CAF Keystone Fund

As many small charities face challenges this winter, Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) has today launched a new £3m fund for small charities working to improve social equity in their communities. 

The Keystone Fund will award unrestricted grants towards the core costs of running a charity, strengthening capacity, or building resilience. Many smaller charities across the UK are under heavy strain against the backdrop of increased demand for services, rising running costs and reduced income.  

Local charities across the UK are encouraged to apply for the new fund if they are addressing social injustice or working towards social equity to create a fairer society. Half of the available funds will be focused on organisations supporting refugees in the UK.

Around 120 charities will receive grants between £5,000 and £50,000, with an average grant of £25,000. CAF will also provide resilience building tools and information to put organisations into a stronger position for future work.
Sharply increased demand for services, economic pressures and an ongoing decline in public donations is putting many smaller charities across the UK under heavy strain.  

The Keystone Fund aims to enable locally and regionally-focused charities working towards social equity to become more agile in their support for their communities. It provides a programme of unrestricted grants, networking and access to advice webinars and toolkits. 

The legacy of the fund will be greater opportunities for those who need it most, along with charities that are in a stronger position to continue to support them, thereby accelerating progress in society towards a fair and sustainable future for all. 

CAF intends that through these grants and access to additional resilience building resources, small charities will be better positioned now and for the future as keystones in their communities.

Neil Heslop OBE, Chief Executive of the Charities Aid Foundation, said: 

“The current cost-of-living crisis shows how small charities provide a lifeline to the most vulnerable in our communities across the UK. But at the same time, their ability to respond is threatened due to their own rising costs and depleted reserves following the pandemic. 

“The Keystone Fund focuses on local organisations working towards social equity to build a fairer society for all. We know that charities are best placed to decide how to deploy funds, and many will need to focus on their core costs at this challenging time. We hope these new unrestricted grants will help strengthen small charities as keystones in their communities and continue to help those who need it most.”

All you have to do is fill out an expression of interest form by mid-night on Wednesday 23rd November 2022.