we are delivering in partnership with other third sector organisations. Projects might include foodbanks, debt advice, discounted or free community spaces, cafes and clubs that reduce isolation and anxiety, providing friendship groups and warm spaces.

Some offer grants for running costs over a three-year period, and may be enough to get your project to a position where it is self-sustaining.

Local funding opportunities

Find out about local funding opportunities through Dorset and Wiltshire Community Foundations here:

Home - Dorset Community Foundation
Sign up to their Grant Alert email here: Grants Alert Signup - Dorset Community Foundation

Wiltshire Community Foundation (wiltshirecf.org.uk)
Follow them on Facebook www.facebook.com/cfwiltswindon

Plunkett Foundation

The Plunkett Foundation offers advice to churches looking to use space for a community projects, particularly if your aim is income generation or providing services to directly benefit the community, such as village shops, cafes and local services: Plunkett UK

Mission and Ministry

The following funds provide grants to help churches to fund mission initiatives, or welfare grants to support individuals in need, including members of the clergy.

Looking to establish a new parish or Deanery administrator?
The Fulmer Charitable Trust is keen to help with seed funding money to contribute to the first three years of new administrator posts to support clergy and release their time so that they may engage more with the wider community. For an initial discussion please contact Rev Philip Bromiley at philbromiley@gmail.com.

Environmental Projects

Low Carbon Dorset - Low Carbon Dorset - Helping reduce Dorset's footprint

Benefact Trust offer grants for church building improvement projects for: Energy efficiency/renewable energy measures (e.g. heating/lighting upgrades, solar panels, etc) which improve the sustainability of church buildings/facilities and enable their continued use.

Dioceses and parishes can now begin to submit applications for the first block of grants and schemes to help churches, cathedrals, schools and clergy housing to achieve net zero carbon by 2030. The Church of England’s Net Zero Carbon Programme aims to equip, resource and support all parts of the Church to tackle climate change by reducing the carbon emissions arising from the energy used in our buildings, schools and through work related travel by 2030.

This document - A Short Guide to Net Zero Grants (PDF) - is aimed at giving you an overview of the projects on offer at this time.

Community buildings:

Biffa support Community Buildings: village halls, community centres and church halls. Funding includes building refurbishments and internal works to kitchens, toilets, roofs, flooring, window, doors and heating systems - Community Buildings - Biffa Award (biffa-award.org) (Funding Maps for Dorset (docx) and Wiltshire (docx) areas)
Village Halls Fund – planned to open again in September 2025

Tips for Writing a Proposal