Fundraising news, upcoming training opportunities and the latest funds!
Hello Fundraisers,
Welcome to the April edition of Voluntary Support's Fundraising newsletter!
We've gathered a range of news, resources, training opportunities, and new funding options to help you plan ahead. Take a look below to find out what's included in this month's edition:
Top stories:
Telling Your Story Online – A Sneak Peek at our upcoming Digital Fundraising Training
Nominate Your Fundraisers for the Runnymede & Spelthorne Volunteer Awards 2025
Fundraising News:
- Spring Statement 2025: What it means for charities
- Charities urged to provide more support to fundraisers
- UK Giving Report 2025: Trends in Giving
- JustGiving: 25 Years of Giving Report
- Mobile Giving Continued to Rise in 2024
- Fundraising Regulator launches new digital badge
Training & Events:
- Digital Fundraising Training
- Grants & Trusts Fundraising Applications Training
New Funds: We've found a variety of new funds for you to take a look at. You can see the list of funds below.
If you require any support with fundraising, please get in touch with Alison at: alison@voluntarysupport.org.uk.
Kind regards,
Alison Morey
Telling Your Story Online – A Sneak Peek at our upcoming Digital Fundraising Training
Next month, we're hosting our Digital Fundraising Training session to help local organisations strengthen their online presence and raise more funds. One of the key elements we'll explore is the role of storytelling in digital fundraising.
A compelling story helps your audience connect emotionally with your cause. Focus on the people you support, not your organisation. Share their challenges, show how your work helps, and make sure there’s a clear and simple call to action. Stories don’t just inspire, they turn readers into donors.
But storytelling is only the beginning. To build a successful digital campaign, you’ll need to think about your audience, set clear goals, choose the right digital channels, and create a plan for ongoing content. Your stories become the building blocks of a strategy that raises your profile and drives support.
We'll be covering all of this (and more!) in the full training. To read the full article, click here or the button below. You can also find out more information and book your place onto our upcoming Digital Fundraising training by clicking here or below.
Nominate Your Fundraisers for the Runnymede & Spelthorne Volunteer Awards 2025
Fundraisers play a vital role in the success of local charities and community groups, helping to secure the resources that make real change possible. Whether through sponsored challenges, creative events or grassroots campaigns, their dedication powers so much of the work happening across North Surrey.
Now’s your chance to celebrate their impact.
Nominations are open for the Runnymede & Spelthorne Volunteer Awards 2025, taking place on 10 June at Royal Holloway, University of London. Among the award categories is Fundraiser of the Year, recognising individuals or teams whose passion and creativity have helped raise vital funds—no matter the amount.
These awards are a powerful way to spotlight the contributions volunteers make and to show just how valued they are. Submitting a nomination is quick but meaningful—it can make a big difference to someone who gives their time and energy so generously.
If you know an exceptional fundraiser or volunteer who deserves recognition, be sure to nominate them and help us celebrate their incredible contributions! You can click here or the button below for more information on the Runnymede & Spelthorne Volunteer Awards and for the link to the nomination form.
Keep up to date with Voluntary Support on social media!
You can follow us on our social media channels to keep up to date with the latest Voluntary Support news, information, resources, events and training dates! You can follow our channels by using the links below.
Spring Statement 2025: What it means for charities
The 2025 Spring Statement sets out the government's updated economic strategy in response to reduced fiscal headroom. While not a full budget, the statement outlines how the government plans to meet its fiscal rules and although some changes are expected to come into effect gradually, others have more immediate implications.
Several announcements will have a direct impact on charities and the communities they work with. In this article, NCVO identifies the key announcements for charities and communities which include changes to welfare and benefits, the NHS, regulation, and funding for public services.
The NCVO have outlined how this will impact the voluntary sector and their next steps. To read their response to the Spring Statement, you can click here or the button below.
Charities urged to provide more support to fundraisers
New research has found that fundraisers can experience the same type of trauma as frontline charity workers. The Caring Too Much report showcases research into factors that cause stress for fundraisers and lead to burn out. As a result, the non-profit sector has been called to put in place basic protections for fundraisers that exist in most other professions. Click here to read more.
UK Giving Report 2025: Trends in Giving
The UK Giving Report 2025 Report tells the story of giving in 2024. Charities are now relying on donations from only 50% of people, down from 58% in 2019 which is the equivalent to approximately four million fewer donors.
