Grocers' Charity Open Grants

Overview

The Grocers' Charity is the charitable arm of the Grocers' Company. As a grant-awarding body, their mission is to invest in and support a broad range of small and medium-sized UK-registered charities that positively impact public benefit. 

Their values 

• Engaging with a wide range of charities supporting a diverse range of challenging circumstances 
• Having an open dialogue with other funders, researchers and the charity sector 
• Keeping an open policy to remain flexible in responding to the most pressing needs 
• Partnering with other funders and individuals to contribute to longer-term social investment 
• Committing to continuous improvement by reducing the environmental impact of our investments and operations 

Open Grants

For their open grants, they typically provide one-off grants of up to £5,000. 

They receive over 1,000 applications a year and award 14% of the applications received, on average.

Funding Priorities

Relief of Hardship

They support programmes that reduce the disadvantages that people experience due to their circumstances or a lack of financial means. They fund charities

• Providing training courses, better facilities, or parenting support. 
• Supporting and empowering those who experience or are at risk of homelessness, including domestic violence/abuse. 
• Working in areas of high deprivation (English Indices).

Children and Young People (0-25)

They support programmes that help young people to overcome the challenges and barriers they experience. They fund charities

• Building children and young people’s strengths and potential to empower them to participate and take action to realise their goals. 
• Supporting children and young people's well-being through peer support or group activities. 

The Elderly

They support programmes that help older people to live with dignity and participate fully in their communities. They fund charities

• Providing services that end social exclusion. 
• Providing befriending or other programmes to end loneliness. 
• Providing services that enhance daily activities or home life. 

Disability and Inclusion

They support programmes that empower marginalised and excluded disabled people and promote social inclusion. They fund charities

• Identifying and tackling the barriers to inclusion and participation. 
• Providing front-line support for disabled people.

Arts 

They support programmes that foster well-being and promote creativity, self-expression and social understanding through ideas, dialogue and performance. They fund charities

• Providing opportunities, education and skills development of creative talent for artists with financing challenges or disability support requirements. 
• Engaging with marginalised audiences, e.g., disabled, BAME, and people living below the minimum poverty threshold for the appreciation of arts, performances or exhibitions. 

Heritage

They support programmes that help bring history to life and give people a sense of identity, place, and connection to the past. They fund charities

• Conserving and restoring historic buildings (excluding places of worship). 
• Conserving historical objects and paintings. 

Environment and Conservation

They support programmes that promote a healthier, more sustainable environment and reduce emissions and waste. They fund charities

• Supporting the protection and survival of plants and animals by maintaining and restoring habitats, enhancing ecosystems, and protecting biological diversity. 
• Educating behavioural changes addressing environmental issues like littering and waste.
• Countering the effects of pollution and climate change, e.g., ideas and projects which tackle the issue of plastic waste and those which help reduce carbon emissions. 

Health

They support programmes that promote good health and well-being, enabling people to live fulfilling lives and achieve their life goals. They fund charities

• Undertaking ethical research into specific medical conditions. 
• Supporting people with medical conditions by purchasing a piece of equipment or other tangible project. 
• Supporting people with well-being concerns or mental health illnesses. 
• Having a turnover of no more than £15m. 

Military

They support programmes that help military veterans transition and adjust to civilian life. They fund charities

• Providing innovative programmes, education or employment for ex-service people. 
• Supporting the physical, emotional and mental well-being of current and ex-service people and their families. 

All grants are subject to approval by a Committee which reserves the right to award grants outside these criteria.