Environment
Our guide to funders that specialise in the environment
As with any charitable project, it’s worth considering the funders that will fund a wide variety of projects.
This page is updated annually. Spotted an error? Please let us know.
Amey Community Fund
Grants of £10,000 to £100,000 are available to not-for-profit organisations for a variety of projects including “The provision, maintenance or improvement of a public park or other general public amenity”, and “The conservation of a specific species or a specific habitat where it naturally occurs”. Projects must be within 10 miles of an active landfill site, and applicants must be able to contribute 11% of the value of the grant. Upcoming deadlines are 9 December 2019 and 2 March 2020.
Mick George Community Fund
Grants from £10,000 to £50,000 are available to not-for-profit organisations for capital improvement works to public amenity projects including village greens, nature reserves and country parks. Projects must be within 10 miles of a Mick George Landfill site, and applicants must be able to contribute 11% of the value of the grant. Upcoming deadlines are 8 January and 1 April 2020.
Biffa Award – Rebuilding Biodiversity
Grants of £10,000 to £75,000 are available to not-for-profit organisations that deliver a direct improvement to biodiversity. The project site must be within 15 miles of a significant Biffa operation and within 10 miles of any licensed landfill site (not necessarily owned by Biffa Group Limited). Projects can support a variety of living things, including all species of plants and animals and the natural systems/habitats that support them. Work can include habitat improvement works, tree surgery, scrub removal, and the purchase of plants, seeds and trees, but not research costs. Ideally projects will have a strong element of public access or inclusion such as volunteer involvement.
FCC Community Action Fund
FCC Communities Foundation (formerly WREN) offers grants from £2,000 to £100,000 to registered charities, parish and town councils, local authorities and sports clubs for projects for the provision, maintenance or improvement of a public park or another public amenity. Projects must be based within 10 miles of an eligible FCC Environment waste facility, and applicants must be able to contribute 11% of the value of the grant.
South Cambridgeshire – Zero Carbon Communities Grant
Grants of £1,000 to £15,000 are available to South Cambridgeshire community groups to deliver bold, ambitious projects that engage communities and help the district shift towards a cleaner, greener future in support the aim of zero carbon emissions by 2050. The closing date for applications is 5pm on 31 October 2019.
Postcode Local Trust
Grants up to £20,000 are available registered charities (up to £2,000 for other types of non-profit organisations) for new projects, or significant expansions of existing projects, in Great Britain that improve green spaces, increase community access to outdoor space, or support renewable energy and flood prevention. The next round of funding dates will be published in December 2019.
Fenland DC – Glassmoor Local Environment Fund
Grants are available to non-profit groups for projects which enhance or protect the environment and allow local people to learn within a five- kilometre radius of the Glassmoor wind Turbine. Priority will be given to projects within Whittlesey, Eastrea, Coates, Ramsey Mereside or Pondersbridge. Suitable projects will address issues such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, wildlife, waste and sustainable materials.
Fenland DC – Ransonmoor Community Fund
Grants of up to £5,000 are available to non-profit groups in Benwick, Doddington and Wimblington that are wishing to make improvements in their community that will have an environmental benefit. The closing date is 28 February 2020.
Fenland DC – Whitemill Environment Fund
Grants are available to non-profit groups in Coldham, Friday Bridge, Elm and Rings End that wish to make improvements in their community that will have an environmental and educational benefit. The closing date is 31 January 2020.
Chapman Charitable Trust
Grants from £1,000 to £2,000 are available to registered charities that support wellbeing, the natural environment and the arts. The next deadline is 29 February 2020.
D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust
Grants from £500 to £5,000 for UK registered charities delivering projects on various themes including improvement or protection of the environment.
Ernest Cook Trust
The trust offers charities, school and not-for profit organisations grants for educational projects that will encourage young people’s interest in the countryside and the environment. Grants from £500 to £10,000 per year for apprenticeship and scholarship grants, or up to £15,000 per year for outdoor learning officer salaries.
Esmee Fairbairn Foundation
The environment is one of five themes for this fund, which has awarded grants ranging from £2,000 to £1.5m for charitable projects (but not capital costs) in the UK. Organisations must have a regular turnover of at least £50,000.
Garfield Weston Foundation
Themes for this foundation the environment. A range of charitable organisations can apply, but not individuals, CICs or local authorities. There is no deadline or maximum award; the average is £40,000.
Grow Wild
Grants of up to £4,000 are available to not-for-profit constituted groups, including secondary schools and parish and town councils, working on activities to connect communities and celebrate UK native wildflowers, plants and fungi.
HDH Wills
Registered charities can apply for funding for the preservation of wildlife and the environment. There are two grant schemes offering £250 to £500 and £1,000 to £2,000. The large grant scheme (£5,000 to £50,000) is closed until January 2023.
Jean Sainsbury Animal Welfare Trust
Grants of £1,000 to £10,000 are available to UK animal welfare charities for activities that benefit and protect animals, relieve the suffering of animals, address the conservation of wildlife or encourage a greater understanding of animals.
John Ellerman Foundation
Grants of at least £10,000 for small to medium-sized charities in the UK working in three themes including the environment. Suitable projects include creating richer, more sustainable places and building healthier ecosystems in urban or rural settings, through better management of these areas; experimenting with or linking together habitats, and large-scale interventions that help restore places of special significance. Work to reduce or prevent damaging effects of human activity, such as noise and air pollution or pesticides, is also supported.
Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust – Sustainable Future Programme
Grants are available for charitable projects that develop and promote sustainable, low-carbon alternatives to the current consumerist and growth-based paradigm, undertaking work at a national level. Its three themes are Better Economics, Beyond Consumerism and New Voices. The next deadline is 2 December 2019.
Lush Charity Pot
The high street cosmetic retailer’s charitable fund gives grants from £100 to £10,000 to non-profit organisations working in animal protection, human rights or the environment. Organisations must have an income under £250,000 and be predominantly run by volunteers. There is no deadline and decisions are normally given in six to eight weeks.
Naturesave Trust
Charities and businesses can apply for grants for UK projects that deal with specific environmental and/or conservation issues, or community renewable energy projects.
People’s Trust for Endangered Species – UK Mammals Grant
Grants of £10,000 to £20,000 are available to a range of organisation types for the conservation of mammals in the UK.
Polden-Puckham Charitable Foundation
Grants of £5,000 to £15,000 per year for up to three years for UK registered charities with an annual income under £500,000 to promote environmental sustainability. The Foundation supports work that addresses the pressures and conditions that risk global environmental breakdown. Support is only available for practical projects when they are clearly of a pioneering nature, with potential for influencing UK national policy. The next deadline is 28 February 2020.
Steel Charitable Trust
Grants of £2,500 to £25,000 for UK registered charities for projects under five themes including the environment. Revenue, core and capital costs are supported, and applications are reviewed quarterly.
The Nineveh Charitable Trust
Grants are available to registered charities, CICs and schools for projects that promote a better understanding of the countryside.
Tree Futures Grant Schemes
Grants of £300 to £1,000 are available to schools and community groups for conduct tree- and hedge-planting projects during National Tree Week with the involvement of under-16s. The Tree Council’s national campaign is in November, with the deadline for applications in spring (2020 deadline to be confirmed).
W F Southall Trust
Grants up to £5,000 are available to UK registered charities for projects under various themes including environmental action and sustainability.
Woodroffe Benton Foundation
Grants of £500 to £2,500 for UK registered charities for projects under various themes including Environmental conservation, preservation, protection and improvement – in particular where this would encourage the provision of access by members of the general public. Applications are considered quarterly.
This page is updated annually. Spotted an error? Please let us know.