The Allen Lane Foundation is a grant-making trust set up in 1966 to provide grants for charitable causes. The Foundation makes grants for up to three years, with a total value of £500-£15,000, although the average grant size is £5,000 – £6,000. In order to apply, your organisation does not need to be a registered charity as long as it is carrying out work for charitable purposes and works with one or more of these groups:
- Asylum seekers and refugees
- Gypsies and Travellers
- Migrant Workers
- Offenders and Ex-offenders
- Older People
- People experiencing mental health problems
- People experiencing violence or abuse
The Foundation focuses on funding work that will: make a lasting difference to people’s lives rather than simply alleviating the symptoms or current problems, is aimed at reducing isolation, stigma and discrimination, and encourages or enables unpopular groups to share in the life of the whole community. Whilst recognising (and being willing to support) on-going, tried and tested projects, the Foundation is particularly interested in unusual, imaginative or pioneering projects which have perhaps not yet caught the public imagination.
If you are a local organisation with an annual income of £100,000 or less, or a wider reaching charity with an income of £250,000 or less you will be eligible for a grant. Applications should be made via the online application form. You can submit your application at any time, and it normally takes 2-6 months for your application to be considered.
The Foundation’s website has a comprehensive list of guidelines to help you decide whether you are eligible for a grant or not and how to apply, which can all be found here.
The Foundation also offers a Social Cohesion Programme which specifically funds projects that aim to proactively break down barriers and tensions between different groups of people. With this fund the Foundation hopes support projects will help to build a more cohesive and inclusive community for everyone.