Funders and fundraising

External funders and fund raising support

One of the biggest challenges facing charities and community groups at the moment, is securing sustainable funding to keep their projects and organisations running. This section helps you to access local, London-wide and national databases, funds and support 

Lewisham fundraising support

Lewisham Main Grant currently funds three Community Fundraisers to support groups to access and apply for funding, this could be a Lewisham Grant or applications for other funders.

If you want to find out more about how these fundraisers can support your organisation, contact them direct

Lewisham Local funding directory

Find funding opportunities here

Friday Lewisham Fundraising Club (FFC)

Our partner lewisham Local run the Friday Fundraising Club - a weekly gathering (1-2pm) of community champions collaborating to grow their fundraising skills. FFC also has a WhatsApp and LinkedIn group. Contact karen@lewishamlocal.com if you are interested in joining and explain what voluntary and community work your group is doing in the borough.

Check out the Friday Fundraising Club Brochure for more events and information

Lewisham Council grants

Lewisham Council offer a range of grants from the Main Grant, NCIL Grants and small grants. 

When they open, new grants will be advertised on the community funding website in the Our Funds section

Funding for the arts

From the Arts Council to the British Film Institute there are a number of funding bodies that specifically support organisations working in Arts and Culture.

Funding for the Arts

London-wide funders

  • London Community Foundation
    Provides grants to a range of charities and community groups across London, focusing on small and medium-sized community-based projects.
  • Groundwork London – Grants and Funding Opportunities
    Supports community projects across London, with funding aimed at improving local environments and communities.
  • City Bridge Foundation
    Opens in October 2025. Provides grants and support for London's charitable sector.
  • London Plus – Funding for Charities and Community Groups
    Offers a monthly updated list of funding opportunities tailored for London's voluntary and community sector.
  • Inclusion London - Capacity Building and Development Funds
    Provides information on grants aimed at building the capacity of organisations, especially those supporting disadvantaged groups

National grant databases & search tools

There are may grant finder databases out there, some are paid subscription services and some are free. Here are some options you may want to consider looking into, do your research to find what works best for your organisation.

  • Funding Finder – Get Grants
    A free resource providing information on hundreds of grant funders, including details on what they fund, grant amounts, and application processes.
  • Grants Online
    Offers daily updates on grant funding opportunities from the European Union, UK Government Agencies, the Lottery, and various Grant Making Trusts & Foundations.
  • GrantNav - 360giving.org 
    A free search engine that allows you to search, explore and download grants data published by UK funders using the 360Giving Data Standard.
  • Charity Funding Finder - Charity Excellence Framework
    The free charity Funding Finder grants directory enables you to search for charitable grants Or use the Company Donations Finder to find companies that make grants, plus lots more.
  • Find a Grant – GOV.UK
    The UK government's official portal for discovering and applying for government grants. It allows users to search and filter grants based on their needs.
  • GrantFinder
    Paid subscription service - A comprehensive UK-wide funding database covering local, national, and international sources. It provides up-to-date information on grants for businesses, local communities, and charitable organisations.
  • My Funding Central
    A database of grant funding and social investment sources, available to organisations with an annual income below £1 million. Annual subscription starts from £50.00. FREE where annual turnover is up to £30,000 p.a.

Additional tools & resources

NCVO - How to find Grants 
Find out about the different ways to search for grants and check out recommended steps for first time grant applicants.

NCVO - Help and guidance
Practical tips and step-by-step guides on how to find the money you need for your community group, organisation or charity

Locality - A beginner’s guide to finding funding for your project
This guide for community organisations contains expert advice from funders and those who have successfully bid for funding.

Locality - Tools and resources 
Locality draw on the expertise of our members to create practical guides, reports and research to help transform lives.

Share your funding Successes. 

If you have any success or advice to share with other community groups in Lewisham why not send us a news item about it.