Covid-19: Social enterprise funding you might miss – 8 May update

The list of Covid-19 emergency funding is growing each day – it's a challenge to navigate and easy to miss out.

So in this regular update, we are searching through to highlight our top pick of emergency grants, loans and other funding sources where deadlines are approaching or which we think you might not have noticed. The list below is divided into both international and UK-based funds.

You can find our full list of funds announced here. Send any announcements to us at news@pioneerspost.com by Wednesday at midday for inclusion in the next update.

 

For organisations worldwide

COVID-19 Response – Resilience in Wildlife Community Grants (developing countries)

Deadline: 15 May 2020

Grants of $20,000 to $50,000 for non-profit organisations in developing countries looking to catalyse community or local-level action to protect severely threatened ecosystems or wildlife. Grantees are expected to deliver results within one year of receiving funds.

 

Internet Society Foundation (ISOC): Emergency response grant programme

Deadline: 17 May 2020

Grants of $250,000 to $500,000 to be awarded to registered non-profits working on projects that use the Internet to improve lives during, or in response to, an emergency situation. Grants are eligible for projects lasting up to 12 months.

 

The Gadfly Project COVID-19 hosting grant

Deadline: 1 June 2020

In-kind hosting grants for small businesses and nonprofits experiencing hardships and revenue losses due to Covid-19. Eligible small businesses with less than 50 employees will be provided internet hosting at no charge for up to six months.

 

Open Road Alliance COVID-19 Fund

Deadline: Ongoing

Grants (up to $100,000) and loans ($50,000 to $1m) for organisations engaging in direct COVID-19 response; plus several types of loans for organisations unable to raise funding in the current climate, facing delayed income or co-investing with other social investors.

 

PLUS:

The COVID Response Alliance for Social Entrepreneurs, a coalition of 40 global names supporting a total of 15,000 social entrepreneurs and aiming to raise further funding, was announced this week. Read more here.

 

For UK organisations

Domestic abuse safe accommodation: COVID-19 emergency support fund (England)

Deadline: 14 May 2020

A £10m fund for domestic abuse safe accommodation charities, as part of a £76m package for charities supporting vulnerable people. Domestic abuse safe accommodation providers within England can apply. Applications from consortia aare strongly encouraged. Maximum of £100,000 per individual bid, but higher amounts considered for consortium bids or when bids "demonstrate exceptional value for money".

 

Live here Love here Small Grants Scheme (Northern Ireland)

Deadline: 18 May 2020

Grants from £500 to £5,000 for volunteer-run projects in Northern Ireland aimed at improving health and wellbeing and local environment, and development of civic pride within a community. This year’s scheme also covers support actions that help care for those in need as a result of Covid-19.

 

Barclays 100x100 UK COVID-19 Community Relief Programme

Deadline: 22 May 2020

One hundred £100,000 grants available for UK registered charities meeting the immediate needs of including low-income families, those facing financial hardship, isolated elderly people and key workers. Funds to be distributed from June, subject to completion of due diligence and additional internal governance requirements.

 

Youth Endowment Fund – COVID-19 grant round

Deadline: 3 June 2020

A £6.5m fund (50% reserved for charities and social enterprises) for organisations that help reach and support vulnerable young people at risk of youth violence, providing support under social distancing guidelines. Minimum grant amount is £25,000, capped at 50% of previous year’s annual income. Decision within three weeks if application request is less than £50,000. For larger grant requests, decisions by 1 July.

 

COVID-19: Clothworkers Emergency Capital Programme

Deadline: Ongoing

Small capital grants of up to £5,000 (but less than 50% of annual income), for essential capital items to adapt or increase services in response to Covid-19. Only for charities whose beneficiaries are not based in London, and whose income is less than £2m per annum.

 

Association of Mental Health Providers – Mental Health Response Fund (England)

Deadline: Ongoing while funds last

A £5m grant fund for VCS mental health providers in England to respond to the anticipated increase in need as a direct result of the pandemic. Eligible organisations can request £20,000 - £50,000. Applications will be assessed every two weeks and organisations informed of the outcome within a month of applying.

 

Connecting Scotland (Scotland)

Deadline: unknown

A £5m government initiative, announced 7 May, to provide support to vulnerable people who are at home and digitally excluded. Training and support for digital champions is being coordinated by SCVO, and will be delivered through local authorities and third sector bodies. Organisations working with target groups can fill out an expression of interest form here.

 

Sky SME Support scheme

Deadline: unknown

A £1m in-kind scheme to help 100 small businesses with free advertising campaigns worth £10,000 each. Businesses need to have 2-50 full-time equivalent employees, be new to TV advertising and have been trading at least 12 months. Campaign to be delivered by 31 July.

 

Coming soon

The UK government last weekend announced a top-up, discretionary fund for small businesses that were previously outside the scope of the business grant funds scheme. It's aimed at small businesses with ongoing fixed property-related costs (such as businesses in shared spaces, regular market traders, small charity properties). It will be allocated by local authorities, with more details coming next week. Keep an eye on Good Finance and Social Enterprise UK for more details.

Northern Ireland's Economy Minister announced a new £40m Hardship Fund for microbusinesses. Social enterprises and charities "will be able to access the fund if they meet the eligibility criteria". Further details coming week commencing 11 May.

 

Where else to look for emergency funding

You can find our full list of funds announced previously here. Send any announcements to us at news@pioneerspost.com by Wednesday at midday for inclusion in the next update.

For comprehensive details of funding available for social enterprises, charities and community groups worldwide, check out the databases compiled by the Charity Excellence Framework and covidcap.com, from the Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship at Duke University. Thanks also to Good Finance, Global Giving, Grant Station and Grants Online.

 

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