Main Grants Programme

The Main Grants Programme from Gloucestershire Community Foundation aims to support communities to thrive, particularly benefiting people who are isolated or facing challenges due to poverty, disability, age, location, or culture. The programme gives priority to groups that enable people to take opportunities that would otherwise not be available, reflect the concerns and priorities of people living and working in the area, and involve local people in improving their community. To be eligible, organisations must demonstrate that they will benefit people in their community by helping them lead more fulfilling lives, particularly where there is known deprivation, disadvantage, or isolation. GCF's priorities include projects or activities which reflect the needs and concerns of their beneficiaries by adding value to existing community provision, enable people to take up opportunities that would otherwise not be available to them, encourage local volunteers to engage with their communities, and develop partnerships with other local organisations and groups. Awards are available between £1,000 and £5,000. The programme operates on two rounds per year, with the foundation typically supporting between 40% and 50% of applications. In some cases, only partial grants can be awarded due to high demand on funds. Please note that the panel has taken a decision not to support capital building and renovation projects for the foreseeable future whilst demand remains high. Applicants must be voluntary and community groups with charitable aims, registered charities or Community Interest Companies with more than three unrelated Trustees or Board Members, a bank account in the organisation's name with at least two signatories, and must be based and working in Gloucestershire.