Trust for London Announces Changes to Funding Strategy

Grants typically range from £40,000 to £80,000 per year for up to five years. 

Trust for London has announced that it will no longer fund projects that only support individuals, such as frontline service delivery work, to focus its resources on work that addresses the structural reasons for poverty and helps to create long-term change.

Citing economic pressures, a shrinking endowment, and the need to maximise the impact of limited resources, the Trust has stated that it is no longer possible to provide the same level of crisis support funding it has provided since the COVID-19 pandemic and cost-of-living crisis. Instead, the Trust will focus on work that shifts the policies, practices, and narratives that keep people in poverty.

This could mean:

  • Supporting new ideas and models that challenge unfair systems and build alternatives.
  • Backing sustained campaigns that change policy.
  • Funding advice work that directly links with broader policy advocacy.

The Trust’s main priority areas have stayed the same. However, applications under the migration priority are not currently being accepted while the Trust reviews how best to prioritise resources.

The following types of funding are available: 

  • Project funding for discrete and time-bound pieces of work.
  • Unrestricted funding for registered charities working solely to tackle poverty in London.

Grants typically range from £40,000 to £80,000 per year for up to five years. 

Future applicants should demonstrate how their work contributes to broader structural change. Existing grants will remain unaffected. Applications can be submitted at any time and are considered on a rolling basis. 

Who Can Apply

The following can apply: 

  • Registered charities.
  • Charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs).
  • Community interest companies (CICs).
  • Companies that are limited by guarantee.
  • Trusts.
  • Unincorporated associations. 
  • Cooperative societies.
  • Trade unions.

Applicants must have the following:

  • A bank account with two unrelated signatories. 
  • At least three trustees or directors who are independent of the senior management of the organisation.
  • A written constitution.
  • Be paying at least the London Living Wage.

Restrictions

The following are not eligible for funding: 

  • Individuals.
  • Mainstream public services, including schools and hospitals.
  • Work that subsidises statutory services. 
  • The promotion of religion.
  • General appeals.
  • Retrospective costs.
  • Organisations holding significant free reserves (typically equating to up to nine months' worth of expenditure).

KVA is only promoting this fund. For more information, please visit:

Trust For London - How To Apply