Grant Genies For Small Businesses

Grants are like the genies of the start-up world. They are one of the most generous forms of funding available, and are usually well suited to social-impact driven start-ups. The key issue is knowing where to go and the time needed to spend on grant applications. Grants can often be difficult to sniff out, as they’re not as heavily marketed or publicised as some of their Glossier venture capital counterparts.

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Grants are unlikely to fuel you forever, but you should maximise their non-dilutive benefit in the early stages of your business before having to give away equity when you raise from traditional investors. As they often take little from you in the form of either debt or equity, they’re one of the best launch pads available for getting going. The best places to start are local and government websites, as well as social enterprise resources, accelerators and communities. If your start-up is based in a university or a research lab, there’s also a high chance that there will be developmental grant funding available.

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NESTA

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Nesta is an innovation foundation. For them, innovation means turning bold ideas into reality and changing lives for the better. They use their expertise, skills and funding in areas where there are big challenges facing society. The disruption to ‘business as usual’ has seen thousands of individuals and organisations suffer financially. Many voluntary organisations delivering services on the frontline are adapting to increasing demands, working tirelessly to respond to the people most in need.

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Whilst globally, there have been appeals for new ideas to help mitigate the impact of the pandemic, from creative solutions that can ease loneliness to online resources that support learners at home. This list provides a number of funding opportunities for organisations that have suffered as a result of COVID-19 or for those with new ideas to help respond to the crisis.

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Collective intelligence isn’t inherently new. For centuries, humans have been finding ways to work together and bring together disparate information. In the digital age, however, such collective intelligence efforts have exploded. NESTA want to fund practical experiments that help generate evidence on the best approaches to designing and employing collective intelligence to solve social challenges.

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Innovate UK

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You can search for industry specific government grants via the UK’s Innovation Agency. It provides money and support to organisations to make new products and services. It is a non-departmental public body operating at arm's length from the Government as part of the United Kingdom Research and Innovation organisation. You can also search via location.

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The Prince’s Trust

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Find out everything you need to know to make your business a success through a short course in a centre near you. Then create your business plan with the support of a mentor, as well as learning more about potential opportunities for funding for those aged 30 and below.

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The LEP Network

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Local growth hubs can provide the support and guidance your small business is looking for in order to grow, with over 38 different options around the UK. The network of 38 Growth Hubs are local public/private sector partnerships led by the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). They join up national and local business support so it is easy for businesses to find the help they need.

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Bridge India UK

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A community grants programme that focuses on 3 streams of activity: strengthening communities, promoting culture and building future leaders. The grants are aimed at projects led by young people aged 16-24 in England and Wales. Priority will go to those individuals or organisations that can evidence that they can deliver significant impact locally. Geographically, the fund covers England and Wales.

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Funding is available to continue existing work, start or extend projects tackling emerging needs, at three levels: £100, £500 or £1,000. Organisations must demonstrate how their work will benefit one of the fund’s key themes. Despite making an immense contribution to the British economy, arts funding has been consistency cut over the last decade. During the pandemic, as cinemas, theatres and other venues closed, opportunities for artists have significantly reduced, these grants therefore actively seek those looking to promote such a space.

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Trust For London

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While they do not support individuals, Trust for London provide funding for organisations undertaking charitable activities. This may be for a specific project or on-going costs and includes staff salaries and overheads. They encourage organisations to include a reasonable amount of core costs to cover their overheads, and any access costs required to overcome barriers to participation by Deaf and Disabled people, when they apply for funding.

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The majority of the work they support is solely focussed on London. However, they are also interested in work that has the potential to influence national policy and practice, provided that a strong case is made as to how Londoners would benefit. In such cases they would fund a proportion of this work.

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Funding My Community

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My Community brings you the latest tools, tips and ideas to help make your community a brilliant place to live. Finding funding to properly run your services, cover core costs, train your staff and volunteers, and become a sustainable organisation is one of the biggest challenges facing any charity or non-profit organisation.

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The £150m Community Ownership Fund was announced in the March 2021 budget as a key part of the funding package put forward by the government to support the levelling up agenda. The priorities for the first round are to invest in projects which are ready to access capital funding and complete their projects within 6 months. This bidding round will be most suitable for community groups who have done preliminary work and have a viable business plan to take ownership of the local asset or amenity at risk.

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There are more types of funding available today than ever before (anecdotally far more in the US than EU), with something to suit everyone at every stage of growth. Where there is a will there is a way, and fuelling your next side hustle may turn out to be even more varied and creative than you initially anticipated.

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