Apply for a Grant

Grants

MK Community Foundation’s grant making supports Milton Keynes to grow and thrive, through strong communities, a healthy voluntary sector and engaged individuals. Projects may benefit Milton Keynes generally, individuals through our bursary programme; individual estates or areas of need as well as emergency responses.

We aim to fund a wide range of non-profit organisations working to create social change across all 12 Vital Signs thematic areas: Strong Communities, Disadvantage and Poverty, Diversity, Health and Wellbeing, Crime and Safety, Housing, Arts and Heritage, the Local Environment, Economy, Transport, Work, and Education. We welcome applications that respond to issues raised in the Vital Signs report

We particularly welcome applications from organisations looking to address new, emerging, and/or unmet needs, those working collaboratively or in partnership, and/or those working to improve the efficiency and capacity of the local voluntary sector. We look to support projects that are impact-focussed and promote equality, diversity and inclusion and are creative, where organisations have a clear understanding of the difference they will make.

You can read our full grants policy and eligibility criteria HERE. 

Strategic Recovery Programme

Since the beginning of the COVID19 pandemic MK Community Foundation launched an emergency appeal to support the local Voluntary, Community and Cultural sector (VCCS) to respond and support the most vulnerable people in our society especially those adversely effected by the virus. During the emergency phase of the grant programme, the Community Foundation has supported grants to the value of over £1,000,000.

It is now essential that MK Community Foundation provides sustainable funding through the COVID-19 MK Recovery Fund to support the future sustainability of organisations and adapting to new ways of providing services.

Read our COVID-19 MK Strategic Recovery Grant Policy

Apply for a grant through our Strategic Recovery Programme HERE

Our main Grant Programmes that run throughout the year are:

Small Grants - up to £3,000

Community Grants – up to £10,000

Large Strategic Grants - multi year project

Transformation Grants - one-off strategic funding

Deadline dates -  

Small Grants (Deadline on the last working Friday of each month 12pm (Midday) - turnaround 2-3 week from the date of deadline)

Community grants 12pm (Midday) on below dates - (turnaround 7-8 week from the date of deadline)

January 8th 2021

March 19th 2021

June 18th 2021

September 24th 2021

December 31st 2021

Large Strategic Grants 12pm (Midday) on below dates -

Expression of interest by May 16th 2021

Closing date for shortlisted application - July 11th  2021

Applications and expressions of interest for our Large Strategic Grant programme will need to meet the criteria for our Margaret Powell Fund. 

The criteria of which is: 

To fund voluntary & community groups delivering projects that
- benefit elderly people
- people with disabilities
- ideally organisations should seek to encourage integration & social cohesion
- help those of all ages suffering mental health illnesses.

Transformation Grants 12pm (Midday) on below dates -

Round 1

Expression of interest by February 8th 2021

Closing date  - April 16th 2021

Round 2

Expression of interest by August 27th 2021

Closing date - October 15th 2021

Other grants programmes available at the minute are our: 

Made By Sport - ‘Clubs In Crisis’ fund 

Applying for a grant

All applications are via an online application form only.

However we do have a PDF copy of the questions we ask in the application forms for your reference.

PDF Small Grant Questions

PDF Community Grant Questions

Should you have any accessibility issues with accessing the forms, please get in touch with us either at info@mkcommunityfoundation.co.uk or on 01908 690 276.

Should you have any further queries regarding our grant programme or processes please do get in touch with the Philanthropy Team –01908 690 276 

You can access our FAQ page here