The Fore provides unrestricted funding and strategic support to small charities and social enterprises across the UK. The programme is designed to help organisations grow, strengthen and become more sustainable by investing in their long-term development.
Unlike many funders, The Fore focuses on transformational impact at an organisational level, rather than funding individual projects.
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About The Fore
The Fore is a UK-based funder supporting early-stage charities and social enterprises with strong leadership and potential for growth. The organisation views its grants as investments in the organisations themselves, helping them take a significant step forward in their development.
Funding is complemented by non-financial support, including access to skilled professionals, training workshops and peer networks.
How Much Funding Is Available
- Up to £45,000
- Typically awarded over 1 to 3 years
Funding is unrestricted, meaning it can be used for:
- Core costs such as salaries and overheads
- Capacity building and organisational development
- Systems, infrastructure or operational improvements
- Growth and scaling activities
The focus is on enabling meaningful, long-term change within the organisation.
What the Fund Supports
The Fore supports organisations looking to achieve a clear step change in their work.
Funding can help organisations:
- Grow their reach or services
- Improve sustainability and resilience
- Build internal capacity and systems
- Increase efficiency or effectiveness
- Expand into new areas or beneficiary groups
The fund supports a wide range of sectors, including health, education, employability, homelessness, environment, youth work and more.
Who Is Eligible
To apply, organisations must:
- Be a UK-based charity or social enterprise
- Have an annual income under £500,000
- Be able to demonstrate strong leadership and potential for growth
Eligible structures include:
- Registered charities and CIOs
- CICs limited by guarantee
- Community Benefit Societies
- Social enterprises
The Fore is particularly interested in grassroots organisations working with underserved communities.
Application Process
The Fore runs three funding rounds per year (Spring, Summer and Autumn).
The process is structured but intentionally lightweight:
Step 1 – Registration
- Open for one week at the start of each round
- Takes around 2–3 minutes to complete
- Organisations register their interest online
- Places are limited and allocated at random if oversubscribed
Step 2 – Full Application (Stage 1)
- Invited applicants have around 3 weeks to submit
- Application includes:
- A short set of factual questions
- A 3-page application document
- Financial information and accounts
Step 3 – Assessment (Stage 2)
- Around 30% of applicants are longlisted
- Invited to an online “ideas testing” meeting with a consultant
Step 4 – Final Decision (Stage 3)
- Shortlisted applications are reviewed by funding panels
- Panels include sector leaders and experienced professionals
Step 5 – Outcomes
- Decisions typically announced within 12 weeks of the application deadline
- All applicants receive feedback
Key Dates Example (Summer 2026 Round)
- Registration: 25 March – 1 April 2026
- Application deadline (Stage 1): 27 April 2026
- Decisions: July 2026
What Makes The Fore Different
The Fore stands out because:
- Funding is unrestricted and flexible
- Focus is on organisational growth, not just projects
- Application process is designed to be lightweight
- All applicants receive feedback
- Additional support is provided beyond funding
The randomised registration stage also helps create a more accessible entry point for smaller organisations.
Is This Right for Your Organisation
If your organisation is a small UK charity or social enterprise looking to grow, improve sustainability or strengthen internal capacity, The Fore could be a strong fit.
This fund is particularly suited to organisations ready to take a meaningful step forward — whether that’s scaling services, improving systems or building long-term resilience.
