GrantRadar

Milton Keynes Community Foundation

Oak Grants

MK Community Foundation's largest open grants, £5,001 to £15,000, for established not-for-profit organisations in Milton Keynes to scale up proven approaches, embed lasting change or tackle the root causes of disadvantage. At least 20% of project costs must come from other sources. Applications are scored by an independent panel in quarterly rounds.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£5,001 – £15,000
Deadline
49 days left
11 December
Effort
Heavy
budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

  • Constituted, not-for-profit organisations supporting beneficiaries in the Milton Keynes unitary authority area: unincorporated associations, registered charities, CIOs, sports clubs, and faith groups where the main activity is community-focused and not the promotion of religion (beneficiaries must not have to take part in religious activities, and no one may be excluded on grounds of faith or belief)
  • Organisations with income over £5,000 must be registered with the Charity Commission or relevant regulator (or be registering)
  • The governing document must include an asset lock; at least three unrelated people must sit at the top level of governance; the bank account must be in the organisation's name with two unrelated signatories
  • Organisations holding more than 12 months' running costs in reserves cannot normally be funded, and those with over six months' free reserves must explain why
  • Individuals, for-profit companies, political groups and statutory bodies cannot apply, and all monitoring from previous MKCF grants must be returned first
  • Projects must start within six months of the award; apply well before the start date (MKCF recommends at least three months)
  • Oak Grants are aimed at well-established organisations
  • CICs can apply only for project start-up costs: they must have been incorporated no more than three months before applying, submit a first-year business plan and agree it with the Philanthropy Team first

What it funds

Projects by established organisations that scale proven approaches, embed lasting change and tackle systemic disadvantage, especially those that:

  • Respond to issues raised in the annual Vital Signs MK report (stronger communities, disadvantage and poverty, local economy, diversity, transport, health and wellbeing, work, crime and safety, education, housing, environment, arts and heritage)
  • Address local needs
  • Work in partnership
  • Aim to strengthen the voluntary sector

CICs can be funded only for project start-up costs, after speaking to the Philanthropy Team.

What it will not fund

  • Core/running costs, except where these are essential to project delivery, or where they meet eligibility under the Cost of Living grant programme (for example, increases in utilities, rent, or staffing costs linked to rising living expenses)
  • Statutory activities, or purchase of equipment that will become the property of a statutory body
  • Animal welfare projects
  • Retrospective costs (anything that has already been bought or committed to); rare exceptions may be made where deposits are required, agreed in advance with the Philanthropy Team
  • Medical research or treatment
  • Deficit funding or repayment of loans
  • Unspecified expenditure
  • Contingencies and miscellaneous expenses
  • Events or activities where the primary purpose is to fundraise
  • Redistributing funds to other charitable organisations (except for specific partnership arrangements)
  • Food and drink (unless vital to the project)
  • Travel and accommodation (unless vital to the project)
  • Projects fully funded by the grant (at least 20% must come from other sources)

How to apply

  1. Read the Oak Grants guidelines and the MKCF grants policy
  2. Register on the MKCF grants portal and complete the online Oak Grant application by midday on the deadline
  3. Answer ten questions on need, delivery, beneficiaries and impact, measurement, promotion, sustainability, partnership and inclusion, with a full project budget and other funding
  4. An independent panel of MKCF trustees and community representatives scores the application out of 55; 33 or more is successful, possibly for part of the amount

deadlines are quarterly (11 Dec 2026 for the January 2027 round). Submit any outstanding monitoring from earlier grants before applying.

Have ready

  • Governing document or constitution giving the organisation's name and purpose, with an asset lock and confirmation that it is not for profit
  • Details of at least three unrelated trustees or management committee members (names and addresses for unincorporated groups)
  • Most recent annual accounts or financial records covering at least the past 12 months (a bank statement if under a year old)
  • Bank statement dated within the past 3 months, in the organisation's name, for an account with at least two unrelated signatories
  • Equal opportunities / EDI policy covering the nine protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010
  • Child and adult safeguarding policies naming the local lead person
  • Evidence of registration with the Charity Commission or relevant regulator if income is over £5,000
  • CICs: business plan covering the first year of operations

quotes or other evidence of costs may be requested by the Philanthropy Team.

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