New Covid-19 rules from Friday 24th July
23rd July 2020Covid-19 Community Led Organisations Recovery Scheme
24th July 2020Community Match Challenge Fund Accepting Applications From Charitable Grant Making Organisations
The Government will match pound for pound any funds raised over the next six weeks by grant making organisations such as charitable foundations or other philanthropic institutions to help those most affected by the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic in England.
The £85 million Community Match Challenge is part of the £750 million funding package announced by the Chancellor in April 2020. Applications will be accepted until Sunday 2 August 2020 for funds raised over a six-week period (from 18 July until 31 August).
The funding is principally intended for small and medium sized charities and social enterprises in England to support those who are most vulnerable and the hardest hit by COVID-19.
The Government will match 100% of funds successful applicants raise between 18 July 2020 and 31 August 2020. The target of the fund is to award grants in the range £5 million to £20 million. Bids below £1 million will not be considered. Bids above £1 million and below £5 million will be considered against the criteria in the guidance and application form. All funds received by the Government must be spend by onward grantees by 31 March 2021.
Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, said about the scheme:
“Since Covid hit, the British people, businesses and philanthropists have stepped up and fundraised hundreds of millions of pounds to support the most vulnerable in our communities.
“We’re now launching a Community Match Challenge as part of our multi-billion-pound package of support for our brilliant charity sector. The Government will match pound for pound what is raised by others to double the generosity of others.”
The guidance notes and application form are available on the GOV.UK website.
The deadline for applications is 2 August 2020 (midnight).