The Fore

Unrestricted grants are available to enable small charities in the UK to grow, strengthen or become more efficient or resilient.

Background

The Fore is the only open-access funder in the UK offering development funding and strategic support to early-stage charities and social enterprises.

Objectives of Fund

The Fore provides unrestricted grants to small charities and social enterprises based in the UK. 

The funding is intended to have a transformational impact on the organisations being supported by unlocking significant development in areas such as sustainability, growth, capability, efficiency, or other major steps forward. 

There is a particular interest in supporting grassroots organisations working with underserved communities. The Fore views its grants as investments in the organisations it supports, rather than funding specific projects only. 

The Fore funds work across the following charitable sectors: 

• Arts and culture

• Disability

• Economic development and employability

• Environment

• Health and wellbeing

• Housing and homelessness

• Human rights, law and justice

• Poverty and disadvantage

• Sport

• Women and girls

• Youth and education.

Previous Success

Recently supported charities and social enterprises include: 

• Embracing Arts are bringing the magic of theatre to children with serious health or additional learning needs.

• DataKind UK are helping charities use their data to deliver better services and demonstrate impact.

• Men Who Talk are creating online spaces for men to talk so they do not have to face mental health challenges alone.

• Feeding Futures are helping local communities in Kenya set up school meal programmes that last.

• Darkside Rising CIC are opening up health and fitness to women who have traditionally been left out.

• Next Chapter Scotland SCIO are supporting people across Scotland to move forward after being affected by the criminal justice system (CJS).

Value Notes

Grants of up to £45,000 over one to three years are available. 

In addition, pro-bono support from professionals in areas like strategy, HR, and IT, online training workshops, and networking opportunities are available.

Who Can Apply

Applications are accepted from the following types of organisation with an annual revenue of less than £500,000 in the previous completed financial year: 

• Registered charities (including those constituted as charitable trusts, charitable unincorporated associations, charitable incorporated organisations and charitable companies limited by guarantee).

• Community Interest Companies (CICs) limited by guarantee.

• Community Benefit Societies that are either Charitable CBSs or non-charitable CBSs with an asset lock.

• Social enterprises.

Restrictions

The following are not eligible for funding: 

• CICs limited by shares.

• Non charitable CBSs that do not have an asset lock

• Organisations with an annual income of more than £500,000 in the previous completed financial year.

Eligible Expenditure

The funding is intended to help strengthen the organisation internally and help it to take the next step forward in its growth or sustainability. 

This unrestricted funding can be used for any purpose, including core costs and capital funding. 

The grant could help, for example, an organisation grow, increase internal capacity, serve new beneficiary groups, become more sustainable or more efficient, etc. 

Applications for core costs must show how the funding will move the organisation forward rather than enabling ‘business as usual’.

The registration period for Summer 2026 will be open from 25 March (12 noon) to 1 April 2026 (12 noon).