Grant Funding for Websites
Guidance notes for organisations short of funding for website development.
It is often a good idea to incorporate funding for websites into any large grant application that you may have to fund the work of your organisation. However, it is also possible to obtain grants specifically for the creation of new websites or web services.
Local Grants
Often there are specific local organisations, such as trusts, that award grants to projects in their area. A good way to find out about these is to contact your local CVS (Community and Voluntary Support) or Voluntary Action team, as they will often have a funding advice service. You can locate the relevant organisation via the NAVCA website.
Community Foundations are another good source of local funding information. They may administer local grant schemes. Find the relevant Community Foundation for your area via the national Community Foundations website. These also often administer the Grassroots Grant programme - see below.
For businesses and social enterprises funding advice is available from Business Link, or your local Chamber of Commerce. Business Link have a scheme whereby they may be able to provide matched funding for development of a website.
Searching for Grants
There are a variety of free funding search websites to help you find grants of specific types:
www.grantnet.comSome of these also have the capability to track grants local to your area.
National Small Grants Schemes
Awards for All is part of the Big Lottery Fund. They make grants of between £300 and £10,000 to groups for new projects within a voluntary or community organisation. This will cover a new website. For existing websites it is necessary to show that the project is for a radically new aspect, such as creation of a database or video to be used on a website.
Awards for All prefer to fund projects that meet one or more of the following outcomes:
- People have better chances in life – with better access to training and development to improve their life skills
- Stronger communities – with more active citizens working together to tackle their problems
- Improved rural and urban environments – which communities are better able to access and enjoy
- Healthier and more active people and communities
There is a one-stage application process using a form. Decisions are usually made within 6 weeks.
Grassroot Grants - are small grants of £250-£5000 for local community groups and organisations in England, as part of a £130M national programme. These grants are administered locally by organisations such as Community Foundations. You can find your local provider on a list.
The Grassroots Grants will run from 2008-2011. They are divided into two parts: an £80 million small grants fund for community organisations; and a £50 million endowments programme to enable local funders to generate additional donations on a matched basis.
The Clothworkers’ Foundation Small Grants Programme can provide funding up to £10,000 for new or redesign website projects, as specifically mentioned in the outline of what they fund. They fund a wide range of diverse projects, with particular areas of interest in: encouraging young people; social inclusion; elderly, disability and visual impairment.
