National Lottery Comunity Fund
enquiries.ni@tnlcommunityfund.org.uk
People use this funding to do extraordinary things, taking the lead to improve their lives and communities.
Communities come in all shapes and sizes, and National Lottery funding is there for everyone.
There are 12 distributors of money raised by the players of The National Lottery, which fund projects and activities that transform communities, protect our heritage, and enrich lives through arts, sports and culture.
More information on their website
UK Research and Innovation
Launched in April 2018, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).
Nine research councils work together in innovative ways to deliver an ambitious agenda, drawing on great depth and breadth of expertise and the enormous diversity of the portfolio.
More information on their website
Esmee Fairbairn Foundation
info@esmeefairbairn.org.uk
Founded in 1961, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation is one of the UK’s largest independent funders.
In 2024, they provided £48.8m in funding towards a wide range of work in support of their aims: to improve Our Natural World, secure A Fairer Future and nurture Creative, Confident Communities. They also have a £60m allocation to social investments and a £10m allocation to impact investments.
More information on their website
Joseph Rowntree Foundation
01904 629 241
Joseph Rowntree Foundation is an independent social change organisation, working to support and speed up the transition to a more equitable and just future, free from poverty, where people and planet can flourish.
JRF’s external grants are largely tied to specific projects under 3 focus areas. In 2025 they want to make more unrestricted grants, putting an additional £50 million to £100 million behind their mission-focused work over the coming 5-10 years.
More information on their website
Horizon Europe
+32 2 299 96 96
Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation. Following the Multiannual Financial Framework Midterm Review (MTR) decision, the indicative funding amount for Horizon Europe for the period 2021-2027 is EUR 93.5 billion.
It tackles climate change, helps to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and boosts the EU’s competitiveness and growth.
UK applicants are still eligible.
More information on their website
Halifax Foundation NI
028 9032 3000
The Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland is one of four independent grant-making trusts, covering England & Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands. Funded by the profits of Lloyds Banking Group and together receive 0.5% of the Group’s pre-tax profits.
The Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland is an independent charitable foundation with policies determined by our own Board of Trustees.
They believe in supporting communities that champion good causes, because we’re better together.
More information on their website
The Community Foundation NI
02890245927
An independent, grant making trust, inspiring generosity and achieving impact.
The Community Foundation want to see a place where generosity and fairness changes lives, communities flourish, and everyone feels they belong.
More information on their website
The Royal Society
+44 207 451 2500
We support scientists pursuing discovery-led and applied research through a wide range of schemes and career development opportunities.
The Royal Society recognises that diversity is essential for delivering excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and wants to encourage applications from the widest range of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to maximise innovation and creativity in science for the benefit of humanity.
More information on their website
The British Academy
020 7969 5200
We distributed over £50 million of funding in 2024 to support UK and international academic research, career development and wider engagement across the humanities and social sciences. Our funding takes the form of project grants and individual fellowships, with a focus on researchers at key stages in their careers. From the early career Postdoctoral Fellowships to Mid-Career Fellowships, Senior Research Fellowships and Professorships, we give opportunities for curiosity-driven research that highlights public engagement and knowledge exchange, talent development and innovation.
More information on their website
Funding Directories: