External funding support and resources
Funding sources
These major funders run opportunities throughout the year and fund projects that support a range of communities and organisations across the UK. Please contact the funders directly to find out whether your project is appropriate to the funding criteria.
- Arts Council England – arts and culture focused opportunities
- BBC Children in Need – children and young people focused opportunities
- The National Lottery Community Fund - community focused opportunities
- The National Lottery Heritage Fund – funding for environmental and heritage projects
- Sport England – funding for sport and physical activity projects
Local support from VCFSE membership organisations
These organisations provide advice and support to the VCFSE (Voluntary, Community, Faith, and Social Enterprise) sector organisations based in Northamptonshire.
- Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire support community organisations with a range of services, including volunteering, networking opportunities and useful resources
- Volunteer Centre Daventry provide a wide range of advice and support, including voluntary group development, grant funding and training opportunities
- South Northants Volunteer Bureau support the voluntary and community sector with services such as group support, training courses and funding advice
- Connect Northamptonshire is a resource centre for VCFSEs interested or involved in the Integrated Care System
- Our Community and Voluntary Organisation Directory connects to a wide range of community groups, services and organisations across West Northamptonshire
Funding resources
There are a host of free Funding Finder resources available to support you in your search for funding. They include information on a range of grant funders, from charitable trusts and foundations to government and community funding bodies.
Business and IP Centre Northants
GrantFinder is a funding database covering local, national and international sources of funding.
The Library business support service offers limited access to GrantFinder in these libraries – Brixworth, Towcester, Northampton Central, Kettering and Wellingborough, as well as via home access.
Charity Excellence Funding Finder
Charity Excellence offer a wide range of services to the charity sector. Providing funding tools, AI grant writing for bids and tenders, policies and free templates in their resource hub.
Use the Charity Excellence Funding Finder to access the funding tools.
Get Grants Funding Finder
Get Grants offer a one-stop shop for fundraisers and grant makers. Providing information, training and funding advice, they also run an annual programme of events which includes a monthly Virtual Networking catch up.
The Get Grants Funding Finder allows you to search by funding area.
Government Find a Grant
The Government Find a Grant service enables the user to access government grant funding, along with eligibility and how to apply guidance.
GrantNav
GrantNav enables the user to search, explore and download grants data from a database of UK funders. Sign up to one of their free GrantNav workshops to learn more about this useful resource.
Heritage Funding Directory
Heritage Funding Directory provides over 400 potential funding sources for heritage focused projects along with guidance and case studies. Click on Filter funds to start the search.
Northamptonshire Community Foundation
Northamptonshire Community Foundation is a charity who provide funding to support community-based projects.
You can search the current opportunities in their Grants Programme.
Applying for a Grant - Useful Links
If you are looking to apply for a grant and require guidance on developing an application, these helpful, resource links will start you on the right track.
- Charities Aid Foundation - A Guide to Writing a Great Grant Application
- Resource Centre - Writing a Funding Application
- The National Council for Voluntary Organisations – All About Grants
- Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire - Top Tips for applying to Grants and Trusts
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Last updated 18 September 2025