In addition to the finding that only half of people gave to charity in the last 12 months, the report also found the number of young donors has dropped by a third since 2017. Only 36% of 16-24-year-olds say they donated or sponsored in the last year and young people are the only demographic in this study where well under half say they give to charity.
Additionally, the reasons for not donating include affordability, lack of trust and a lack of interest. Affordability was the primary reason across all age groups and was particularly the case for 35- to 54-year-olds.
You can download the report to discover how much money goes to each cause area, which charity overheads donors are happy to fund and how people are choosing to give to charity now. Click here or the button below to download the report.
JustGiving's 25 Years of Giving is a report launched to celebrate the fundraising platform's 25th anniversary. Since its inception, the platform has helped to raise over £7bn for charities. This report suggests that millennials and Gen Z are the most generous generation and are 'key' to a surge in donations for charities in the year ahead. It found those under the age of 35 are donating the most per year on average. To read the report in full, click here.
Charitable Support Across Generations in the UK and Ireland
Last November, Blackbaud released a report sharing research data from 1,000+ individuals across generations. You can read the full report to learn about current levels and preferred methods of support across generations, discover engagement opportunities that resonate with each age group and more. It's a good compliment to the two reports above. To download and read the full report, click here.
Mobile Giving Continued to Rise in 2024
A new report by fundraising platform GoDonate reveals that 61% of monthly donations in 2024 were made via mobile devices. Mobile also accounted for 40% of one-off donations, with 60% of these given using digital wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay. In contrast, desktop donors still prefer card payments with 73% of one-off donations made using credit or debit cards.
Despite mobile's popularity, desktop donations tended to be higher in value. The average regular donation via desktop was £14.22, compared with £8.06 on mobile. For one-off donations, the average gift was £85.57 on desktop and £54.16 on mobile. In-memory donations stood out, with an average value of £78.88—significantly higher than the overall one-off donation average of £53.39.
GoDonate’s CEO Vicky Reeves highlighted the importance of smooth mobile journeys to encourage giving. With mobile use continuing to grow, charities are urged to optimise donation pages with fast load times, clear calls to action, and digital wallet options to make giving quick and easy. To read the report, click here or the button below.
Choosing the right donation form
In this article, Charity Digital explore how different types of donation forms can supercharge fundraising in 2025. It proposes three different donation form options for charities: native, pop-in and dedicated pages. Each has a unique way of helping charities boost their fundraising and tailor their campaigns to their donor groups. To read about donation forms and what situations they're best suited to, click here.
Fundraising activities are a key way of generating essential funds for your charity and with the added benefit of gift aid adding 25% to these funds, the importance of getting gift aid right cannot be overlooked. This brief article looks at some common problem areas, opportunities for making the most of gift aid and a summary of some recent changes. To read this article, you can click here.
Fundraising Regulator launches new digital badge
The Fundraising Regulator has introduced a new digital fundraising badge that links directly to a charity’s entry on its online directory. Registered organisations are encouraged to display the badge as a visible sign of their commitment to legal, open, honest, and respectful fundraising.
More than 200 fundraising organisations have already adopted the badge, which helps build public trust by allowing supporters to instantly verify an organisation’s registration status. It also updates automatically each year and is compatible across different platforms.
A print version of the badge is available for use on charity bags, direct mail, and other materials. According to the Regulator, the badge goes beyond a logo. It's a step towards greater transparency in the sector. To read more about their new badge, click here or the button below.
Digital Fundraising Training - 20 May 2025
Join us for our Digital Fundraising training on Tuesday, 20 May 2025, where we'll explore how to attract and engage donors through social media. This session will cover:
- Understanding your audience
- Telling your story effectively through digital channels
- Mapping out your donor journey
Whether you're new to digital fundraising or looking for new ideas and ways to refine your approach, this training will provide practical insights to help you boost digital engagement and donations.
To book your place, click here or the button below.
Grants & Trusts Fundraising Applications Training – July 2025
Our next Grants & Trusts Fundraising Applications training takes place on Tuesday, 1 July 2025. This popular, one-day introductory training session will guide attendees through structuring and writing charity applications for national and local grants and trusts. During the session, we will cover:
- Researching the need for your project
- Planning
- Measuring impact
- Finding the appropriate funder
- Application structure
- Funding Strategy
To book your place onto this training session, please click here or the button below.
Lloyds Bank Foundation - Local Collaborations Scheme
Last month, we highlighted the Lloyds Bank Foundation's Local Collaboration Scheme. We wanted to highlight the scheme again as the deadline for submitting an Expression of Interest is 5pm on Wednesday 30th April 2025.
