Bernard Sunley Foundation

Bernard Sunley Foundation Capital Grants

The Bernard Sunley Foundation makes one-off capital grants to charities in England and Wales across four categories - Community, Education, Health and Social Welfare. It awards three levels of grant: Small (£5,000 and under), Medium (up to £20,000) and Large (£25,000 and above); grants are a contribution to project costs, never full funding, and Trustees decide the amount rather than you asking for one. The gate is narrow and specific: capital only, total project costs between £10,000 and £5 million, and an annual income under £10 million. Applications are accepted all year round and start with a 12-question online eligibility check that you must pass before the application form is released.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: Amount not specified; no fixed round
Deadline: Rolling; apply any time
Effort: Moderate; full application with documents

Who can apply

Charities and CIOs registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, Community Benefit Societies registered with the FCA, scout, guide and other uniformed groups, specialist (special educational needs) schools, churches and other places of worship, and museums, galleries and heritage centres
The project itself must be in England or Wales, and your annual income must be below £10 million
You need at least one set of annual accounts
Project costs must be at least £10,000 and no more than £5 million; where project costs fall between £10,000 and £100,000 the eligibility check also asks whether your annual income is below £1 million (with a separate route for Special Educational Needs schools)
Churches and places of worship face extra tests: the check asks whether the application is for repairs to the church tower, bells or organ, and whether you run or plan to run regular secular activities for the wider community beyond occasional events, heritage displays or faith-based activity for the congregation - religious bodies with no or limited secular activity are excluded
Museums, galleries and heritage centres are asked whether they have a strong learning/outreach programme for the wider community
Explicitly excluded are CASCs, CICs, unregistered community groups and clubs, town and parish councils, NHS hospitals, mainstream schools, colleges and universities, and individuals
If you were rejected you can apply again 12 months after your original application; if you have claimed a grant you can submit a new application

What it funds

Capital projects only - for example a new building, extension, refurbishment, recreational space, or the purchase of a freehold. Total project costs must be between £10,000 and £5 million, and grants are one-off single payments offered as a contribution towards overall costs. Four funding categories:

Community (churches, community centres, rescue services, sport, uniformed groups, village halls, youth clubs - churches are considered where improvements benefit the wider community)
Education (arts, countryside, literacy, music, outdoor learning, special needs schools and colleges, with a focus on disadvantaged children and young people and those with disabilities or special needs)
Health (animal assisted therapy, cancer, day services for disabled people, hospices, medical aid overseas, mental health, neurological, residential for disabled people, sight and hearing loss)
Social Welfare (addiction and rehabilitation, almshouses, animal welfare, armed forces and veterans, domestic and sexual abuse, elderly, ex-offenders, homeless, poverty relief overseas, social enterprises)

What it will not fund

Charities registered outside England or Wales
Community amateur sports clubs, community interest companies or unregistered community groups/clubs
Town or parish councils
Churches or other religious bodies with no or limited secular activity
NHS hospitals or charities fundraising on their behalf
Mainstream schools, colleges or universities
Individuals
Core costs including salaries, running and repair costs, websites, rent, utility bills
Fees including those for building surveys, planning applications or feasibility studies
Solar panels or air source heat pumps
Second hand vehicles
Fittings such as electrical appliances and furniture
IT infrastructure or AV systems

How to apply

Complete the online eligibility check - 12 questions, around five minutes, covering organisation type, location, purpose, income, project cost, accounts, previous applications, planning permission, lease length and quotes
If you pass the check you are given access to the application form
Complete the application form - you can save it and return at any time
Upload your organisation's most recent accounts and your project budget or contractor quotes
Submit; you will receive an email confirming the application has been received

there is no deadline - applications are accepted all year round

Trustees decide the amount pledged; you are not asked to specify an amount and the Foundation does not fully fund projects

fundraising should be underway with a fundraising plan in place, but you do not need to have raised a minimum amount before applying

the Foundation says it funds around 50% of all applications received

Have ready

Your organisation's most recent accounts (you must have at least one set of annual accounts)
A project budget, or quotes from your chosen contractor, or a cost plan from a quantity surveyor or other professional

if the project needs planning permission, the eligibility check asks what stage your planning application has reached

if the work is to a rented property, you need more than 10 years left on the lease (or a 10-year lease agreement in progress)

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