GrantRadar

Northamptonshire Community Foundation

The Compton Fund

Grants of £500 to £5,000 from Northamptonshire Community Foundation for arts, culture and heritage projects by small, locally managed voluntary and community groups across Northamptonshire. Revenue costs and equipment are eligible; capital and refurbishment are not, and the whole project budget must be £20,000 or less. The Foundation will review a draft application before submission.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
£500 – £5,000
Closes in
Closed
the deadline has passed
Effort
Moderate
full application with documents

Who can apply

  • Small, locally managed voluntary, community or self-help groups based in Northamptonshire, whose activity takes place exclusively within the county
  • Groups must have volunteers helping with the activity who are not on the management committee; a written constitution or rules with a dissolution clause (NCF can help new groups with this); a community bank account needing at least two signatories; child protection and vulnerable adults policies if working with children or vulnerable adults; and an equality or equity and diversity policy
  • Social enterprises with persons with significant control are excluded
  • Grants are for one year; groups can apply again the next year after completing an end-of-grant report with full evidence of spend

What it funds

  • Arts, culture and heritage projects based and taking place entirely in Northamptonshire, open and inclusive to the whole community
  • Revenue costs and equipment are eligible
  • Grants cover up to 12 months' costs

What it will not fund

  • Capital or refurbishment costs
  • Projects with a total budget over £20,000
  • Projects not addressing arts, culture or heritage
  • Projects operating outside Northamptonshire
  • General and major fundraising appeals
  • Direct replacement of statutory or public funding, or work that is the responsibility of local government or public services
  • Organisations aiming to convert people to religious or political beliefs
  • Medical research and equipment
  • Animal welfare
  • Large national charities (except independent local branches)
  • Work that has already finished
  • Trips or excursions without clear benefit to people's opportunities and quality of life
  • Profit-making organisations or non-charitable work
  • Social enterprises with persons with significant control (PSC)
  • Groups with high free reserves that could easily fund the project
  • Groups that managed previous grants unsatisfactorily

How to apply

  1. Call the NCF grants team (01604 230033) to discuss the project idea
  2. Read the Compton Fund guidance and download the supporting documents checklist and reference form
  3. Request the online application form by email from the fund page, and complete it (it can be saved and returned to)
  4. Optionally send the saved form link to enquiries@ncf.uk.com for feedback before submitting
  5. Submit the form and upload or send the supporting documents with the checklist by Friday 2 October 2026
  6. The application is assessed and presented to the next Grants Panel of Foundation staff, local people and trustees

Applications missing supporting documents are ineligible.

Have ready

  • Hand-signed reference form from an independent referee
  • Signed constitution or set of rules with a dissolution clause, plus a list of management committee members' or trustees' names and addresses
  • Signed accounts for the last financial year (groups under a year old: last two bank statements; if another group receives the grant for you, its latest accounts)
  • Signed copy of a recent bank statement
  • Child protection policy (if working with children and young people)
  • Vulnerable adults policy (if working with vulnerable adults)
  • Equality policy
  • Two quotes for equipment or building work, and landowner's permission for environmental improvements, as appropriate
  • Completed supporting documents checklist

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