Lloyds Bank Foundation is awarding flexible grants of £100,000 over two years. Collaborations will have the opportunity to extend by a further year with an additional £50,000. They anticipate making grants to 15 collaborations in this round of funding.
They would expect your influencing work to align with at least one of the following themes: making the social security system work better for those facing the greatest challenges; making sure people facing complex issues have access to suitable accommodation; and improving support and services for asylum seekers and refugees.
This funding cannot be used to fund direct delivery of services and is exclusively to support partnerships to influence locally and regionally. To find out more about the programme and the eligibility criteria, head to the Lloyds Bank Foundation website.
Lloyds Bank Foundation Racial Equity Programme
This programme is for small local charities and CICs which are led by and working with people who are experiencing economic inequity because of their race or ethnicity. Under this programme we will support charities to strengthen their capacity and capabilities and become more resilient through a range of tailored development support offers alongside a three-year unrestricted grant of £75,000. Click here for more.
Surrey Cultural Partnership and Community Foundation for Surrey, with funding from National Lottery Heritage Fund, have launched Surrey Heritage For All. This Fund will provide grants to not-for-profit community organisations who are harnessing the power of Surrey’s amazing heritage to change the lives of those most in need in our county. To find out more about the fund, you can click here.
These are two related grant-making schemes that are listed as a single charity on the Charity Commission website. The Mount Trust introduced the following funding priorities in April 2023: (1) Therapeutic Interventions in Mental Health; (2) Homelessness; Community Youth Services, and (4) Refugee and Asylum Seekers. The Mrs Smith Fund provides block grants to registered charities working with individuals in need, with grants used for the purchase of household furnishings and equipment, baby equipment and clothing. Further information is available on the Trust’s website.
Grants of up to £50,000 for up to 18 months or up to £90,000 over 3 years are available to UK registered charities with an annual income of under £1 million for activities that address racial injustice in the UK’s criminal justice system. The application deadline is Friday 30 May for Stage 1 applications. This consists of a telephone call with the Foundation to discuss the applicant's suitability and eligibility for the programme. Further information and guidance is available on the Foundation’s website.
Arts Council England: Museum Renewal Fund
Grants of between £10,000 and £1 million are available to local authority museums in England to help museums meet the shortfall between operating costs and income throughout their 2025-26 budget, where the shortfall results in a reduction of programming, footfall and days the museum(s) are open to the public. The application deadline is Thursday 22 May at midday (12 noon). Further information, guidance and details about how to apply can be found on the Arts Council website.
The Robert Clutterbuck Charitable Trust
Grants of up to £3,000 are available to registered charities in England and Wales that are supporting Armed Forces and ex-service personnel, as well as natural history and wildlife projects. The application deadline is Monday 30 June. Further information, guidance and details about how to apply can be found on the Trust’s website. Please note that there is no application form and charities wishing to apply should write to the Secretary, George Wolfe, giving details of what they propose to do with any grant made and of their current financial position.
Grants of up to £5,000 are available to UK registered charities, public authorities and institutions to support projects in the areas of the performing arts, particularly dance, music and theatre, and conservation, with an emphasis on pre-Victorian buildings, including churches and collections. The application deadline is Friday 2 May. Further information, guidance and details of how to apply can be found on the Trust’s website.
The Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation
Small, medium and large grants are available to registered charities in England, Wales, the Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland for projects that help people out of poverty and enable them to live as independently as possible. Applications may be made at any time, initially by completing the foundation's eligibility test on its website. Further information, including a number of case studies, guidance on applying and an Eligibility Test, which must be completed before making an application, is available on the Foundation’s website.
The Weaver's Company Charitable Grants
Grants, generally for up to £15,000, are available for smaller UK registered charities working with young disadvantaged people, particularly young offenders, prisoners, ex-prisoners and young people at risk of becoming involved in criminal activity in the UK. The application deadline is Thursday 3 July for the Company's October meeting. Further information, guidance and an application form is available on the Company’s website (scroll down the page to the section headed 'Applying for a Grant').
The Environment Partnership (TEP) Environment Grant Programme
Grants of between £250 and £1,000 are available to organisations and individuals in the UK for projects that have a positive impact on the environment anywhere in the world by furthering the environmental profession and/or raising awareness of environmental issues. The application deadline is Saturday 31 May. Further information, guidance and details about how to apply is available on The Environment Partnership website. Please note that there are separate application forms for organisations and individuals.
