Applications closed on 14 October 2026.

Many funders run the same grant every year, so check the funder’s site for a new round. The details below are what the funder published when it was open.

Cheshire Community Foundation

Open Grants Programme 2026 (Micro, Small and Main Grants)

Cheshire Community Foundation's Open Grants Programme funds community work of up to 12 months across Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, and Warrington, in three tiers: Micro Grants up to £1,000, Small Grants up to £2,500, and Main Grants up to £15,000 (if supporting a salary, otherwise £10,000). Priority areas are tackling poverty and disadvantage, stronger and more resilient communities, mental health and wellbeing, education, skills and employment, and climate awareness through nature-based wellbeing. Micro Grants favour small organisations (turnover normally under £50,000) new to the Foundation, while Main Grants expect an established track record. The programme runs in 2026 rounds; the last 2026 deadline is Wednesday 14 October for a decision before 8 January 2027.

Check the funder’s site

Open grants like this

Grants you can apply for now, for the same kind of work or place.

You could get: Up to £15,000
Deadline: Closed; the deadline has passed
Effort: Moderate; full application with documents

Who can apply

Any constituted not-for-profit organisation that meets the Foundation's minimum requirements and works with people in Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester or Warrington; registration as a charity is not required (though groups with income over £5,000 are expected to be working towards Charity Commission registration)
Minimum requirements: a governing document with charitable objectives, a not-for-profit clause and a dissolution clause or asset lock; at least three unrelated trustees/directors (no more than 50% paid, with written agreements and a conflict of interest policy); annual accounts dated within 18 months (or a financial plan for new organisations); a bank statement in the organisation's name from the last 3 months; two unrelated signatories; and a safeguarding policy in the organisation's own name with a named lead, reviewed at least every three years, plus appropriate training and DBS checks
CICs must have an asset lock naming an asset-locked body and supply current Articles of Association matching Companies House
Schools can apply only for work additional to the curriculum
Out-of-area organisations can apply if the work benefits Cheshire and Warrington residents, but local organisations are prioritised; organisations with income over £3 million are rarely funded
Micro Grants prioritise smaller organisations new to the Foundation and are not expected to go to organisations with turnover over £50,000
Main Grants are expected to go to established organisations with a strong track record; few are expected to go to organisations formed in the last three years or without several years of delivering similar-sized projects
New organisations can apply to the smaller tiers if they show capacity to deliver

What it funds

Projects of up to 12 months from the start of delivery that address issues most important to the community, ideally planned with the people they work with. The Foundation is keen to fund work that:

Tackles poverty and disadvantage (financial skills and resilience, access to financial support and responsible finance, skills and experience for work, equal access to money-saving services, access to affordable healthy food and emergency food support)
Enables stronger, more resilient communities (inclusion and equity)
Improves mental health and wellbeing (addiction, long-term health conditions, unpaid carers of any age, mental health)
Develops education, skills and employment (school readiness and access to education, young people's aspirations, skills for employment and entrepreneurship)
Builds awareness of climate change (grassroots groups using nature to support wellbeing)

Eligible costs include staffing/salaries, volunteer expenses, venue hire, transport, small equipment and materials, and (Main Grants only) a contribution to associated core costs.

Capital costs are only possible through Small Grants where the grant is at least 50% of the total cost.

One-off events can be supported up to £500.

At panel the Foundation often prioritises work supporting people in the more deprived areas of Cheshire and Warrington (IMD); no additional Main Grants priority areas are set currently.

What it will not fund

Work benefiting people who live outside Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, or Warrington (Halton and Greater Manchester areas such as Trafford or Stockport are generally not funded)
Work that has already taken place or will have taken place by the time of the award
Statutory bodies such as local authorities, hospitals/NHS bodies and prisons (schools only for work additional to the curriculum)
Capital projects, except through Small Grants where you ask for at least 50% of the total cost
Minibuses and motor vehicles
Projects which promote any religion or religious beliefs
Medical treatment or support within statutory responsibility
General awareness raising or lobbying
Bursaries or funding for individuals
Contributions to fundraising events, or fundraising positions
Political activity
Work which cannot start within a year of the award date
Unspecified expenditure
Small contributions to much bigger projects (for requests of £10,000 or more, the grant should be at least 50% of total project cost)
Animal shelters or work where animals are the primary beneficiary
Shelter or accommodation for homeless people
Competitive sport, or sport where engagement with the activity itself is the main focus
Unregulated counselling/therapy (practitioners must hold appropriate registration, e.g. BACP, HCPC)
Playgroups and playschemes without Ofsted registration
The same project for more than three consecutive years
Organisations holding more than 12 months' unrestricted reserves without clear reason
One-off events above a £500 contribution

How to apply

Read the programme page, the Policies for Grantmaking (minimum requirements and Policy A-Z) and the key questions PDF for your chosen tier
Choose one tier (Micro up to £1,000, Small up to £2,500, Main up to £15,000); an application form cannot be moved to a different tier once started
For Main Grants, read the 'Main Grants - Important: Please Read' page and confirm you have all minimum-standards documents
Complete the online application form for your tier (UK Community Foundations Salesforce portal) and upload the required documents by the round deadline (next: Wednesday 14 October 2026)
Due diligence and assessment: a staff member or freelance assessor may phone or email for more information; applications that fit poorly may not go to full assessment
A grant panel decides fundable/not fundable, the Foundation matches funds with donors, and trustees ratify decisions; October round decisions come before 8 January 2027
If awarded, sign the Grant Acceptance Form, meet any extra conditions (usually within two weeks), and receive payment (aimed within three weeks of all documentation); submit an End of Grant Monitoring Form

Payments for the October round are made in January 2027; the Foundation recommended the 29 July deadline for Christmas-period relief projects.

Missed deadlines roll into the next round. Support with applying, including alternative formats, is available from grants@cheshirecommunityfoundation.org.uk or 01606 330607.

Have ready

Online application form for the chosen tier
Governing document (constitution; CICs must send current Articles of Association)
Most recent annual accounts dated within 18 months (or a financial plan for the year if a new organisation)
Bank statement in the organisation's name dated within the last 3 months
Safeguarding policy in the organisation's own name

Where trustees/directors are paid, a written agreement and conflict of interest policy. Conditions after award may include quotes or invoices, a revised budget, confirmation of match funding or partners, or policy changes.