About
Key Fund is a social investment organization that provides flexible loans and grants to help community and social enterprises start up, become sustainable, and grow. Operating as a Social Enterprise themselves, they support organizations in the North of England and the Midlands, offering investments from £5k up to £300k. They focus on organizations that have traditionally been excluded and turned down by mainstream banks, creating jobs, reinvigorating communities, and providing both pre and post-investment support to address structural poverty and support communities most in need.
Funding Opportunities
European Regional Development Fund - ERDF
The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) aims to increase the number of social enterprises in the Yorkshire and Humber Region that can access the finance that they need to develop and grow. This fund is specifically designed for organizations with clear social aims and objectives that are not for private profit, have asset-locked structures, and maintain clear policies or restrictions around profit distribution, requiring at least 51% of profits to be reinvested for social aims and objectives. The fund provides loans of up to £300,000 with a maximum term of 10 years. Interest is charged at a 6.5% flat rate, and there is a 2% arrangement fee. This financing is intended to support social enterprises that have traditionally been excluded from mainstream banking and building society funding. The program is funded by Northern Powerhouse and the European Union, and is administered by Key Fund, which invests in community and social enterprises in the Yorkshire and Humber region. The fund aims to help these organizations develop, grow, and achieve their social objectives while providing sustainable financial support.
Northern Cultural Regeneration Fund
The Northern Cultural Regeneration Fund aims to support the development and growth of creative and cultural businesses across the North of England that deliver social impact. This fund provides flexible loans for capital or working capital to incorporated businesses operating within 11 Northern Local Enterprise Partnership areas including Cheshire and Warrington, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Humber, Lancashire, Leeds City Region, Liverpool City Region, Sheffield City Region, Tees Valley, and York, North Yorkshire and East Riding. The fund offers investments up to £150,000 with two loan types available. Working capital loans are repayable over up to 5 years at a flat 6.5% interest rate (though this may be higher for very short-term loans) with a 2% arrangement fee. Capital loans are repayable over up to 10 years with flexibility to extend up to 15 years, charged at 4.5% flat interest with a 2% arrangement fee. The program is funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) and administered by Key Fund, a social investment organization that supports community and social enterprises traditionally excluded from mainstream banking. This initiative focuses specifically on creative and cultural businesses that can demonstrate social impact in Northern England.
More than a Pub
The More than a Pub fund is a specialized financing program that supports the development and sustainability of community-owned pubs across England. This initiative provides affordable loans to help community groups acquire, renovate, or develop pub premises that serve as vital community hubs. The fund is designed specifically for incorporated 'not for profit' businesses that demonstrate clear geographic benefit and meaningful local engagement in ownership or governance. By offering flexible loan terms and competitive interest rates, the program enables communities to preserve and revitalize their local pubs as centers for social connection, community services, and local economic activity. The fund recognizes the important role that community-owned pubs play in rural and urban areas, providing not just hospitality services but also serving as venues for community events, social services, and local enterprise.
Community Business Fund
The Community Business Fund supports community businesses operating in the North and Midlands regions of England, looking to grow or develop trading activity. This fund has focused on community asset development and continues to support community businesses in their growth and development. To access this fund, applicants must be incorporated 'not for private profit' businesses with a clear geography of benefit and demonstrate local engagement. The fund provides loans ranging from £5,000 to £250,000 with flexible repayment terms up to 15 years, a flat interest rate of 6.5%, and a 1% arrangement fee. The program is funded by Power to Change and administered by Key Fund, a social investment organization that invests in community and social enterprises traditionally excluded from mainstream banking.
Property Fund
The Property Fund from Key Fund supports social enterprises over 1 year old looking to purchase or develop properties in the Yorkshire and Humber region. This investment opportunity is designed specifically for organizations with clear social aims and objectives that fit criteria including being not for private profit, asset locked, or having clear policies and restrictions around profit distribution. The fund offers flexible repayable finance to help social enterprises acquire or develop property assets to further their social mission. Funded by Better Society Capital and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), this investment product provides loans with competitive interest rates and extended repayment terms to support property-based growth for qualifying social enterprises.
Regional Growth Fund
The Regional Growth Fund aims to support the development and growth of economic activity and employment in disadvantaged areas or for disadvantaged groups. The fund invests in enterprises to promote regional economic development, with a particular focus on social and community-focused organizations. The fund is administered by Key Fund, a community development finance institution that provides financing to community and social enterprises traditionally excluded from mainstream banking. The fund offers flexible investment options that can be used for both capital and working capital purposes. Investments are structured as loans with a term of up to 7 years and typically carry an interest rate of 8.25% flat, with a 2% arrangement fee payable. The maximum investment available is £150,000 per organization. This funding is particularly designed to support enterprises operating in or serving disadvantaged communities, helping them to create employment opportunities and drive economic growth in areas that need it most. While not restricted exclusively to social enterprises, Key Fund targets organizations with social or community impact as part of its mission.
Northern Impact Fund 2
The Northern Impact Fund 2 provides finance to support the development or growth of trading activity for social enterprises and community organizations. This includes funding for cash-flow, working capital, and asset development or purchase. The fund targets organisations with clear social aims and objectives that are not for private profit, asset locked, and have clear policies or restrictions around profit distribution. The fund offers flexible investment options ranging from £5,000 to £150,000 with terms from 1 to 5 years. Three distinct product options are available: Product 1 offers up to 30% grant with 6.5% interest rate; Product 2 offers up to 18% grant with 4% interest rate; and Product 3 is Shariah compliant with no interest. This fund is backed by multiple major funders including Access – The Foundation for Social Investment, Better Society Capital, Regional Growth Fund, Unity Trust Bank, Barrow Cadbury Trust, The Places Foundation, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, and Mercers' Charitable Foundation.
Energy Resilience Fund
The Energy Resilience Fund is a finance program designed to enable community and social enterprises to retrofit energy generating and saving technology on community-owned or managed buildings. The fund has an initial focus on stabilizing or reducing energy costs for eligible organizations. The program offers investment amounts ranging from £10,000 to £150,000, with up to 40% of the total available as grant funding where justifiable to support cost stabilization or reduction. Energy Audit Grants are also available between £500 and £2,500 for organizations that have not completed these assessments. The fund provides flexible repayment terms from a minimum of 12 months to a maximum of 7 years. It is primarily unsecured financing with a 6.5% flat interest rate and a 1% arrangement fee. The program is delivered in partnership with Big Issue Invest, Charity Bank, Coop and Community Finance, Resonance, GMCVO, The Architectural Heritage Fund, and Key Fund. The fund is supported by Access, Power to Change, Better Society Capital, and Barrow Cadbury Trust.
At a Glance
- Total Funding Opportunities
- 8
- Active Now
- 8
- Source Domain
- thekeyfund.co.uk
Catalog Data
This funder profile was automatically extracted from grant listings. Information may be incomplete.
Visit official website