The Theatres Trust Small Grants Fund
Capital grants of up to £7,500 are available to theatres across the UK that are operated by registered charities and not-for-profit groups for essential capital works that will enable them to be more accessible, viable and able to thrive. The application deadline is Friday 6 June at 5pm. Further information, guidance and an application form is available on the Trust’s website.
The Army Benevolent Fund: Grants to Charities and Organisations
Grants, generally for up to £15,000, are available to UK charitable organisations, including registered charities and Community Interest Companies, for projects and activities that directly benefit the Armed Forces community. The application deadline is Friday 2 May. Further information, guidance and details about how to apply is available on the Charity’s website. Applications must be made by using the application form available on the Army Benevolent Fund's website and submit it by email using the following address: externalgrants@soldierscharity.org.
Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Grants 2025
A limited number of grants of £15,000 are available for new and innovative projects across the UK to promote heart health and to prevent or reduce the risks of heart disease in specific groups or communities. Applications will be accepted from Wednesday 16 July and the application deadline is Wednesday 13 August. Further information, guidance and an application form can be found on the Heart Research UK website.
Capital equipment grants of between £500 and £4,000 are available to UK organisations affiliated to British Rowing to purchase equipment and refurbish boats so that young people and people with a disability can participate in rowing. The application deadline is Monday 2 June at 12 noon (midday) for capital Equipment Grants. Applications for Boat refurbishments may be made at any time via a separate application process. Further information, guidance and an online application form for Capital Equipment Grants can be found on the Foundation’s website (scroll down the page to the text boxes headed 'Apply for an Equipment Grant' and 'Apply for a Refurbishment Grant').
The Wolfson Foundation: Historic Christian Churches Fabric Repair Grants
Grants of up to £10,000 are available to support fabric repairs in architecturally or historically significant church buildings in the Christian denomination across the UK. The applicaiton deadline for projects with a total cost of over £80,000 is Tuesday 1 July. Further information, guidance and application forms are available on the National Churches Trust website.
The Historic Houses Foundation
Grants of between £1,000 and £250,000 are available to organisations and individuals in England and Wales to help preserve heritage buildings of architectural significance, particularly historic country houses, their gardens and grounds, and the works of art within them. There is no application deadline and pre-application submissions may be made at any time. The Foundation normally responds to all pre-applications within a month. Further information, guidance and a pre-application form is available on the Foundation’s website.
Capital grants of up to £5,000 are available for projects that help homeless people rebuild their lives and move towards a return to mainstream society. The application deadline is Sunday 15 June and there are three further deadlines for the 2025/26 financial year. Further information, guidance and a grant application form is available on the Help the Homeless website.
The NFU Mutual Charitable Trust
One-off grants of up to £50,000 are available for larger UK charitable organisations and groups for projects that relieve poverty and assist with the education of young people in rural areas. The application deadline is Friday 23 May for the Trust's meeting in June. Further information, guidance frequently asked questions (FAQs) and details about how to apply can be found on the Trust’s website.
The Dorothy Hay-Bolton Charitable Trust
Grants of up to £3,000 are available for UK registered charities providing services for children, young people and the elderly with sight and/or hearing disabilities. There is no application deadline and applications may be made at any time in writing, addressed to: Clare Jeffries and Gary Hicks, Trustees, The Dorothy Hay-Bolton Charitable Trust, Kreston Reeves Llp, 2nd Floor, 168 Shoreditch High Street, London, E1 6RA. You can get in touch using the following email: Dorothy.Hay-BoltonTrust@krestonreeves.com.
Grants are available for registered charities in the United Kingdom operating and providing services in areas where Ladbrokes Coral outlets are located. The Trust’s main areas of support are healthcare, education and community. There is no application deadline but registered charities are advised to secure the support of their local Ladbrokes Coral outlet prior to applying to the Trust. To apply, contact your nearest Ladbrokes Coral outlet and ask if the outlet will support a request for a grant from the Ladbrokes Coral Trust.
Grants up to £10,000 are available to a range of UK organisations, including charities, community groups, local authorities and schools, for events that show support for UK servicemen and women, past and present, on or around Armed Forces Day on Saturday 28th June 2025. The application deadline is Monday 31 March. To apply, eligible organisations should initially register their event on the Armed Forces Day website. Following registration of their intended event, applicants will receive a confirmation email within 3 working days with a link to the application form. submit an application for funding.
