GrantRadar

Cornwall Council (via Crowdfunder)

Cornwall Climate and Nature Fund

Match funding from Cornwall Council for projects in Cornwall that help the climate emergency response, promote nature recovery or support tree planting. You run a crowdfunding campaign on Crowdfunder and the council pledges up to 50% of your target, normally up to £5,000 (up to £15,000 for exceptional, high-impact projects), once you have raised 25% from at least 25 supporters; you must then reach 100% to receive it. One-off capital costs are the main focus, and projects with strong community impact and public access are prioritised.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Up to £5,000
no fixed round
Deadline
Rolling
apply any time
Effort
Heavy
budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

  • Projects located and delivered in Cornwall
  • The council accepts applications 'from all sectors' (community groups, charities, social enterprises and businesses are all mentioned), but projects with strong community impact and public access are prioritised and all applications are judged on merit
  • You must run a crowdfunding campaign on Crowdfunder
  • Tree planting projects must deliver long-lasting canopy cover, commit to at least 5 years of management and watering, and have the landowner's permission
  • Projects working with vulnerable people need safeguarding policies, and insurance (including public liability for events) is required where applicable

What it funds

Projects supporting at least one theme:

  • Helping the climate emergency response (reducing carbon emissions from homes, communities, workplaces and travel
  • Low carbon choices and behaviour change
  • New renewable energy opportunities
  • Community climate resilience
  • Nature-based carbon removal such as habitat restoration and tree planting)
  • Promoting nature recovery (converting community greenspace to wildlife habitat, environmental improvements to community centre or village hall grounds, coastal and marine projects, wildlife training and monitoring, reducing invasive species, litter, noise or light pollution, helping people connect with and enjoy nature)
  • Tree planting (including improving local tree supply and tree nursery infrastructure, administered by the Forest for Cornwall team)

Examples: solar panels, battery storage or EV charge points at community buildings and sports clubs; LED lighting, insulation and non-fossil heating in community buildings; an electric car-club vehicle, a reuse shop or community supported agriculture set-up; habitat creation on school grounds or land with public access; one-off events and educational programmes such as forest schools.

One-off capital costs are the main focus.

Match funding covers up to 50% of the crowdfunding target.

What it will not fund

  • Retrospective funding to fill funding gaps not identified before the project starts
  • Salary or routine administration costs (ongoing running costs)
  • Political activities, lobbying or campaigning
  • Projects showing actual or potential unlawful discrimination under the Equality Act 2010
  • Statutory activities or requirements
  • Hospitality (catering and refreshment costs)
  • Contributions in kind through volunteer time
  • Clothing or uniform for the sole use of an individual
  • Projects not delivered in Cornwall
  • Promotion of political or religious activity

How to apply

  1. Read the fund's Application Guidance and Eligibility Criteria and Terms and Conditions on Crowdfunder; optionally discuss your idea with climatechange@cornwall.gov.uk or grow-nature@cornwall.gov.uk (tree planting: forestforcornwall@cornwall.gov.uk)
  2. Create a crowdfunding project on Crowdfunder, setting out your story and target
  3. Apply to the Cornwall Climate and Nature Fund through your Crowdfunder dashboard; Cornwall Council reviews the application
  4. If approved, raise at least 25% of your target from at least 25 unique supporters to trigger a provisional pledge of up to 50% of the target (up to £5,000)
  5. Raise the rest from your supporters to reach 100% of the target and receive the council's pledge
  6. Spend the grant as approved within two years, keep receipts for 7 years, credit Cornwall Council, and submit a brief final project summary

Rolling; applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Crowdfunder campaigns are all-or-nothing for the match: the pledge is only released if the target is reached.

Have ready

  • Crowdfunder project page and in-dashboard fund application

No attachments are listed at application. Landowner permission is needed for tree planting; evidence of expenditure (receipts, quotes) may be requested and a brief final summary is required after delivery.

More like this

Other grants open to organisations like yours.