GrantRadar

Community Foundation for Surrey

Surrey Strategic Transformation Programme

Grants from a group of Community Foundation for Surrey donor funds to help voluntary sector organisations become more resilient and financially sustainable by changing how they work, for example through capacity building, partnership working, mergers or new business models. There are three levels: up to £15,000 for capacity building, up to £10,000 for a strategic change such as a change of use of a building or a technology upgrade, and up to £4,000 for small capital costs or equipment. Expressions of Interest are currently closed; the next Strategic Programme round takes EOIs from 9am on 2 November to 5pm on 11 December 2026.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Up to £15,000
Deadline
54 days left
11 December
Effort
Heavy
budgets, references, often several stages

Who can apply

  • Voluntary and community organisations focused on Surrey (the 11 boroughs/districts under Surrey County Council, not London boroughs such as Croydon, Sutton or Kingston)
  • The programme prioritises organisations whose main function is supporting people and communities facing the greatest disadvantage and exclusion
  • The £15,000 and £10,000 levels are listed for registered charities and non-registered community groups based in Waverley or Guildford
  • Religious groups can apply if their services are open to all
  • Partnership bids are welcome: each partner must be actively involved with a clear role, there should be some form of partnership agreement, and the applicant must show the added benefit of working together
  • Under the Foundation's general criteria, organisations need a management committee of at least three unrelated people, a signed constitution, a bank account in the group's name needing two signatories, a financial policy and a safeguarding policy; organisations with free reserves of more than a year's running costs are generally not funded

What it funds

Business change, not business as usual, for organisations wishing to become more resilient by making a significant change in the way they work. Three levels:

  1. Up to £15,000 to improve financial sustainability by capacity building, e.g. improving impact measurement, investing in leadership development or support, improving financial management with new systems, or improving capacity with new systems and processes
  2. Up to £10,000 to achieve a strategic change in capability and impact, which may be a capital project such as a change of use of a building or a technology upgrade that helps the organisation deliver services more efficiently or open up new avenues
  3. Up to £4,000 for small capital costs, items or equipment that let the organisation do something new

The £15,000 and £10,000 levels are listed for registered charities and non-registered community groups based in Waverley or Guildford.

Examples: a review of income generation and a new fundraising strategy (not a fundraiser post); implementing a website or mailing system for an organisation that does not have one (not a post for routine social media and website work).

Successful applicants can also get skilled volunteer support from the Funder Plus programme on financial management, governance or merger discussions.

What it will not fund

  • 'Business as usual' activity (apply to the Foundation's usual grant rounds instead)
  • Core or running costs
  • Posts such as a fundraiser or routine social media and website work
  • Applications from individuals
  • Political or sectarian organisations
  • Mainstream schools and colleges
  • Playgroups
  • Community centres
  • Sports clubs
  • Promotion of religion (religious groups can apply only if their services are open to all)
  • Projects without a specific benefit to Surrey residents
  • Projects already taken place or items bought before or during the application
  • Requests to build reserves

How to apply

  1. Check the Foundation's eligibility criteria and, if helpful, book a 30-minute Zoom Q&A session
  2. Submit a short Expression of Interest (EOI) on the Foundation's application portal (Plinth) during an open EOI window, saying what you want to do and how much you need
  3. The grants team reviews all EOIs received before the deadline together and invites the strongest to make a full application
  4. If invited, submit the full application with supporting documents by the full-application deadline

EOIs are currently closed. Strategic Programme 3 (2026-27): EOIs open 9am 2 Nov 2026, EOI deadline 5pm 11 Dec 2026, full application deadline 5pm 2 Mar 2027, decisions week of 26 Apr 2027.

Enquiries about this fund go to Zoe Coltart, Director Partnerships & Development (zoe@cfsurrey.org.uk, 01483 958307).

Have ready

  • Governing document / constitution
  • Financial policy
  • Most recent report and accounts (not needed if on the Charity Commission website); an update on your finances if they are over 12 months old
  • Bank statement no older than three months, with transactions redacted
  • Safeguarding policy and procedures

A quote is needed for larger capital costs; partnership bids need evidence of a partnership agreement. This list is the Foundation's general one, not specific to this programme.

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Surrey Strategic Transformation Programme — Community Foundation for Surrey — GrantRadar