City Bridge Trust
Objectives of Fund
The Foundation aims to fund work being carried out across 12 themes encompassing aspects of social justice, environment and infrastructure. Each funding theme contains distinct grant programmes with their own guidance.
There are two overarching priorities around which the Foundation's grantmaking is based:
- To reduce inequality.
- To enable voice and representation for people who are disadvantaged.
Value Notes
There are no minimum or maximum amounts specified. Average grant awards vary depending on the type of grant being applied for.
Grants can be awarded for up to five years.
The smallest amount ever given is £1,000 and the largest is £10 million.
The Foundation usually does not award revenue funding exceeding 50% of the applicant charity’s turnover/income in any one year and usually will only support salaries at up to one full time equivalent role (other project costs can be added to this).
Who Can Apply
The following organisations that work for the benefit of people who live in Greater London can apply:
- Registered charity.
- Registered Community Interest Company.
- Registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation.
- Charitable company.
- Registered charitable industrial and provident society (IPS) or charitable community benefit society (BenCom).
- A CIC limited by guarantee.
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be based in London or working for the benefit of people living in Greater London.
- Have a safeguarding policy.
- Have a governing document.
- Have a demonstrable track record, including audited/examined accounts for at least one year and which comply with the relevant regulatory body.
- Have a bank account in the organisation's name.
National charities may apply provided the work is for a discrete London project. Organisations based outside London also need to demonstrate that they have the necessary skills and experience to work in London and that they are meeting a need that London-based organisations are not.
All charities with an annual income over £5,000 are recommended to register with the Charity Commission.
Eligible Expenditure
The Foundation operates grant schemes under the following themes:
- Children and young people.
- Criminal justice: better futures for people leaving custody.
- Deaf and disabled people: inclusive services and better access.
- Environment and sustainability: creating a greener London.
- Increasing the quality and scale of giving.
- Building a robust civil society.
- Mental health.
- Older people: increasing choice and control.
- Social welfare, legal advice and food poverty.
- Migrants, refugees and people seeking asylum: rebuilding lives in London.
- Strengthening voice and leadership.
- Tackling abuse, exploitation and hatred.
Groups should visit the City Bridge Foundation website to view the grants available under each theme.
Revenue, capital and core costs can be funded, depending on the grant.
How To Apply
Applications can be submitted at any time. The Grants Committee meets six times a year to consider applications.
Application turnaround times vary according to application volumes and staff capacity. Due to key staff turnover and a high volume of applications, there are currently delays to the usual turnaround time of four to six months.
The Foundation has streamlined its application process. There is now one application form which can be used for all funding streams.
Applicants should first consult the eligibility checker to ensure they can be funded before applying.
The following supporting documents need to be supplied where applicable:
- Relevant job description(s) and Person Specification(s) with accompanying rate of pay.
- Monitoring framework.
- Safeguarding policy.
- Most recent signed audited or independently examined accounts if these are not available from the Charity Commission website.
- Governing document such as a constitution, Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association or Trust Deed.
- Detailed proposal, although this is not a formal requirement.
Contact the City Bridge Foundation for further information.
