Grants up to £1,000 are available for community organisations in the UK and Ireland that are taking action for a just, equitable and sustainable world.
Philanthropic Community Benefit Society The Edge Fund supports endeavours to achieve social, economic and environmental justice and to end imbalances in wealth and power. It aims to be a resource for very small organisations with an annual income of £25,000 or less that struggle to secure funding from other sources and supports those taking action for a just, equitable and sustainable world (please note that registered charities, CICs and social enterprises are rarely funded, but can refer to the list of other grant providers on the Fund’s website that have comparable funding priorities).
Work should challenge abuses of power and aim to bring an end to the systems that cause injustice. This could be the economic system, political system, or any system that discriminates against people based on their identity or background, such as class, ability, gender, race, nationality, religion, sexuality, age or other factors. It also gives those it aims to help a say in where the money goes. The Fund is open to all groups that are working towards systemic change, and whose work is in line with Edge Fund's values.
Grants are available for:
- All types of non-profit organisations, including groups that are not formally registered.
- Groups based in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England.
- Groups who have a religious purpose are welcome to apply, but financial support for any activity, initiative or project where the primary aim is to promote religion cannot be funded.
- Smaller groups that struggle to get funding elsewhere, particularly if other funders might consider them to be too radical. The average income of groups funded is approximately £2,500.
- Work addressing issues facing a particular community that is led by that community, and
- Work that creates long-term change in society by addressing the causes of injustice and inequality.
Applicants - who do not need to be a formally constituted group to be able to apply - that meet the following criteria below may apply for a grant of up to £1,000. Around 40 applicants are expected to be funded. There is no matched funding requirement.
- A not-for-profit organisation.
- Addressing issues facing a particular community (for example racism) to be led by that community (for example people of African and Asian heritage), and
- Small groups with a small annual income that struggle to get funding elsewhere. (To date, funding has not been awarded to any group with an annual income of more than £20,000.)
Further information, guidance and details about how to apply is available on the Edge Fund’s website.
The Fund has an annual application round.