Grant Giving
We are proud to have awarded over £10 million to community organisations through our award winning funding programmes.
We know that funding is the biggest challenge facing community organisations and grassroots sports clubs across the UK. As an established and trusted grant giver, Sported are committed to distributing funding to groups that need it most. In collaboration with our incredible partners, we are proud to have awarded over £10 million to community organisations through our award winning funding programmes.
Sported puts applicants at the heart of its grant giving. We target organisations that do not traditionally receive funding and minimise barriers through simplified application processes and proportionate due diligence. Our funding is broadly unrestricted and outcome focused, giving organisations the flexibility to decide how best to use their grant for the greatest impact.
We have a greater appetite for risk than many other funders. We support organisations that may struggle to complete applications and those with little experience of applying for funding. Through our regional support networks across the UK, we reach underfunded and diverse grassroots groups and support organisations at every step of their funding journey.
As part of the Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR) network, we are committed to open, trust-based and flexible grant giving. We have signed up to IVARs eight funding commitments to strengthen and reinforce this approach.
To learn more about our approach to grant giving, the organisations we fund and how we align with the eight IVAR commitments, read Sported’s Grant Making Policy for more information.
We have broadly the same expectations across all our programmes. Applicants must provide additional information with their grant application. During assessment, we carry out due diligence checks proportionate to the amount requested to ensure that we fund safe and trusted organisations. We guide applicants through the process and advise them about what to send us.
Read What you need to provide with your application for more information.
We understand that AI is sometimes used to help write application forms, particularly to summarise information or meet access requirements. We will not reject an application simply because AI has been used. However, we need to understand the authentic needs of your community and how our funding can help, and AI may not capture this fully. You may use AI as a starting point, but we want to hear about the unique experiences of your organisation or community. Sported does not use AI to assess grant applications.
We are committed to supporting organisations that have accessibility needs and welcome alternative ways of applying for funding from us.
Read Accessibility when applying for a grant from Sported for more information
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See what funding is currently available and take a look at the huge impact that funding has on our network
