LGBT+ Futures Fund

Consortium is pleased to announce the launch of LGBT+ Futures Fund small grants programme to support LGBT+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans+) voluntary and community organisations across England. 

The first round of Grants Applications is now closed. The second round will open to applications in early May.

We expect to receive far more applications than we are able to fund with the initial £200,000 we have available to distribute. Applicants are encouraged to read the Guidance in detail and get in touch if you have any queries, there is also a FAQ page which you might find useful. We will only be able to fund those applications which most closely match our priorities and those that will deliver on our intended outcomes. 

Background

Consortium is working with the Government Equalities Office (GEO) to setup, manage and distribute small grants to LGBT+ organisations across England. The funding available will look to fund locally based interventions that support and increase the visibility of diverse LGBT+ people & communities, those focussed on sustainability, and those that address the findings of the GEO's National LGBT Survey. This small grants programme will run between Feb 2019 and Mar 2020. 

Alongside our small grants programme we will also run a free Skills Development and Training programme, in partnership with some of our Members, for LGBT+ organisations so they can build new skills, knowledge and expertise to help their organisation become more sustainable for the future. This programme will be open to both applicants and non-applicants and those organisations who don't feel quite ready to put in an application can seek 1:1 support and access a range of resources to get 'fit for funding'. 

Summary information is provided on the grants programme below but all applicants are strongly encouraged to read the Guidance document before submitting an application. 

What We Will Fund

• Interventions that support and increase the visibility of LGBT+ people, addressing the findings from the GEO's National LGBT Survey
• LGBT+ organisations who are working to become more sustainable and looking to strengthen their organisation strategically
• LGBT+ organisations with creative solutions to reach and include more marginalised and underrrepresented LGBT+ people and communities across their organisations
• LGBT+ organisations who are looking to collaborate on an idea to help strengthen their organisations and the LGBT+ sector
• Applications from LGBT+ youth and Pride organisations are especially welcome. Please note: we will not pay recurring costs e.g. general Pride event costs, we want to see new element which fit the criteria of the Fund. 

Types of Grants

There will be three types of grants made through this programme:

• Events (£500 - £15,000)
• Projects (£500 - £15,000)
• Organisational Sustainability (£500 - £20,000)

We will expect funding requests to be relative to the size of the organisation and the funding proposals. We strongly encourage applicants not to apply for the full amount just because it is there. The average grant award is likely to be much lower than the maximum. For reference, we are looking to distribute up to £200,000 in this first round of grants. 

Who We Will Fund

• Any non-profit organisation whose primary focus is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans + (LGBT+) communities is welcome to apply. We recognise that some organisations will only focus on part of those communities. 
• Organisations must have some form of governance structure
• Applicants need not be a Member of Consortium
• Applicants will be required to have good governance and finance practice in place

How To Apply

There are two different application forms. Download the correct application form and save it to your computer before you start to fill it in. 

Project & Events Application Form

Organisational Sustainability Application Form

LGBT+ Futures Fund Guidance: It is vital you thoroughly read this guidance to ensure your idea fits the criteria. It will also provide support in answering the questions on the application forms. 

You might also find our FAQ page useful

Important Dates

Grants Round 1

• Applications opened: Wednesday 6th February
• Applications closed: Wednesday 6th March, 5pm
• Applicants informed of decision: End of March
• Projects can start: 1st April

Grants Round 2

• Applications open: Early May TBC
• Close: Late May TBC
• Applicants Informed of decision: Early June
• Project can start: Mid-June

For More Information

We want organisations to put in good applications. We hope the Guidance document will give answers to a lot of your questions but If you want to chat through an idea, or have any further questions about the programme, please contact our Grants Team on 020 7064 6500 or grants@lgbtconsortium.org.uk

We have also produce a simple poster if anyone wants to promote this to local LGBT+ groups who might not get the message from other routes. Please feel free to share this. 

Download the correct application form and save it to your computer before you start to fill it in.