£1.67 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR CHARITIES IN 2026 FROM SOCIAL INVESTMENT FUND

The Social Investment Fund (SIF) is pleased to announce that in 2026 there is up to £1.67 million available for distribution to the charitable sector, which is an increase of 19% compared to 2025. Around £330,000 of this amount will be allocated to the Small Grants programme, with £1.34 million for Major Grants.

There will be two rounds of Small Grants and one round of Major Grants applications this year, with applications for Major Grants and the first round of Small Grants now open.

Both grants programmes are aimed at assisting charities and non-profit organisations (NPOs) which support Bailiwick residents. Since these programmes launched in 2021, over £8 million has been awarded to a diverse range of organisations across the charitable sector.

Applications are open to registered charities or NPOs operating within or to benefit the Bailiwick of Guernsey and applications should be focused on people in our community, on the services and support they need, or are of benefit to our community.

Small Grants Programme

The first round of Small Grants this year invites applications relating to arts, culture, heritage and sport only. The second round, in September, will be for applications from all sectors.

Organisations can apply for a grant of up to £15,000 to put towards one-off projects, capital expenses, or running costs of up to a year’s duration. Applications for salary costs within specific projects, usually of up to one year’s duration, will be considered and any other salary costs may be considered on an exceptional basis for no more than one year.

Recent recipients have included Guernsey Street Festival, which was awarded £5,000 towards the 2026 event; £5,700 towards a ‘Year of the Normans 2027’ artistic project run by Guernsey Arts Commission; and Guernsey Sailing Trust receiving £7,500 for one year’s costs of their Sailability programme.

Major Grants Programme

SIF’s Major Grants Programme seeks to support the financial sustainability of the Bailiwick’s charitable sector. SIF is focusing on one round of major grants applications in 2026, which means that all applications will be considered alongside each other, enabling SIF to invest its funding in activities and organisations which are most needed in the community.

Applications are invited for grants of over £15,000 and organisations must demonstrate their measurable impact. Funding can cover running costs and salaries, capital costs and multi-year funding. Applications can be for costs needed this year or for activities from 2027 onwards, as long term strategic planning from charities is encouraged.

Applications must support one of the following outcomes:

- Improving the lives of people with specific needs, disadvantages or vulnerabilities
- Employment, education or training opportunities
- The protection of our natural environment, culture and heritage
- Improved health and wellbeing for our community
- An inclusive community, which challenges the barriers causing disadvantage or discrimination

SIF will meet with organisations interested to apply for a Major Grant to discuss their funding needs, the importance of their work to the community and the proposed impact.

Recent recipients have included Independence, awarded £46,524 towards the costs and continued professional development of providing a service for at risk and problem gamblers, their families and affected others for a period of 3 years; and the Guernsey Sports Commission, awarded £103,102 towards running costs for 'On Your Marks' school holidays sports programme for 3 years.

Tim Barker, Chair of the Social Investment Fund, said:

“SIF is delighted to be able to distribute significantly more money this year to benefit local charities, as we know that funding continues to be a serious challenge in the current economic climate.

For Small Grants, we know that there is high demand for funding for arts, culture, heritage and sports activities so we have chosen to focus on this area for our first round. Major Grants applications will be accepted in one extended round so that we can look across the sector at where our funds will make the largest impact to the community. We encourage charities of any sector or size across the Bailiwick to apply for support.”

Charities are advised to read the guidelines before completing an application, which can then be submitted online through SIF’s grant application portal. Organisations can review full information about the grants programmes and how to apply, including recipients at: https://sif.gg/grant-programmes/

Complete applications for Small Grants must be received by 12pm on Wednesday 1st April, and Major Grants on Friday 15th May.  

For enquiries about SIF’s Major Grants programmes please contact Sadie Siviter de Paucar on Sadie.Siviterdepaucar@gov.gg or 07781 109899 and for Small Grants contact Caroline Barby on Caroline.Barby2@gov.gg or 01481 223613.