The Shears Foundation is inviting applications for grants of £3,000 to £6,000 from charitable organisations with an annual income of under £1.5 million.
This funding may be particularly relevant for small and medium sized VCSE organisations working on projects that strengthen communities, improve wellbeing, or increase access to learning and culture.
Priority funding areas
The foundation currently supports work that focuses on:
- The development of culture and the arts
- Educational opportunities for adults and or children
- Protection, preservation or enhancement of the natural environment
- Creating stronger, better or more sustainable communities
- Promoting health and medicine, with an emphasis on research or education
Please note that the foundation does not currently consider applications from hospices, as it already makes a significant annual contribution to a hospice in Newcastle.
Who can apply
Around 55 to 60 percent of its grant making supports organisations working in Tyne and Wear and Northumberland.
It is also developing support for organisations based in:
- The former Harrogate District
- The City of York
- The City of Bradford
- Greater Manchester
Due to high demand, applications for work outside these areas are not currently accepted.
The Shears Foundation will support project and core costs, including staffing and operational overheads.
They do not contribute to capital projects – by capital projects they mean they won’t contribute to the cost of purchasing buildings (but we will pay lease / rent costs); refurbishing buildings; significant repairs to buildings; major outdoor works; vehicles; larger equipment etc.
The success ratio in 2024/25 (the percentage of grant applications for our small grants programme that were successful) is 32.7%
What size grants are available?
The Shears Foundation is inviting applications for grants of £3,000 to £6,000.