This is not an exhaustive list of funders, but is an excellent starting point for your funding search. There are three main sections to this page:
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National Lottery Heritage Fund - the National Lottery Heritage Fund is an important funder for many church projects undertaking extensive repairs.
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Funding Portals - these are links to external websites offering a database of potential grant funding organisations.
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Individual Funding Organisations - individual funders whom you may wish to consider approaching as part of your funding package.
From January 2024 the Diocese has grants available for minor repairs and improvements to church buildings through the Church of England's Buildings for Mission programme. More information and details of how to apply can be found on the Buildings for Mission Grants page.
Information on the Diocese's Net Zero Quick Wins Grant can be accessed here.
For further assistance with funding for church building projects please contact Lorna Theophilus, Church Building Support Officer.
In January 2024 the National Lottery Heritage Fund launched a new strategy, Hertiage 33: Our 10 year Strategy and amended it's grant schemes. How much grant money you are seeking from the National Lottery Heritage Fund will determine the applicaiton method and when you can apply:
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National Lottery Heritage Grants for £10,000 to £250,000 (Medium)
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National Lottery Heritage Grants for £250,000 to £10 million. (Large)
All National Lottery Heritage Grant projects need to meet certain investment principles.
The following websites offer links to numerous grant funders whom it might be worth approaching for your project:
Parish Resources
Herefordshire Council Funding Directory
Ludlow Trust Funding Enquiry Gateway which allows registered charities to apply for funding from any one or more of the 250+ charitable trusts managed by the Ludlow Trust Company Ltd.
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ACRE - Open to Church Hall for the modernisation and improvement of village halls
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Beaverbrook Foundation supports a variety of causes, including preserving heritage buildings
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Benefact Trust (formerly All Churches Trust) for projects address the social challenges and to protect and enhance churches and Christian charity buildings,
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Benefact Trust (Formerly All Churches Trust) Roof Alarm Grants Programme
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Churches Conservation Foundation - special conservation projects to the fabric and contents of historic listed churches
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ChurchCare for grants towards conservation reports and the conservation of historic church interiors and churchyard structures
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Garfield Weston supports projects relating to welfare, youth, community, environment, education, health, arts, heritage and faith.
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Historic Churches Trusts:
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The Idelwild Trust fund conservation of objects and works of art
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Lasletts Hinton Charity Grants to assist in the repair and restoration of churches and chapels connected with the established Church of England within the Dioceses of Worcester, Hereford, Gloucester, Lichfield, Coventry and Birmingham.
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Listed Places of Worship Scheme (VAT) gives grants covering the VAT on repairs of over £1,000 to listed buildings used as places of worship.
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Small Grants to support small but urgent maintenance and repair issues or to carry out small investigative works - Grants of £500 - £5,000 (exceptionally £10,000)
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Medium Grants to support urgent repair and maintenance issues as well as project development work - Grants up to £10,000
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Large Grants for urgent structural repair projects and for projects to install kitchens and toilets. - Grants of £10,000 - £50,000
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National Lottery Community Fund
- The Joseph Rank Trust for the adaption of Church properties with a view to providing improved facilities for use by the church and its work in the community.
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ON Organ Fund supports organ repair and restoration projects
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Ouseley Church Music Trust who work to promote and maintain a high standard of choral service
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The Leche Trust the conservation of historically, artistically and culturally significant buildings and objects dating from before 1837 that are in urgent need of remedial treatment
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The Rowlands Trust Restoration and re-ordering of church buildings which lead to an increase in community use
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The Sharpe Trust supports bell projects
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The Worshipful Company of Clockmakers supports clock repair and restoration projects
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Trusthouse Charitable Foundation for community support projects in deprived urban and rural areas.
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Welsh Church Act Fund
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W.A.Cadbury Trust for conservation including projects to preserve buildings of historic importance & community action in church buildings (West Midlands, but not including Shropshire)
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William and Jane Morris Fund to support projects conserve stained glass, sculpture, furniture, internal monuments and tombs, and wall paintings made before 1896
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Worshipful Company of Glaziers to historic and/or artistically significant stained and architectural glass