We provide a range of grants for voluntary and community groups, registered charities, community interest companies, and organisations with charitable aims.
Please see below a list of our active grant programmes.
County Durham Community Foundation has awarded more than £46million since it was founded 25 years ago
From the list below, find the fund that matches your project and your organisation. Funds may have their own criteria, application form and application deadline so please make sure that you check the guidelines to see if you are eligible.
Community Grants Programme
Some of our funds have no set deadlines or special requirements and we will consider applications all year round. You just need to complete our Community Grants application form. We will assess your proposed activity and see if one or more of these funds is able to provide the money you need.
Call for applications
Some of our funds support specific activities and may only consider applications at set times of the year or in particular areas. You can apply to them only when they make a call for applications, which means applying by a set date, and usually on a special form. You can check the funds below to see if they are open to applications
You can hold a Community Grant and one or more grants from the funds we manage.
Up to £5,000
Established charities, voluntary-led organisations and projects that have an incredible impact in their community, enabling them to continue their work and make vital improvements to their service.
Learn more and applyUp to £5,000
Emergency funding for charities, voluntary and community organisations to help support their communities through the COVID-19 crisis.
Learn more and applyUp to £5,000
Community & voluntary organisations & environmental projects which are located within close proximity of a current or proposed Banks Group development and that provide benefit to the local community.
Learn more and applyUp to £3,000
Banks Renewables is committed to generating power from renewable technologies such as onshore wind farms and solar farms.
Learn more and applyUp to £10,000
Chester le Street Primary Care Network Community Investment Fund is open to constituted community organisations delivering projects that target health needs within communities in Chester le Street.
Learn more and applyUp to £5,000
To support organisations seeking to develop and deliver high quality cultural experiences, which increase participation in the arts.
Learn more and applyUp to £5,000
The aim of the Community Sport & Physical Activity Small Grant Scheme is to support growth and strengthen the sustainability of community sports clubs and grassroots organisations who are providing opportunities for their communities to engage in physical activity on a regular basis.
Learn more and applyUp to £10,000
Emergency funding for charities, voluntary and community organisations in Darlington to help support their communities through the COVID-19 crisis.
Learn more and applyUP to £5,000
Organisations with links to specified secondary schools/colleges in Darlington aiming to improve pupil education through extra-curricular activities, anti-drugs/alcohol awareness education etc.
Learn more and applyUp to £5,000
Established charities, voluntary-led organisations and projects based or delivering in Darlington that have an incredible impact in their community, enabling them to continue their work and make vital improvements to their service.
Learn more and applyUp to £2,000
The overall aim of the grants scheme is to support local groups working within the Durham AAP area and in doing so improve the lives of local people.
Learn more and applyUp to £5,000
Supporting local organisations and projects to achieve lasting impact in their community, continue and expand their work and run projects that help people enjoy all the Brightwater area has to offer. Brightwater refers to the land that surrounds the River Skerne and its tributary burns
Learn more and applyUp to £2,500
The aim is to support the growth of children and young people engaging with cricket in the North East so strengthening and sustaining clubs and the sport.
Learn more and applyUp to £10,000
Funding available for groups providing activities to support unemployed people in County Durham move into, or closer to, paid employment. Multiple rounds of funding will be held.
Learn more and applyUp to £5,000
Established charities, voluntary-led organisations and projects based or delivering in the Great Aycliffe area that have an incredible impact in their community, enabling them to continue their work and make vital improvements to their service.
Learn more and applyUp to £5,000
This programme aims to support local communities who use sport and physical activity to raise awareness, tackle mental health stigma, and support men with mental or physical health problems to become more active.
Learn more and applyUp to £10,000
The Let’s Create Jubilee Fund will support voluntary and community groups to develop creative and cultural activities as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022. The fund has been created by Arts Council England (ACE) with funds from the National Lottery.
Learn more and applyUp to £10,000
This fund will provide grants for voluntary organisations and community groups that are providing mental health and wellbeing support to the population of County Durham. The funding has been provided through the Durham and Tees Valley Mental Health and Learning Disability Partnership.
Learn more and applyUp to £25,000
This fund will provide grants for voluntary organisations and community groups that are providing mental health and wellbeing support to the population of County Durham. The funding has been provided through the Durham and Tees Valley Mental Health and Learning Disability Partnership.
Learn more and applyUp to £1,000
Funding available for projects in County Durham that are meeting immediate needs and combatting poverty this winter. Established charities, voluntary-led organisations and projects can apply for existing or new activities that are rooted in their local communities.
Learn more and applyUp to £1,000
Emergency Funding available for groups who are working in their local communities with those affected by Storm Arwen to offer food, support and heating.
Learn more and applyUp to £10,000
The Stanley Community Fund provides grants to support charities, voluntary-led organisations and projects that have an impact in their community, enabling them to continue their work and improve the lives of local people, within the boundaries of the Stanley Parish Wards. Grants between £2000 and £10,000 are available to community and voluntary organisations for non-statutory purposes only.
Learn more and applyUp to £5,000
The aim of the Volunteer Support Fund is to support and strengthen voluntary and community organisations in County Durham in the aftermath of Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020 and 2021, by providing funding that supports, increases and improves volunteering or helps the development of volunteering within groups.
Learn more and applyUp to £5,000
The Fund awards grants to support community and voluntary groups and individuals, particularly those within the Three Towns Partnership geographical area, involved in sport and cultural activities.
Learn more and applyUp to £10,000
Wind Farm Community Benefit funds support local community groups, voluntary organisations and environmental projects within the boundaries of wind farms sited across County Durham. Please check to see if you are in an eligible area.
Learn more and applyUp to £2,000
The Fund awards grants to small, locally-based voluntary and community groups and registered charities that primarily benefit local people in the ex-districts of Teesdale and Wear Valley (but excluding the area of Shildon).
Learn more and applyUp to £5,000
To provide funding for capital items, improvements to community buildings, biodiversity and habitat conservation projects, energy conservation and revenue for community based or led projects.
Learn more and apply
County Durham Community Foundation