Grants for Good
Supporting small organisations.
Grants for Good is funded by the John Good Group and is designed to direct funding only to small and growing local charities, voluntary groups or social enterprises that are making a big impact on communities, people or the environment. To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be a local community group, charity, voluntary group or social enterprise that has a positive impact on communities, people or the environment.
- Have an average income of less than £50,000 in the last 12 months.
- Have a bank account in the organisation’s name.
An easy applications process.
We appreciate that it can be really hard work and a steep learning curve when you are starting out a new charity or project. A funder that is right for you can often be difficult to find and manage due to demanding applications processes and inflexible funding restrictions.
This programme, funded by the John Good Group, offers unrestricted funds that you can use for any of your organisation’s costs, including core running costs, and our applications process is a short and as simple as possible, which is great for those looking to make their first steps into applying for their first funding opportunity. We do get a lot of applications though – so please read though our advice section – which will help you give your application the best chance of being shortlisted.
How it works
The Grants for Good Fund awards £60,000 of funding annually between twenty charitable organisations. The applications cycle runs quarterly, meaning every three months, we will share £15,000 between five shortlisted projects.
Shortlisted projects will receive one of the following amounts, dependant on the result of John Good Group’s employee vote:
1st
PLACE
£5,000
2nd
PLACE
£3,500
3rd
PLACE
£2,500
4th & 5th
PLACE
£2,000
When is it awarded?
Charities and organisations are welcome to apply all year around – and your application will be considered in the next funding round. Our annual cycle always looks like this:
16 December – 15 March
Applications for funding awarded in May
16 March – 15 June
Applications for funding awarded in August
16 June – 15 September
Applications for funding awarded in November
16 September – 15 December
Applications for funding awarded in February
Please note – we receive a lot of applications, and it can take our small team a long time to process these, so we cannot commit to a specific date the funding will be awarded, but we aim to do this within three months of the deadline for each round.
Step 1: Longlisting
At the end of each applications window, the Grants for Good panel process applications into a longlist. Longlisted organisations will be contacted for the next stage of the process.
At this stage we get to know your organisation a little better by approaching your named referee for a reference, holding a very informal, short meeting with you (usually by video call) to discuss your project further, and conducting our due diligence checks.
Step 2: Shortlisting
The panel will decide on the final five projects to receive a share of £15,000. At this point we will let you know you have successfully made the shortlist and will be awarded an amount between £2,000 and £5,000.
If you did not make our shortlist – we will email you to let you know. You will not need to re-apply, as your application will still be considered in future rounds. However, you may apply again later if your project requirements change, and you are still eligible.
Step 3: Member Voting
We will use all the information we have gathered on your project to build a feature page on our website (which we will send to you for approval), which will be shared with employees of the John Good Group who will then vote for their favourite. Voting takes place internally at the John Good Group and the results will not be visible until the end of the vote.
Step 4: Results
As soon as the vote closes, we will let you know the outcome of the vote and transfer your funding award. The Foundation and the John Good Group will also announce the shortlist and winners on their public platforms.
Step 5: After the results
After the results have been announced – your project page will remain on the Grants for Good section of our website. We will contact you a few times in the years following your funding award to check on the progress and impact your project is making. This helps us measure the impact of our funding, and we also love to help you to share any good news from your organisation.
Making the most of your application
Whilst applying is a quick and easy process – you will still need to make your application stand out amongst the many applications we receive for every round. Here are some tips from us for how you can make your application shine:
Demonstrate innovation
We know that the emerging needs of a community begin to be addressed by grassroots initiatives like yours, the people who are close to the issue and know how to help. A project that is being proactive in finding new and innovative ways to solve problems is more likely to stand out and be shortlisted.
Prove scalability
One of the major reasons we target funding at small charities is because of the potential they have to grow their impact. We are as excited about your big aims as you are, and we want to help you get started on that path. Tell us what your aims are and prove to us that there is a need for your charity to grow, and that will help push you up the shortlist.
Show strong leadership
Don’t be afraid to tell us exactly why you personally are going to make a success of your project. Maybe you have a deep personal reason for starting out this project, or maybe you have a wealth of experience that makes you very effective at what you are doing. Whatever it is, don’t be shy, let us know. When we can see the leadership of an organisation is highly effective, your application is more likely to be shortlisted.
Tell a compelling story
The reasons behind forming a small charity are often based on very authentic personal experiences. Do not underestimate the power of your own story. When we can see the genuine reasons a charity began and how things have developed from that to where you are now, we can see how powerful your cause is and you are more likely to get shortlisted.
Highlight the impact
Many funders will ask for a lot of detail about impact in their application processes. The reason for this is that they have to prove the return they get on their investment. Whilst complicated impact statistics are not required for Grants for Good – the more clearly we can see what the outcomes will be from receiving the grant, the more likely your project is to be shortlisted. Be as specific as you can, and try to give actual amounts that relate to the funding amounts we award (£2,000 – £5,000). For example, if helping one person might cost £100, you could help 20 people with our smallest grant or 50 with our largest.
Ready to apply?
