Benefact Trust

Community Impact Grants

Revenue grants from Benefact Trust for Christian charities, churches, cathedrals and denominational bodies in the UK and Ireland, for projects that address social challenges in communities (such as poverty, homelessness, isolation, addiction and mental health) or that grow and sustain Christian congregations and communities. Projects can run for up to three years; applicants present total project costs (at least £2,000) rather than asking for an amount, and Grants Officers set the award, typically 10-30% of eligible costs with a possible uplift for deprived areas and normally no more than 50%. At least 30% of costs must already be secured, and successful grants get an automatic extra 10% towards core costs. The average award in 2025 was £23,000; the programme does not fund buildings (see Building Grants).

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

Christian charities, churches, cathedrals and representative bodies (e.g. dioceses and denominational bodies) based in the UK or Ireland
Charities must show embedded Christian values, evidenced by a statement of faith in their governing documents or on their website
Applicants must be registered charities in the UK or Ireland, unless they are churches with 'excepted' status
Registered charities need annual gross income of at least £25,000 in their most recent financial year and at least one full year of accounts on the charity regulator's website
Churches, cathedrals and denominational bodies must belong to a National Ecumenical Instrument (Churches Together in England, Action of Churches Together in Scotland, Cytun or the Irish Council of Churches), or, for local or independent churches, to a local ecumenical or 'churches together' group
Individual schools, other educational institutions and hospices cannot apply (they can apply to Building Grants for chapels)
Applicants must have at least 30% of eligible project costs secured from other sources (reserves, other grants, fundraising, legacies or loans), and the Trust may ask for more
Organisations cannot reapply within two years of their last Community Impact Grant payment (or Transformational Grant), but can hold a Building Grant at the same time

What it funds

Revenue (non-capital) funding for activities, projects and programmes in the UK or Ireland that further one or both objectives:

Addressing social challenges facing communities, through specific support or services for people affected by issues such as poverty and cost of living, mental health and wellbeing, crime, violence and exploitation, housing and homelessness, isolation and loneliness, social exclusion, employment and skills, and addiction and substance misuse
Growing and sustaining Christian congregations and communities, for example faith development, youth work, church planting, volunteer training, or staff posts that promote sustainability such as a volunteer coordinator or bookings administrator

Eligible direct project costs include salaries of staff delivering the project, training of staff and volunteers linked to the objectives, reasonable volunteer expenses, short-term venue hire for project sessions, reasonable costs of events forming part of a wider programme, essential equipment and materials (including laptops for new project staff), proportionate marketing, resources integral to a wider project, and modest refreshments for project activities.

Costs can be new or existing if they deliver clear impact rather than business as usual.

Funding can last up to three years, and successful applicants automatically receive an extra 10% of the grant towards core costs (which should not be included in the application).

What it will not fund

Capital or building projects, church repairs, restoration or building works (apply to Building Grants instead)
Activity outside the UK or Ireland
Projects with total costs under £2,000
Clergy posts, posts in schools, and salaries for general management and administration (e.g. finance, HR, fundraising and communications)
Ongoing rent, utilities or insurance for core activities, including for new premises
One-off or recurring events, conferences, retreats and pilgrimages
Musical instruments, portable AV equipment and vehicles
IT systems, software and websites forming part of core costs
Resources with limited impact, including books, social media content, videos, online courses, and developing or reprinting resources as a stand-alone project
Food (e.g. for foodbanks or meal services), clothing and toiletries
Continuation of business as usual
Programmes of activity that have already been completed
Applications from individual schools, other educational institutions and hospices
Organisations that have received a Community Impact Grant (or a Transformational Grant) within the last two years

How to apply

Read the Community Impact Grants programme guidance and the Application Form Preview
Complete the quick eligibility check in the Apply section of the website (Christian organisation, at least 30% of funding in place, no award from this programme in the last two years)
Register on the online application portal as an individual user and register or connect your organisation; staff review connection requests (Mon-Fri) before you can submit
Complete the six-section online form: organisation details, contact details, project details (including your relevant experience, dates, key risks and at least one photograph), impact, costs and income (total project costs and secured funding, not a requested amount), and safeguarding and declarations
Submit; you receive an immediate email acknowledgement
A Grants Officer assesses the application and it goes to the next decision meeting (Head of Grants up to £25k, Grants Committee over £25k up to £150k, Board over £150k)
If awarded, accept the offer in the portal, agree the Grant Terms and Conditions and provide bank details with a bank statement or paying-in slip dated within the last three months

There are no deadlines; applications are open all year and reviewed on a rolling basis.

Grants over £10k need a final report and multi-year grants need annual progress reports; all grantees complete a brief impact survey at the end.

Have ready

Online application form
At least one photograph of your church or project (uploaded in the form)

On accepting a grant you must upload a bank statement or paying-in slip dated within the last three months. The guidance lists no other attachments at application stage.

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