The Forte Charitable Foundation provides grants to small and medium-sized charities working to address disadvantage and deprivation across the UK. The Foundation focuses on frontline organisations delivering practical support to people facing hardship in their local communities.
It has two main programmes; Small Grants and Major Grants. The Foundation provides funding for charities helping vulnerable individuals and families through community support and family support services.
The Foundation prioritises organisations with strong local connections and a proven track record of addressing issues linked to poverty, unemployment, poor housing and social exclusion.
About the Forte Charitable Foundation
The Forte Charitable Foundation (formerly Trusthouse Charitable Foundation) distributes around £2.5 million each year in grants to charities working in areas of significant deprivation across the UK.
Funding focuses on strengthening disadvantaged communities and supporting small local organisations that are embedded in the areas they serve.
Small Grants Programme
The Small Grants programme provides funding for charities delivering community support activities that directly help people in need.
Grants range from £2,000 to £10,000 for a single year and can be used for core costs, salaries, running costs or project delivery.
Applicants can request funding for up to 50 percent of the total project or running costs.
Examples of supported work include:
- Advice and guidance services
- Community transport schemes
- Employability training and volunteering programmes
- Foodbanks that help people move out of crisis
- Intergenerational projects and community cohesion activities
- Befriending schemes and social support initiatives
To apply for a Small Grant, organisations must:
- Have an annual income of £250,000 or less
- Be based in areas of high deprivation
- Demonstrate strong community links and local impact
For urban areas, the organisation’s postcode must fall within the most deprived 15 percent of the Index of Multiple Deprivation. For rural areas, the requirement is the most deprived 50 percent.
Major Grants Programme
The Major Grants programme provides larger awards for organisations delivering family support services in disadvantaged communities.
Funding includes:
- Single-year grants between £10,000 and £50,000
- Multi-year grants up to £100,000 over three years
These grants support work such as:
- Early intervention for families
- Support for families coping with addiction
- Support for prisoners’ families
- Community programmes improving family stability and wellbeing
Organisations applying for Major Grants must have an annual income of £500,000 or less and operate in areas experiencing significant deprivation.
Funding can support core costs, salaries, running costs or project delivery, but requests cannot exceed 50 percent of the total project cost.
Who Is Eligible
Eligible applicants include charitable organisations and voluntary sector groups working in the UK.
Organisations must:
- Be a registered charity or not-for-profit organisation
- Have a demonstrable track record of delivering successful work locally
- Operate in areas experiencing significant deprivation
- Have annual income within the programme limits
The Foundation does not fund Community Interest Companies (CICs), statutory services, individuals, universities or organisations without annual accounts.
What the Foundation Does Not Fund
The Foundation does not support:
- Capital projects
- Environmental or animal welfare projects
- Universities or statutory services
- Organisations with income above programme limits
- Newly established organisations without accounts
The Foundation also prioritises frontline delivery organisations rather than umbrella bodies or grant-making organisations.
Application Process
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with no fixed deadlines.
Small Grants applications are typically decided within around eight weeks of submission. Major Grants are considered at quarterly Grants Committee meetings held in January, April, July and October.
Organisations can only apply for one grant at a time.
Is This Right for Your Organisation
If your charity is delivering frontline services in communities experiencing significant deprivation and you are seeking funding for core costs, staff or service delivery, the Forte Charitable Foundation could be a strong fit.
The Small Grants programme is particularly suited to grassroots organisations providing community support, while the Major Grants programme supports more established charities delivering family support services at a larger scale.
Together, these programmes provide a valuable source of funding for organisations working to improve the lives of people facing disadvantage across the UK.
