GrantRadar

The Wildlife Trusts

Green Community Grants Programme

One-year flexible grants of up to £25,000 from The Wildlife Trusts, funded by People's Postcode Lottery players, for not-for-profit groups in England, Scotland and Wales whose main purpose is nature recovery and the climate emergency, or improving nature-rich spaces and access to them. Applicants need an annual income between £10,000 and £1 million and can ask for no more than 25% of it. Core costs, staff, running costs and capital for equipment and repairs are all eligible. The 2026 third round closes at 11.59pm on 21 October 2026; in 2025 only 20% of eligible applications were funded.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Up to £25,000
Closes in
3 days left
21 October
Effort
Moderate
full application with documents

Who can apply

  • Registered charities and not-for-profit groups based in England, Scotland or Wales whose governing document's main objects fit one of the two themes, with an annual income between £10,000 and £1 million in the most recent financial year (matching their signed accounts)
  • The request can be no more than 25% of income in the most recent signed accounts - e.g. £10,000 for an organisation with £40,000 income
  • Organisations must have operated for at least 12 months, have signed annual accounts (no older than the year ending 2025) and no accounts more than 60 days overdue with their regulator, have at least three trustees/directors with no more than 50% related, a UK bank account in the organisation's name, relevant policies including safeguarding, and some online presence
  • One application per round
  • Priority goes to organisations with income of £10,000-£250,000, working in the 15% most deprived communities (IMD), focused on marginalised groups such as disabled people, communities experiencing racial inequity and LGBT+ people, or whose objects relate to habitat or species restoration/protection

What it funds

Organisations whose main objects or purpose fit one of two themes:

  • Contributing to nature recovery and responding to the climate emergency
  • Improving nature rich spaces and access to them
  • Staffing costs, office and running costs to support an organisation's core work
  • Expanding activities and continuing successful programmes
  • Capital expenditure for equipment and repairs
  • Wider sustainability activities, such as recycling, litter picking in nature rich spaces and sustainable transport

Coastal and marine organisations are funded as well as inland ones. Applications dependent on external factors such as land purchase or planning permission are likely to be unsuccessful. Funding must be spent within one year.

What it will not fund

  • Organisations whose core purpose is not closely aligned with a funding theme (an isolated nature project within unrelated work will not qualify)
  • Statutory bodies, including NHS Foundation Trusts and NHS charities, parish and town councils and public bodies
  • Political parties or party-political activities
  • Individuals
  • Organisations operating for less than one year or without signed accounts
  • Universities, colleges, schools, academies, nurseries, preschools, and Parent Teacher Associations
  • Organisations with solely religious objects
  • Organisations outside Great Britain, or activities outside Great Britain and foreign travel
  • Organisations with annual income under £10,000 or over £1,000,000
  • Schedule 3 Community Interest Companies
  • Organisations funded through any Postcode Trust in the last 12 months, or that have breached a Postcode Trust funding agreement
  • Organisations affiliated with Postcode Lottery long-term partner charities, including Home-Start, Riding for the Disabled, the Scouts, Girlguiding, Trussell, Mind, the Woodland Trust and The Wildlife Trusts
  • Organisations without a UK bank account in their own name (electronic money services such as Wise, ANNA, Moneycorp or Tide are not accepted)
  • Medical research, clinical treatment and medical equipment
  • Promotion or practice of religion
  • Animal welfare
  • Distributing grants or funds to individuals or other organisations, including bursaries, per diems and honoraria
  • Adding to reserves
  • Retrospective costs

How to apply

  1. Read the 2026 guidance notes and FAQs, and complete the eligibility checker
  2. Draft your answers using the application questions at the end of the guidance
  3. Apply through The Wildlife Trusts' online portal (Benefactor) by 11.59pm on 21 October 2026, uploading the supporting documents
  4. The grants team assesses applications and a funding panel decides; allow two months from the deadline for a decision, sent through the portal
  5. If successful, sign the funding agreement and bank details form; reports are due after six months and at one year

Save your work regularly in the portal, which logs you out when idle. Extra links or documents are not reviewed. Add no-reply@benefactorcloud.co.uk to your safe senders.

Have ready

  • Governing document in the organisation's name, the most recent version, stating charitable objectives and containing a dissolution clause (and an asset lock for CICs)
  • Signed accounts no older than the financial year ending 2025, independently examined or audited if your regulator requires
  • Management or draft accounts for the interim period, if your accounts end before December 2025
  • A bank statement dated within the last 90 days, for a UK bank account in the organisation's name
  • Safeguarding policy (required if you work with children, young people or vulnerable adults), dated and naming the designated safeguarding lead

The organisation's name must match exactly across the regulator's record, bank account, governing document, accounts, safeguarding policy and application; provide evidence if it changed in the last 12 months.

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