# Big Give’s 2023 Green Match Fund opens for applications – & more funding opportunities

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2023/01/27/big-gives-2023-green-match-fund-opens-for-applications-more-funding-opportunities/
- Published: 2023-01-27T10:00:00+00:00
- Author: Melanie May

**The Green Match Fund and The Childhood Trust’s Champions for Children campaign
are both now open for applications, while a host of funders are offering support
for good causes around the country. More on these opportunities below.**

#### The Childhood Trust’s Champions for Children campaign opens for applications

Applications for The Childhood Trust’s [Champions for Children](https://blog.thebiggive.org.uk/champions-for-children/)
campaign are open, providing unrestricted funding to charities working to alleviate
the impact of poverty on children across London. Charities can apply now to be involved
and have their donations doubled.

## Advertisement

Champions for Children takes place from 6-13 June. Last year saw £3mn raised for
81 charities.

Charities that complete the application are automatically enrolled on to the next
stage, which involves securing the Pledgers for the campaign. Their pledges make
up part of the match funding pot. Charities must secure a minimum of £1k in pledges
to be eligible for Champion funding. The amount of pledges secured determines the
amount of Champion funds charities are eligible to receive. The combined amount 
of pledges and Champion funds make up the charities’ match funding pot.

During the campaign week, All donations to participating charities are doubled. 
Pledge funds are used to match online donations first. When these are exhausted,
the Champion funds are used to match online donations.

To help, the Childhood Trust provides a free suite of resources to help support 
charities to maximise the opportunity and market the campaign.

---

#### Big Give 2023 Green Match Fund open for applications

Charities working on environmental issues as part of their core mission can now 
apply to take part in the Big Give’s 2023 [Green Match Fund](https://blog.thebiggive.org.uk/green-match-fund/).

Applications are open now until 17 February, with the Green Match Fund taking place
from 20-27 April.

Last year’s campaign raised £2.7mn for 146 environmental charities with almost 13,500
donations given.

All public donations made to participating charities via theBigGive.org.uk during
the week of the campaign will be matched up to a specific amount.

---

#### Last chance to apply for a grant from the Amazon Literary Partnership

The Amazon Literary Partnership has issued a last call for grant applications before
the entry period closes on 31 January 2023.

Returning for a fourth year, the Amazon Literary Partnership (ALP) provides grants
to UK non-profit literary organisations that support emerging writers, champion 
diversity and celebrate storytelling. In 2022, the ALP supported 28 literary groups
across the UK – from organisations dedicated to helping children and young adults
develop their writing skills, to those championing the next generation of playwrights
who might otherwise lack pathways into writing.
Applicants can head to [apply.amazonliterarypartnership.co.uk](http://apply.amazonliterarypartnership.co.uk/)
to learn more, and successful grant recipients will be notified by 16 May 2023.

---

#### Grants for groups to keep services & projects running

The Essex Fund is open for applications with Essex based charities encouraged to
apply for financial support to keep their services and projects running.

Groups can apply for up to £5,000 towards their core and operating expenditure, 
project costs or capital items.

The Fund, which is managed by the Essex Community Foundation, was set up by Essex
County Council in 2000 to provide annual support to the voluntary and community 
sector in Essex.  Since it was set up, the Fund has given out nearly £1.5 million
in grants.

Organisations and projects that help unpaid carers, improve the environment or engage
people in environmental projects, provide a community resource or activities that
help young people, including arts, culture and heritage projects, are all eligible
for consideration. The panel is particularly interested in supporting smaller voluntary
organisations and projects that are working in areas of deprivation where there 
is a lack of facilities.

The deadline for [applications](https://www.essexcommunityfoundation.org.uk/applying-for-support/)
is Friday 3 March, 5pm and organisations across Essex are being encouraged to contact
Essex Community Foundation (ECF) to apply.

---

#### NFU Mutual announces £3.25mn of funding for local & national charities

In response to the ongoing challenges faced by communities across the country, NFU
Mutual has announced £3.25mn of funding for local and national charities during 
2023.

NFU Mutual will be donating £1.92mn to local front-line charities through its Agency
Giving Fund. NFU Mutual’s Agency and branch offices, covering more than 295 locations
nationwide, will be invited to nominate frontline charities to receive a share of
this fund.

To support national and regional charities, NFU Mutual is pledging £1mn to the NFU
Mutual Charitable Trust, which supports other charities and organisations working
in the interests of agriculture, rural communities and the countryside. Details 
of how to apply to the Trust are available [here](https://www.nfumutual.co.uk/about-us/charitable-trust/applications-for-funding/).

Alongside this, NFU Mutual has also committed £30,000 to its Community Champions
scheme, to support causes close the heart of its people, by donating to staff fundraising
events and initiatives.

A £300,000 donation will also go to the Farm Safety Foundation.

---

#### Virgin Money Foundation provides cash boost to Community Anchor grant recipients

Charities and community groups across Glasgow and the North East of England are 
set to benefit from a cash boost from the Virgin Money Foundation. 

74 organisations that have previously been awarded grants as part of the Community
Anchor programme will share additional payments totalling over £213,000 as cost-
of-living increases continue to impact local communities. 

These community groups offer both ongoing support and emergency provision to people
affected by the rising cost of living, all while tackling increased operating costs
themselves. To help relieve some of the financial pressure, the Virgin Money Foundation
has awarded a further 10% increase on Community Anchors’ Fund grants made in the
North East of England and Glasgow during 2022. Each organisation will receive the
additional payment by the end of January.  

Community anchors are organisations that provide local people with support, services,
activities, and volunteering opportunities. More information on what organisations
qualify as such, and how to apply can be found [here](https://virginmoneyfoundation.org.uk/grants-programme/the-community-anchors-fund/).
The Community Anchor Fund doesn’t have a deadline for applications but closes once
all the money available has been allocated.

---

#### Children receive help from Cambridge winter crisis fund with more funding available

Children under 10 are among more than 100 people to have received aid in the four
weeks since The Cambridge Building Society and Cambridgeshire Community Foundation
launched their £100,000 Cost of Living Crisis Fund.

The fund is designed to help local households most affected by increased costs over
the winter months, and distributes the money via local charities already working
with families and individuals who need it most.

More than half of the recipients of the aid recently distributed by one of the partner
charities, Cambridge Aid, went to families with children under the age of 10 to 
help them with food, heating and household essentials this winter. More than a quarter
of the beneficiaries of Citizens Advice Rural Cambs also included families with 
young children. A third charity, Cambridge City Foodbank, is also distributing funds.

The [Cambridge Building Society Cost of Living Crisis Fund](https://www.cambridgebs.co.uk/more/making-the-difference/cost-of-living-crisis-fund)
is expected to run until the end of March. To apply, contact [Cambridgeshire Community Foundation](http://www.cambscf.org.uk/),
[Cambridge Aid](https://cambridgeaid.org/), and [Citizen’s Advice Rural Cambs](http://www.citizensadviceruralcambs.org.uk/)
directly.

 * **[Bank supports Help the Hospices with Christmas campaign](https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/12/03/bank-supports-help-hospices-christmas-campaign/)**(
   3 December 2008)
 * **[Foundation sets £500,000 challenge](https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/07/02/foundation-sets-500000-challenge/)**(
   2 July 2009)
 * **[Matched fund for Asia-Pacific disasters raises £50,000](https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/10/20/matched-fund-asiapacific-disasters-raises-50000/)**(
   20 October 2009)