Please click the button to head over to our online application form! Applications cannot be saved and returned to later – so please make sure you are ready to complete it in one go. You will be sent a copy of your application, and any updates using the email address you give us.
Grants for Good Projects
Youngwilders
Set up by young people, for young people, Youngwilders is a non-profit organisation focused on accelerating the rewilding of the UK and educating and energising a new generation of environmentalists.
YourStance
YourStance are working to prevent deaths and life-changing injuries in young people who are at risk of being a victim of violence, by teaching them lifesaving “zero-responder” skills. Through a large team of volunteer medical professionals, they educate young people to enable them to respond with first aid before
Team 1C
Team 1C started off as a group of parents/carers of children with CHD (congenital heart defects) gathering on Ward 1C at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool. Recognising how much help was needed to support children and their families both at home and abroad, they have spent the last
Taking Baby Steps
Taking Baby Steps is a brand-new Community Interest Company (CIC), formed by experienced health specialists Sue and Jane to provide support to families who experience miscarriage, stillbirth, and neonatal death and/or birth trauma with talking therapy sessions. They set up their organisation to make this much-needed and helpful therapy
BillyChip
The BillyChip is an alternative to cash that allows the public to give direct donations to rough sleepers and homeless people without the fear of their donation being misused for drugs or alcohol. They can be redeemed in coffee shops and takeaways for the minimum of a hot or
Sanitree
Sanitree is a social enterprise based across Scotland and India. Not only are they making menstruation more sustainable by manufacturing and selling reusable pads, they are also providing employment for women in Jaipur, India, who make the pads. They also have an outreach programme helping girls in Rajasthan to
UK Wild Otter Trust
The UK Wild Otter Trust is a Devon-based charity dedicated to protecting and promoting a positive understanding of the European Otter and its conservation. As well as rescuing and rehabilitating otters from all over the UK, they also raise awareness, educate and campaign to help ensure the welfare and conservation
9Trees CIC
As an average UK citizen we each need to plant nine trees every year to balance our carbon consumption. 9Trees’ main aim is to improve UK biodiversity and mental health through access to woodlands as well as balancing carbon footprints for businesses and individuals. Their model has the potential
Access the Dales
Access the Dales is a newly formed charity providing free wheelchairs to help more people access walks across the Dales. Founded by a teacher from Leeds and her husband – a couple who simply wanted to keep doing what they loved after Debbie became a wheelchair user – they
Men in Sheds (Hull)
Men in Sheds (Hull) is a thriving charity that reduces social isolation for older men in the Hull area. The charity provides new personal connections, a positive focus, and a foundation from which to improve physical and mental health. In doing so, they also help their wider community, regularly
FAQs
Projects that apply for Grants for Good are always unique projects with their own set of circumstances – so we know you will probably have some questions! We’ve tried to answer the questions we get most often below, but if you still don’t have your answer, please email us on info@matthewgoodfoundation.org
Have you received my application?
You should receive an automated email after submitting your application, confirming that your application has been recorded in our system. Please make sure you check your junk folder before getting in touch. If for any reason you did not receive the email, please email us letting us know when you applied and we will let you know if we received your application.
Can I get a copy of my application?
A copy of your application will be sent to you in your automatic confirmation email.
What is the result of my application?
We will email all applicants to let them know the result of your application. We aim to do this within two months of each deadline – but it can sometimes take our small team a little longer. Please make sure you have checked which funding round your application has gone into and when results are predicted by reading the “when is it awarded” section above.
Can I apply again if unsuccessful?
We receive hundreds of applications in each round, and many fantastic projects don’t make our shortlist. However, all applications from eligible organisations will remain in our applications pool and may be shortlisted on a future round, so you do not need to reapply. The only time we recommend reapplying is if the needs of your project change significantly and you would like us to consider your application with the new information.
Does my organisation have to be a registered charity?
Whilst it is really helpful to be a registered charity, we know that organisations like yours are at the start of their journey or may not be in a position to register. Unregistered organisations are very welcome to apply so long as they meet all our criteria. You must also have a bank account in the name of your organisation as we cannot provide funds to personal accounts.
Are CICs eligible?
Yes, Community Interest Companies are welcome to apply for Grants for Good.
Do you make grants to individuals?
Sorry, we do not make grants to individuals. Your application must be on behalf of a community group, organisation or charity.
Do I need a bank account?
Yes, you must have a bank account in the name of your organisation. We cannot provide funds to personal accounts.
Is there any type of organisation that is not eligible?
Grants for Good does not grant funds to:
- Individuals
- Activities promoting political or religious beliefs.
- Sponsorship / fundraising events
- Amateur or private sports clubs
- Organisations with an income of more than £50,000 in the last 12 months
Do you support projects outside of the UK?
Yes, we actively encourage applications for UK registered charities that mare making a difference to people and planet with overseas operations.
How can I increase my chances of being shortlisted?
Firstly, make sure you have read all our eligibility criteria and can provide the evidence required. Secondly, read our “make the most of your application” section for tips on how to make your application stand out. Finally, you may wish to look at some of our previous shortlisted organisations to get an idea of what a successful project looks like.