Prepare to be surprised by what you find

As part of our mission to help fundraisers find the most relevant grant-makers, DSC’s brilliant research team has produced yet another (but even greater) edition of our The Directory of Grant-Making Trusts (DGMT).

DGMT contains essential information on just over 2,000 grant-makers that all have the capacity to award grants of £50,000 or more. Every entry in the guide will inform you how much the grant-maker has awarded, which causes it supports, examples of beneficiaries, any exclusionary criteria and how to apply!  

Whilst you wait on the edge of your seat for DGMT to be published in September, here’s a sneak peek at five grant-makers, included in the guide, that we found particularly interesting: 

Alpkit Foundation

The corporate foundation of Alpkit, an outdoor supplies specialist, just turned 20 years old! 1% of Alpkit’s sales go towards its foundation. The foundation offers an overall total of £750,000 in small grants towards grassroots causes such as widening access to the outdoors, wellbeing initiatives and environmental and conservation education. Supported projects include Steppers UK, which reduces the financial barrier to underrepresented groups to access areas of natural beauty, and Reconnect Rambles, which helps people experiencing financial hardship and/or poor mental health access the outdoors.  

Be The Earth Foundation

Established in 2020 by a couple that respectively share experience in social entrepreneurship and impact investing, the Be The Earth Foundation supports environmentally and socially conscious projects that transform and protect our relationships with nature and ourselves. Some of its grantees included: Seed Sovereignty, which develops a resilient seed system in the UK and Ireland, Witham Friary Rewilding and the White Lion Trust. We love this funder because of its environmental focus. 

Cathedral Music Trust 

Here’s a trust that recently rebranded! It was previously known as Friends of Cathedral Music until 2020. The trust aims to develop a flourishing choral music scene. Its Royal Patron is The Duchess of Gloucester, who used to be Patron of The Diamond Fund for Choristers. Funding goes towards choral music education, salaries of posts involved in the production of music at places of worship, music lessons and music-related groups, like choirs. Supported institutions include: Bradford Cathedral, St Patrick’s Church in Huddersfield and Hexham Abbey. 

The Farmers’ Company Charitable Fund 

Here’s a grant-maker that supports both individuals and organisations. Formed in 1969, the fund supports students (through bursaries), registered charities and universities/colleges. It primarily awards grants towards educational initiatives that promote the study of, and training in, agriculture both in the UK and overseas. 

Sea-Changers 

Presenting a charity that offers small but impactful grants. Sea-Changers addresses three major threats to our oceans here in the UK and the marine life that calls it home: unsustainable fishing, climate change and pollution. It does so by funding grassroots projects, registered charities and schools that are working to promote and intensify marine conservation and research. Grants are up to £2,500. Why not visit its website to see the wide range of marine conservation projects that it has supported? 

This is only a sample of the 2,000+ grant-makers that you will find in DGMT! Pre-order the 29th edition here! What will your favourite grant-maker(s) be?