Friday funding news – a round up of opportunities
Melanie May | 23 July 2021 | News
Here is a brief round up of some of the funding and support opportunities currently available to nonprofits as well as businesses focused on social good.
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Funding available for London nonprofits supporting vulnerable city residents
Third sector organisations supporting Londoners facing sexual and domestic abuse and homelessness can now apply for London Councils’ new four-year grants programme.
The new programme will run from 2022 to 2026, funded by London’s borough, and will bolster the collective efforts of local government, the voluntary and community sector, and other partners across the capital helping families find a safe home and support.
Applicants for the 2022-26 grants programme can be made by individual organisations or groups working together to provide services to tackle issues on a pan-London basis. The closing date for applications is Friday 10 September at noon.
Mayor Damien Egan, Chair of London Councils’ Grants Committee, said:
“The programme funds vital services for people who need specialist support and tackles some of the most pressing issues across London. People who are homeless or those at risk from or who have been subjected to violence are some of the most vulnerable we represent.
“The next four years will be a crucial time to learn from and develop our relationship with partners in the voluntary and community sector to help improve the lives of Londoners across the capital.”
New programme supports early-stage black-owned businesses & not for profits
ACE Entrepreneurs has launched a programme to support and fund early-stage black-owned businesses – which can also be accessed by not-for-profit organisations.
The ACE Entrepreneurs Investment Program has been launched to tackle a funding gap for black-owned businesses, which research shows sees black founders forced to self-fund to an average of £14k compared to the £9,500 from the UK average entrepreneur.
It is led by Nadine Campbell (pictured above), Founder of ACE Entrepreneurs, a community for diverse entrepreneurs, and Kevin Edwards, ACE Entrepreneurs’ Investment Partner and BTIG Managing Director – European Credit Sales & Trading.
As well as raising funds, it will create business plans, revenue and expenditure workbooks and bespoke business reviews for all applicants, on how to improve their business plans, which can be then used to look for other funding.
ACE already provides a free business knowledge learning base for entrepreneurs on their platform and the next step is this new investment programme.
Campbell said:
“We have launched this initiative to increase investment opportunities for small businesses by creating our first micro funding program for the diverse community. Despite the diverse community being one of the hardest hit during the pandemic, thousands of businesses were opened and are trading. What they lack is the ability to scale, which is where ACE entrepreneurs can offer business-changing funding and support.
“The public conversation about supporting diverse led businesses is gaining momentum, what we need now is tangible solutions that can effect real change for the mass market. The doors are opening for very unique entrepreneurs who can quickly go to Series-A funding or join up-market incubators. However, there are thousands of other, extremely promising small businesses that do not qualify across a range of sectors. We are specifically looking to support these high potential entrepreneurs who need funding or business support to scale.”
Second edition of Toyota Startup Accelerator funding programme open for applications
Funding for social good and sustainability-focused businesses is available through the second edition of the Toyota Startup Accelerator funding programme.
Toyota Motor Europe (TME) and ISDI Digital Business School are behind the programme and are calling for entries from startups developing solutions for inclusive mobility and sustainability.
A jury formed of executives and experts from both will choose up to five entrants to participate in the six-month programme, which starts in October this year. These start-ups will receive funds to develop their proofs of concept with Toyota, which they will then pitch at a demo day in May 2022.
The Toyota Startup Accelerator aims to tap into European startups’ potential and encourage innovative solutions in four fields:
Mobility for All: micro mobility assistance solutions that will improve the lives of less able people, to ensure nobody is left behind in mobility.
Carbon Neutral Circular Economy: concepts in the area of carbon capture and utilisation (chemicals, fuels, minerals), including storage techniques, in order to go further than zero emissions by reversing the CO2 gap to reach a carbon neutral society.
Circular Economy of Plastics: new ways of repairing, reusing and recycling plastic materials and components for circular business models, to address plastic waste by promoting initiatives to reduce virgin material use.
Life Cycle Footprint Ecosystem: LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) tools to help product suppliers deliver accurate and up-to-date solutions to help customers to be more aware of their footprint and daily product choices, to increase awareness of products’ climate impact throughout their life cycle and provide product suppliers with more efficient and accurate assessment tools.
The winning startups will be awarded funds for further development of their projects and TME may offer them an opportunity to engage in further collaboration.
Monica Perez Lobo, Head of Sustainability and ESG at Toyota Motor Europe said:
“Toyota Startup Accelerator fully reflects our Beyond Zero commitment to go further, creating innovations and initiatives that improve people’s movement, lives, society and the planet. And, in partnership with the ISDI Accelerator programme we want to provide a launch pad for like-minded innovators.”
Startups can apply here, with a deadline of 14 September.
ScottishPower Foundation invites applications for funding in 2022
2022 will see ScottishPower providing UK registered charities with funding for projects supporting education, training, research, biodiversity, climate change, arts, culture, as well as vulnerable people and groups in society.
It is inviting applications for this funding now, and charities registered with one of the UK charity regulators for at least one full year can apply for grants of between £35,000 and £200,000.
Grants are available for one year only, and projects must start during 2022 and be completed within 12 months.
Applications must address at least one of the ScottishPower Foundation’s strategic aims, which are:
· Education, training and research – to support education, training and research in general, prioritising innovation in order to contribute to energy sustainability.
· Biodiversity and climate change – to support the protection of the environment and to enhance biodiversity; to actively contribute in the fight against climate change.
· Art and culture – to protect and safeguard artistic and cultural heritage by promoting conservation and restoration of the arts and supporting local development.
· Social initiatives – to contribute to sustainable human development by supporting the most vulnerable people and groups.
It is particularly interested in applications that will support the most vulnerable people in society, and projects must also address one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The funding is for the delivery of specific projects and not for general unrestricted running costs. This can include salary costs.
The deadline for applications is 6 August at 1pm.
Maximus Foundation UK awards £40K to colleague-nominated staff
Funding already awarded – the Maximus Foundation UK has announced £40,000 in donations to help charities impacted by the pandemic. Its latest round of fundraising aims to help local charities to rebuild and continue services, providing 16 grants across the country to ensure local support is maintained and expanded. The Foundation raised a total of £95,000 in 2020, supporting 38 charities.
The charities were nominated by Maximus UK colleagues, and include organisations that deliver services to support vulnerable adults, children, and homeless people. Fundraising for the Foundation is match-funded by Maximus UK.
Grant beneficiaries include The Bread and Butter Thing, a charity which provides food packages, support and advice to people on low incomes in the Greater Manchester area, and St Margaret’s Hospice, which helps patients and their families across Somerset facing a life-limiting illness.
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About Melanie May
Melanie May is a journalist and copywriter specialising in writing both for and about the charity and marketing services sectors since 2001. She can be reached via thepurplepim.com.