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.
2017- 2018 was a record-breaking year, during which County Durham Community Foundation awarded the highest amount of grants to over 1500 groups and individuals totalling over £5 million.
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
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
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
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 £2,000
To support organisations seeking to develop and deliver high quality cultural experiences, which increase participation in the arts.
Learn more and applyUp to £2,000
The aim of the Community Sports Club Small Grant Scheme is to support growth and strengthen the sustainability of Community Sports Clubs currently registered with Club Durham.
Learn more and applyUp to £10,000
The aim of the NHS Health Improvement Fund is to support general health and wellbeing projects that enhance the work of the NHS in County Durham and Darlington. It will consider funding work that is additional to that which would normally be expected to be provided from revenue-funded health and social care expenditure.
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 £2,000
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. Round 2 of the ESF Community Grants Programme will open for applications in early December.
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
The #iwill Fund looks to support social action activities that create opportunities for young people aged 10-20 to develop their character and their capacity to significantly contribute to their community. Social action involves activities such as campaigning, fundraising and volunteering and has huge potential to create enjoyable opportunities and skills development for young people, and in turn benefit the local people and places.
Learn more and applyUp to £50,000
Charities, Community Land Trusts and housing co-operatives can apply for grants of between £10,000 and £50,000 to make a change in their local area. Please see the criteria for more information.
Learn more and applyUp to £5,000
The DAYCO Fund aims to provide grants to voluntary youth and community organisations located in County Durham who are looking to promote development and long term-sustainability within their organisation. The funding is not available in Darlington.
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 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 applyBetween £5,000 - £10,000
The Tampon Tax Community Fund aims to support women who are most marginalised to overcome barriers that prevent them from fulfilling their potential. The programme will benefit women and girls, investing in a wide variety of projects, that make a tangible and long-term difference to health, well-being, confidence and social/economic activity, as well as addressing equality gaps.
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 £1,000
The winter months can be a challenging time for many people. The impact of bad weather is often worse for the most vulnerable people in our communities. The aim of the Winter Warmth Fund is to reduce the impact of cold weather on those who are vulnerable and to help people have a better winter, and to support groups who are reaching out to those hit hardest by the winter by changing things for the better.
Learn more and apply
CDCF