# DfID offers new funding for small UK charities working internationally - Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/03/20/dfid-offers-new-funding-small-uk-charities-working-internationally/ - Published: 2017-03-20T16:02:11+00:00 - Author: Howard Lake **The UK government’s Department for International Development (DfID) has created its first fund for very small, grassroots British charities working internationally helping the world’s poorest people.**   The new fund was announced today by International Development Secretary Priti Patel at the [Bond](http://www.bond.org.uk) annual conference of NGOs working overseas. It will help eligible organisations to expand the work they do to have a greater impact. ## Advertisement   DFID’s new Small Charities Challenge Fund will open for applications this Summer. The Fund will be targeted at small UK-registered civil society organisations, so not just registered charities, with an annual income of **less than £250,000**.   [DfID](http://gov.uk/dfid) has never before established a fund for charities of this size.   > NEWS: DFID launching new Small Charities Challenge Fund this summer for UK-registered > orgs with annual income <£250K [https://t.co/O76gdECTCo](https://t.co/O76gdECTCo) > — DFID (@DFID_UK) [March 20, 2017](https://twitter.com/DFID_UK/status/843793004754325505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)       The Small Charities Challenge Fund has been created in response to the consultation with smaller charities during [DFID’s Civil Society Partnership Review](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/international-development-secretary-launches-civil-society-partnership-review).       [⌊Rt Hon Priti Patel MP, Secretary of State for International Development. Picture: Russell Watkins/Department for International Development⌉⌊Rt Hon Priti Patel MP, Secretary of State for International Development. Picture: Russell Watkins/Department for International Development⌉[ _Rt Hon Priti Patel MP, Secretary of State for International Development. Picture: Russell Watkins/Department for International Development on [Flickr.com](https://www.flickr.com/photos/dfid/28307834295/in/album-72157671059363285/)_       Ms Patel told conference delegates:   “Britain’s small charities do amazing, often highly innovative work in some of the world’s poorest places. Often staffed by volunteers, their dedication to the most disadvantaged in the world is remarkable.   “Giving Britain’s small charities financial support will give a real boost to the excellent work they do. I will increase DFID’s support for these grassroots charities as I believe that smaller charities are a crucial part of the Great British offer on international development.”   > DFID will increase support for grassroots charities – they're crucial part of > the great British offer on development [https://t.co/bzKr3CP4q5](https://t.co/bzKr3CP4q5) > [pic.twitter.com/eJD8WWAtMp](https://t.co/eJD8WWAtMp) > — DFID (@DFID_UK) [March 20, 2017](https://twitter.com/DFID_UK/status/843795534678843394?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)       In June 2013 The Telegraph reported that Patel, then a Conservative backbencher,“ [said reforms could include scrapping DfID](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10122842/Some-countries-do-not-need-our-money-any-more-says-Andrew-Mitchell.html) and replacing it with a trade-focused body to help businesses invest in the developing world.”   Now it seems that her views have ameliorated since she started working within DfID. Just two days ago [DfID announced that it was doubling its matched giving fund for the DEC East Africa Appeal](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/03/20/uk-government-doubles-matched-funding-dec-appeal/) from £5m to £10m.   ## Partnership with the Charity Commission   The Secretary of State also announced a new partnership between the DfID, the Charity Commission and the wider sector.   This new partnership will provide training to small and medium sized organisations working overseas on development to build their skills and capabilities and increase their effectiveness. It is also designed to increase public trust and support for development work.   Chairman of the Charity Commission William Shawcross said:   “Helping small and medium sized charities deal with today’s huge risks is crucial. This work will be key in building capacity to ensure these charities can operate to the highest standards. We hope this new project with DFID will lead to even deeper co-operation between us.”   > NEWS: [@DFID_UK](https://twitter.com/DFID_UK?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw), [@ChtyCommission](https://twitter.com/ChtyCommission?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)& > civil society partnership will provide support to strengthen small & medium orgs > [https://t.co/gke8M8EJ24](https://t.co/gke8M8EJ24) > — DFID (@DFID_UK) [March 20, 2017](https://twitter.com/DFID_UK/status/843794309283532800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)   ## DfID’s main funding for civil society organisations   DFID’s main funding for charities and civil society organisations are:   * **UK Aid Match** – a scheme that match-funds public donations to charity appeals for projects to reduce poverty in developing countries, giving the British public a say in what international development issues are important to them. Doubling UK Aid Match is a manifesto commitment. * **UK Aid Direct** – providing grants to small and medium-sized civil society organisations, primarily for work to directly tackle poverty in poor communities around the world. * **UK Aid Connect** – a new partnership approach that will allow civil society organisations to work collaboratively, bringing together knowledge, practice and expertise for solutions to some of the most difficult development problems. * **UK Aid Volunteers** – which will include the manifesto commitment to triple in size the International Citizen Service (ICS) youth volunteering scheme and provide opportunities for new partnerships with volunteering agencies.       _Main photo: Priti Patel speaking at Bond Conference. Photo: Bond UK_ * **[Why small charities need to be heard](https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/08/31/small-charities-need-heard/)**( 31 August 2017) * **[Food charity asks government to cover costs of charitable surplus food distribution](https://fundraising.co.uk/2018/04/05/food-charity-asks-government-cover-costs-charitable-surplus-food-distribution/)**( 5 April 2018) * **[Government offers £10 million to plant over 130,000 urban trees](https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/05/20/government-offers-10m-to-plant-over-130000-urban-trees/)**( 20 May 2019) ![Loading](https://fundraising.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/page-views-count/ajax-loader- 2x.gif)