If you run a charity, community group or social enterprise anywhere in Greater Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire Community Foundation is likely to be the most useful local funder you can name. Like other community foundations, it doesn't run one big programme. It looks after a long list of named funds, each paid for by a donor, a council or an energy company, and each with its own area, themes and dates.
When we wrote this, 18 of its funds were open or taking applications on a regular cycle. They fall into three groups: funds that cover the whole county, funds tied to a wind or solar farm and the villages around it, and a handful of grants for individuals. Most are small, typically £2,000 to £5,000, but one East Lindsey scheme goes up to £35,000.
One thing to get right first: "Greater Lincolnshire" means the county of Lincolnshire plus North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire. Most county-wide funds cover all three. A few don't, and we flag those below.
The county-wide funds
Michael Cornish Core Grants Programme: up to £5,000
This is the fund to look at if you need help with running costs, which most funders avoid. It pays for revenue costs, including core running costs, with small capital costs allowed only where they're essential to the work.
Your project needs to fit at least one theme: young people, families, homeless people and ex-offenders, victims of domestic abuse or sexual violence, alleviating poverty, or rural deprivation. The Foundation says it's short of applications on homelessness, ex-offenders, rural deprivation and families facing hardship, so those get priority. The current round closes on 16 October 2026, with decisions within eight weeks. National and regional organisations can't apply.
Evan Cornish Grassroots Fund: up to £6,000
For smaller, volunteer-led groups improving wellbeing and easing isolation. Themes include older people and dementia, homelessness, advice and debt support, food security and support for people leaving prison and their families. It pays for equipment, travel, venue hire, refreshments and volunteer training, but not building work or vehicles. The fund gives out around £50,000 a year. Its latest round has just passed, so check the page for the next date before you start.
High Sheriffs' Fund: up to £5,000
For community safety and crime reduction, such as diversionary activities for young people and intergenerational projects that reduce fear of crime. The average grant is about £2,000 from a pot of around £15,000 a year, and running costs are allowed. The next closing date is 1 March 2027. Note the area: groups in North and North East Lincolnshire are pointed to the Tribune Trust instead.
The Social Justice Fund: up to £3,000
Funded largely by the Diocese of Lincoln, this backs work on the causes of poverty, isolation and injustice rather than the symptoms. Groups should ideally show a link to a local Church of England church, and churches themselves can apply for social justice work, though not for mission activity. Salaries are unlikely to be funded. Its last round ended in September 2026, so watch for the next one.
Q Futures Community Fund: up to £5,000
Run with the broadband company Quickline, this funds employment, training and skills, along with digital inclusion and partnership work. Priority goes to projects creating jobs and training for people in disadvantaged rural communities. The likely award is around £2,000. It covers North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire and parts of Lincolnshire, so check the maps on the fund page. The next closing date is 1 November 2026.
East Lindsey Community Legacy Scheme: up to £35,000
The largest fund on the list, paid for by East Lindsey District Council. It's open to charities, community groups, social enterprises and town and parish councils delivering projects in East Lindsey only. Grants cover capital and revenue costs, against themes including community facilities, digital exclusion and transport, young people, older people, and heritage, arts and culture.
Read the conditions closely. Projects costing more than £5,000 need at least 25% match funding, which can be in-kind. Everything must be spent and reported on by the end of February 2028. Schools and PTAs can't apply, solar panels aren't funded, and play equipment needs evidence of local consultation. The next closing date is 30 October 2026, with more dates to follow.
Wind and solar farm funds
These funds are paid for by energy companies and cover only the villages close to a site. That makes them some of the least competitive grants in the county, if you're in the right place.
- Laceby Solar Farm, up to £10,000: for Laceby, Irby, Riby, Barnoldby le Beck, Bradley, Aylesby and Beelsby. Up to £20,000 may be considered for larger capital projects after a conversation first. Next deadline 1 April 2027, though requests up to £500 can be considered between panels.
- Sutton Bridge Solar Farm Community Fund, up to £5,000: for groups improving life in Sutton Bridge, with up to £10,000 for larger capital projects with prior approval. It meets once a year, with a 1 May deadline.
- Grange Wind Farm Community Fund, up to £5,000: within ten miles of Tydd St Mary, with priority inside five miles. It now considers general running costs because of the cost of living. Deadlines 1 January and 1 June.
- Bicker Wind Farm Trust, up to £5,000: environmental and energy efficiency projects within ten miles of Bicker Fen. A school project has to come through its PTA, not the school. Deadlines 1 April and 1 October.
- Triton Knoll Offshore Community Wind Farm Fund, up to £5,000: for communities within 3km of the landfall near Anderby Creek or 5km of the substation near Bicker Fen. Deadlines 1 February and 1 August.
- Humber Gateway Community Fund, £500 to £2,500: across North East Lincolnshire. Organisations with a turnover over £1 million can't apply, and bids up to £500 use a shorter form. Deadlines 1 January and 1 June.
- Springwell Solar Farm Pre-Operational Community Fund, £1,000: for villages around the planned Springwell site near Scopwick. Next deadline 1 November 2026.
There are two smaller place-based funds too. The Horncastle Health and Wellbeing Fund gives up to £2,000 for health and wellbeing projects within ten miles of Horncastle, with deadlines on 1 March and 1 September. The Thonock Aspiration Fund for Schools gives up to £300 for trips, kit and clubs for children at schools in and around Gainsborough, reviewed every month.
Grants for individuals
- SWEF Enterprise Grants: for 18 to 30 year olds in Greater Lincolnshire running a new business. Up to £500 before you've made any sales, or up to £2,000 if you've been trading for less than two years. You'll need a business plan and 12-month sales and cashflow forecasts. Rolling applications.
- Make-A-StarT (MAST): about £150 for people aged 16 and over to clear the last cost standing between them and a job or course, such as training or equipment. Rolling applications.
- The Big Lincolnshire Welcome Fund: £150 per person or £300 per family for essential items, for Ukrainian refugees on the Homes for Ukraine or Ukraine Family Scheme visas living in Lincolnshire.
The rules that catch applicants
Most of these funds share the same exclusions:
- One grant at a time. Several funds won't consider you while you hold another of their grants.
- Nothing retrospective. Costs already spent won't be covered, and neither will deficits or loans.
- Local groups first. Branches of national or regional charities are unlikely to be funded unless they have local management and control their own money.
- Two unrelated signatories. Most funds want a bank account in the group's name with at least two signatories who aren't related or living together.
- Not a substitute for statutory money. Churches, schools and parish councils can apply to several funds, but only for things with a wider community benefit, never routine maintenance.
The Foundation's grants team is based in Sleaford and invites a call before you apply. For the larger schemes in particular, that conversation is worth having first.
Finding Lincolnshire grants on Grants Hub
Lincolnshire Community Foundation is one of many funders in Grants Hub. We track 3,700+ open UK grants from 1,400+ funders, checked daily, so you can see these local funds next to the national programmes that might also cover your project. Search by location and cause to find the few worth your time.