Apply for a grant
We are excited to receive your grant application, and we pride ourselves on building relationships with the charities we work with.
Our Application process
Our Application Process
At Focus Foundation, we’re committed to making our grants process straightforward, transparent, and time efficient. Our friendly team is here to support you every step of the way, offering a personal touch throughout your application journey.
All applications must be submitted via our online portal, but before you begin, we recommend reviewing our eligibility criteria and FAQs.
If you still have questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’re always happy to help.
To get started, you’ll need to register for an account. This allows you to save, edit, and return to your application at any time.
The first step is to complete a short ‘Expression of Interest’ form. This helps us manage resources effectively and should take around 20 minutes to complete. You’ll receive a response within one month.
If your project aligns with our funding objectives, you’ll be invited to submit a ‘Full Grant Application’. This form takes approximately 2–3 hours to complete, and we aim to respond within 8 weeks. If successful, your application will be scheduled for review at the following Grant Committee Meeting (approximate dates can be found here Grant FAQ’s | Focus Foundation).
We are happy to provide feedback on every application, regardless of the outcome. If your application isn’t successful, we may still be able to support you, whether by connecting you with other not-for-profit organisations, offering volunteer assistance, or sharing resources to help your charity grow and thrive.
Small Grants Programme
If you’re a certified charity partner, meaning you’ve previously received a grant and worked with us, you may be eligible for our Small Grants Programme.
These grants are designed to be quick and accessible, typically funding tangible items for under £1,000, with a turnaround time of approximately 4 weeks. Please note, this programme is invite-only.
If you’d like to learn more or explore whether your organisation might qualify, feel free to email us at grants@focusfoundation.org.uk, we’d love to hear from you.
Start a new application or continue where you left off
Start a new grant application
Apply for a rapid response grant NOW by clicking the link below, where you will be taken to our online portal.
Continue your application
Already started an application? Click the link below to continue where you left off.
Our applications are currently closed
We only accept applications via our online portal.
At this time, our application portal remains closed.
This temporary closure will allow us to dedicate the necessary time and attention to thoroughly review each grant application currently in our queue.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work diligently to ensure every submission receives the care it deserves.
If you have created an account and begun an application, unfortunately you will not be able to continue with that application.
We’re in the process of launching our new grants process, which will begin with an Expression of Interest form as the first step in requesting funding from the Foundation.
We appreciate your patience and encourage you to check back soon. The portal will reopen for Expressions of Interest as soon as possible.
Continue your application
Already started an application? Click the link below to continue where you left off.
Grant criteria
Please read the criteria below, before applying for a grant.
- The charity or community group should primarily support one of our three core pillars.
- Charitable or community-based projects should be located in the same county as one of the Focus Group offices.
- The charity or community group needs to have an annual income of less than £1m.
- Have core running costs of less than 35% (this does not include professional costs).
- The grant should be for a tangible project with clear and measurable benefits.
- We do not provide part funding for projects.
The Charity Grant Committee meet four times a year to review grant applications, but dates may vary. Typically, they are mid-March, mid-June, mid-September and mid-November.
Still unsure about applying for a grant?
Need support with applying for your grant or have any further questions. Contact us for support and one of our team will be in touch to support your with your enquiry
Who we primarily support
We primarily support projects that fall under the themes below.
Underprivileged children and young people
Helping socially and economically disadvantaged children and young people thrive.
Mental health charities and initiatives
Funding and supporting impactful mental health charities and initiatives.
Charitable or community projects
Backing charitable and community projects near Focus Group’s regional offices across the UK.
Stories of successful grants in the community
Thanks to the ongoing generosity of our incredible donors and the dedication of our passionate fundraisers, we’ve reached remarkable milestones in supporting charities across the UK.
