GrantRadar

Heart of England Community Foundation

The Deutsche Bank Opportunity Fund

Grants of £1,000 to £5,000 for charities and community organisations in Birmingham, run by Heart of England Community Foundation. The fund page frames it as reducing homelessness; the factsheet describes community initiatives tackling poverty and inequality. Projects must meet one of four aims, including food provision and local solutions to local needs. The deadline is 11 November 2026, and the fund may close early if heavily subscribed.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£1,000 – £5,000
Deadline
23 days left
11 November
Effort
Moderate
full application with documents

Who can apply

  • Organisations in Birmingham with income of £500,000 or less in their most recent annual accounts
  • Registered charities and CIOs are the main applicants
  • Also considered: constituted community groups, companies limited by guarantee with charitable aims, CICs at least 2 years old (not CICs limited by shares), registered Community Benefit Societies and Industrial and Provident Societies, and parish councils, schools, PTAs and churches where community benefit can be shown
  • The governing body needs at least three unrelated members and at least two unrelated bank signatories who do not live at the same address
  • Funding to CICs and other non-charities may be restricted to charitable objectives
  • None may have overdue monitoring with the Foundation

What it funds

Community initiatives in Birmingham that achieve one of the following aims:

  • Tackling disadvantage
  • Preventing or alleviating poverty through the provision of food
  • Providing opportunities for activities which improve the quality of life
  • Support local solutions to meet local needs

the fund supports start-up costs for a new project, extending or developing an existing project, and purchasing equipment or resources. Funding must be spent within 1 year.

What it will not fund

  • Individuals or sole traders
  • Capital builds
  • Direct replacement of statutory obligation and public funding
  • Promotion of religious or political activities
  • Groups with significant financial free reserves
  • Retrospective grants
  • Contribution to endowment fund, payment of deficit funding or repayment of loans
  • National charities (local branches with their own bank account and management committee may be considered)
  • Overseas travel or expeditions
  • Medical research and equipment for statutory or private healthcare
  • General appeals
  • Animal welfare, unless the project benefits people (e.g. disabled riding schemes)
  • Statutory work in educational institutions
  • Sponsored or fundraising events, or groups raising funds to distribute to other causes
  • Schools, churches, parish councils or PTAs, unless community benefit is demonstrated

How to apply

  1. Read the Fund Factsheet and the Foundation's Essential Information
  2. Apply online through the 'Apply now' form on the fund page by 11 November 2026
  3. Upload the supporting documents with the form (any missing must follow within 7 days, or the application is rejected)

the Foundation may close the fund early if it receives a high volume of applications.

Have ready

  • List of governing body members (at least three unrelated people), with names and addresses showing who has bank authorisation
  • Written constitution, articles or set of rules
  • Most recent annual accounts or financial records showing income, expenditure, balance of funds and reserves
  • Bank statement from the last three months, unredacted
  • Safeguarding policy, and any separate safeguarding procedures
  • Equal opportunities / EDI policy
  • Quotes for capital items over £300

policies must be within their review date.

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