Aims/priorities: The Foundation's objective is to contribute to lasting social change by funding creative and collaborative approaches that build and test solutions to some of society's most difficult challenges. The aim is to support organisations that think differently and enable innovation. This could be through introducing new methods, ideas, or products to improve services and systems.
The funding is for charitable and not-for-profit organisations across the UK for projects that fall within the foundation's chosen areas of special interest:
- Quality of life for older people and their carers.
- Opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers.
- Mental health of children and young people. (Currently closed to applications.)
Who can apply? Voluntary, statutory and for-profit organisations (including CICs and CIOs) can apply.
Organisations should be able to demonstrate:
- Why the funding is needed.
- How the funding will be used to unlock and overcome barriers.
- That they are committing funding and/or support in kind from its own resources proportionate to its capacity.
Statutory organisations will need to consider how a grant will enable transformation over and above delivering statutory obligations.
For-profit organisations will need to show that charitable funding is necessary to enable transformative change.
Statutory and for-profit organisations will be expected to work collaboratively with the voluntary sector.
Grant amount: Grants have typically been £10,000 to £30,000 per year, but average grant sizes have been increasing over recent years. The Foundation usually makes multi-year grants.
Funding can be used for specific project costs, including salaries and a reasonable contribution to overheads and on-costs. Applications for core costs will be considered where an organisation is making a step-change in the way that it works or tackles a particular issue.
Application process: June 2026 announcement:
'The Rayne Foundation is replacing its rolling, open grants programme with regular, targeted and time-limited calls in its priority areas. This change is part of the Foundation's continued evolution and reflects our efforts to focus our funding where we can have the most impact.'
Next steps
- Friday 10 July: the open, rolling programme will close and the online Expression of Interest form will no longer be available.
- July and August: the grants team will remain open to conversations if groups have already begun developing their applications. Groups might be invited to apply, either then or at a later date, if the grants team sees a strong alignment with the foundation's other work.
If our eligibility quiz indicates that you’re a good match, the next step is to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI).
Please read the application guidance before taking the eligibility quiz.
Deadline: Friday, 10 July 2026.
Contact information: Email: applications@raynefoundation.org.uk