Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland focuses on helping small local charities in Northern Ireland support people in greatest need, with a strong emphasis on community wellbeing, practical advice services, and organisational strengthening. Their programs consistently back grassroots organisations with limited income, especially those delivering frontline support in poverty, disability, mental health, employability, and financial resilience. They also place unusual weight on collaboration, infrastructure, and capacity building, often pairing funding with mentoring, training, or development support.
Focus Areas
Poverty and Social ExclusionAdvice and Advocacy ServicesDisability and Autism SupportMental Health and CounsellingEmployability and Work ExperienceCharity Capacity Building and Infrastructure
Giving Approach
Primarily rolling or invite-only grants to small Northern Ireland charities, usually for 12 months to 2 years, with many awards in the £2,000-£20,000 range and some larger capacity-building grants up to £40,000 over two years. Funding often covers core costs, salary contributions, rent, training, materials, or specific service delivery, and several programs are tied to training, mentoring, or organisational development support. No unsolicited proposals for some funds, and some programs close when budgets are exhausted or reopen on a waiting-list basis.
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How to approach this funder
Check each programme carefully: some are rolling, some invite-only, and several explicitly do not accept unsolicited proposals. Applicants should be small Northern Ireland charities serving people in greatest need, with income caps often at £250,000 or £500,000, so emphasise local impact, clear need, and how the grant will support direct service delivery or organisational resilience.
Notable grantees:
• L'Arche
• Open Arts
• Mid-Ulster Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (MACP)
• Sensory Kids
• Sported Foundation
Open Grant Opportunities
Current and upcoming funding from Halifax Foundation for Northern Ireland that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowRolling / open intakeAward: Up to $20K
COLLABORATE Programme
povertyunemploymentdisabilities+11 more
Who can apply: At least 2 registered charities collaborating; each charity must have income of £500,000 or less; at least one year of accounts published; at least 3 unrelated trustees/board members for all charities involved; safeguarding policy; adequate insurance; pre-application discussion required; application must fit charitable purpose; not completed by a fundraising consultant; remain registered throughout the grant period.
Who can apply: Registered charity in Northern Ireland or another UK/Ireland charity regulator that operates in Northern Ireland; at least one year of annual returns published; annual income of £500,000 or less; at least 3 unrelated trustees/board members; safeguarding policy; adequate insurance; application must fit charitable purpose; not completed by a fundraising consultant; no current live grant; no unsuccessful outcome in last 12 months; not held 3 grants in 3 consecutive years; remain registered during grant period.
Deadline: Rolling; may close later in the year if budget is fully allocated.
Who can apply: Registered charity set up within the last 2 years; registered with Charity Commission for Northern Ireland or another UK/Ireland regulator showing operation in Northern Ireland; limited funds available; supports people in greatest need; at least 3 unrelated trustees/board members; safeguarding policy; adequate insurance; fit charitable purpose; no current live grant; not completed by a fundraising consultant; remain registered throughout the grant period.
Social and community welfareAdvice servicesPeople with disabilities+5 more
Who can apply: Registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland or another UK/Ireland regulator showing operation in Northern Ireland; established within the last 2 years; at least 3 unrelated trustees; safeguarding policy; cannot hold a current live grant from the Foundation.
Deadline: Rolling (programme will close when budget is reached).
Collaborative local interventionsSocial and community welfareAdvice services+2 more
Who can apply: All organisations must be registered charities; each must have at least one set of accounts published; each charity's income must be £500,000 or less; at least 3 unrelated trustees per charity; safeguarding policy; adequate insurance; pre-application discussion with grants team required.
Deadline: Rolling (programme will close when budget is reached); currently operating a waiting/oversubscription context (oversubscribed in 2025).
Poverty and social exclusionUnemployment / employabilityDisability support+5 more
Who can apply: Registered charity with at least one year of annual returns published on a charity regulator website; total annual income £500,000 or less; at least 3 unrelated trustees; safeguarding policy; adequate insurance; cannot hold a current live grant with the Foundation; not had an unsuccessful outcome within last 12 months; not held 3 grants in 3 consecutive years.
Deadline: Rolling programme (no fixed deadlines; may close when budget is allocated).
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.