Open Fund Round 3 - who we fund and grants available

Applications open 24 Jul 2025 (deadline for applications 25 Sep 2025 5pm)

We encourage any eligible charity or CIC Limited by Guarantee to apply - seven new multi-year grants available

SYLA team
Funded partner Spring Community Hub team and guests

Who we fund

  • We fund small, Black-led charities and CICs Limited by Guarantee that are embedded in their communities, with a strong track work of delivering work in Lambeth or Southwark.
  • We fund organisations with leaders and staff who have lived experience of the challenges experienced by their communities.
  • We fund organisations with strong leadership, a vision for the future and with sound governance that are making a difference in their communities.
  • Our vision is for Black-led organisations in Lambeth and Southwark to have power, agency and funding to drive positive change in their communities.
CEF Lyncx
Service users from CEF Lyncx, funded partner

Grants available 

  • Grants are for up to £30,000 a year for three years, linked to inflation
  • We aim to fund a total of around seven new charities and CICs Limited by Guarantee in our next round opening on 24 July 2025.  
  • Grants are unrestricted and can be used flexibly by the organisation in a way they choose
  • We open rounds for new applicants every 2-3 years, but continue work with our multi-year partners during this time.

 Are you eligible?

UK Registered Charity or CIC Limited by Guarantee

you are a UK Registered Charity and have submitted at least 3 years of annual returns to the Charity Commission or you are a CIC Limited by Guarantee and have submitted at least 3 years of annual returns to Companies House (we don’t fund CICs Limited by Shares)

*if you have been a UK Registered Charity for less than 3 years but converted from a CIC Limited by Guarantee, and the total period is at least 3 years, we will accept your application

Income

your recent* total annual incoming resources are over £25,000 and under £350,000 

*we look at your latest annual accounts submitted to the Charity Commission or Companies House and also, if they are more recent and not submitted yet, your latest completed 12 month management or draft annual accounts

Black-ledby this we mean organisations that are primarily led by Trustees, directors and staff identifying as Black, African, Caribbean, Black British or Any Other Black, African or Caribbean background (more than half of Trustees or directors, and more than half of staff)
Local

you have a strong track record of working with communities in Lambeth and Southwark and have established networks in those communities

you work predominantly or exclusively with residents from Lambeth and Southwark 

if you are registered in Lambeth and Southwark and have a physical base there, we will prioritise your application; we also accept applications from organisations that are based remotely or have their offices based outside of the boroughs if you meet our other criteria

Embedded in community 

you can show you have a deep understanding of the needs of your community in Lambeth or Southwark; you can share this understanding through stories, experiences and telling us about your work and local networks

your leaders and staff have lived experience of the challenges experienced by the communities you work alongside

Strong leadership & making a difference

you have strong leadership, are clear about your purpose and can share how your organisation is improving the life chances for your clients, respectfully and fairly

you can describe the difference you’re making 

Good Governance in place

 

you can describe your strengths and challenges

you can describe your organisation’s vision 

you have good governance including:

  • at least 3 non-related Trustees or Directors on the Board
  • good decision-making and operational processes including regular board meetings, conflict-of-interest policy, safeguarding policy and processes, and good financial and budget monitoring procedures, including a policy for agreeing pay

See FAQs for why we just fund organisations with good governance in place

Who we don’t fund

We don’t fund individuals or nurseries, schools, colleges, higher education institutions, universities and associated charities (including Parent Teacher Associations), places of worship, organisations engaged in party political activity and one-off events. How to Apply, our stages and DeadlINES 

Our OPEN FUND Partners