For organisations with income under £75,000. An ideal first grant for a new/emerging group, or a modest helping hand for an existing group.  

A grant can be spent on start-up costs, core costs, capital costs.  

We aim to get back to you with a decision within 4-6 weeks of applying. 

Please note that you can only submit one application every six months. Your first Kent Community Foundation grant must be spent and reported back on before any second application is made. 

Consider this route if:

• You have an annual income under £3m and want to apply for a grant up to £6,000.

• You have an annual income under £75,000 but want to apply for a grant between £2,000 and £6,000. For grants up to £2,000 with a faster turnaround, try our Micro Grants route.

• You do not yet have a track record with Kent Community Foundation (three or more grants in three years).

• You have a track record but want a defined timescale for a decision on funding success.

You can only submit one application every six months. Your first Kent Community Foundation grant must be spent and reported back on before any second application is made.

Applications via our General route are accepted year‑round. Once we have your form and all supporting documents, we aim to give you a decision within 4–6 months. The quicker we receive everything, the sooner we can complete due diligence and assess your application.

Grants of up to £10,000 are available to eligible charities and community groups in Kent and Medway providing frontline services to care leavers, age 16.5-25. This fund is available via funding from CCLA Investment House, with match funding. Grants will focus on supporting care leavers as they move from foster/state care to independent living. Areas of focus to fund include mentoring, therapy, counselling and peer support services, care leaver sessions, practical advice and training to support care leavers to set up home, gain confidence, experience, life skills and help reach their potential.

Select ‘Apply now’ to access the General form. When prompted, choose ‘Yes’ and type the fund name: Care Leavers Fund.

The fund is also awarding grants to individuals, nominated by a professional who is supporting them. Visit grants for Individuals page for more details. 

Grants are available to help local communities start or grow allotments.

• Up to £7,500 for existing allotments/community gardens

• Up to £10,000 for new groups creating growing spaces

Funding can support:

• Plot revival and expansion: clearing disused or overgrown plots to reduce waiting lists and get new growers started.

• “Get Growing” starter packs: tools, seeds, and plants for beginners or those on low incomes (reusable items stay with the allotment).

• Membership/fee bursaries: covering annual costs for people who may struggle to afford a plot.

• Core support: insurance, legal fees, and rental costs to keep sites accessible.

• New site setup: up to £10,000 (max 80% of project costs) for parish councils or new groups establishing allotments where none exist.

Groups must be established as a community resource with a governing document, trustees/management committee, and a named bank account. The grants team may request a site visit.

Before applying, please contact natalie@kentcf.org.uk in the first instance.

Grants of up to £18,000 are available for work that strengthens a charity’s capacity, impact and long‑term sustainability. Priority is given to organisations supporting children and young people, health and wellbeing, and environmental conservation.

Funding supports capital or infrastructure projects that strengthen charities. To be eligible, organisations must be registered for at least three years, have an income over £100,000, and request less than 10% of that income.

The fund focuses on helping charities improve their capability — for example through leadership development, strategic planning, fundraising, financial management or impact measurement.

IT upgrades are no longer a priority, and general repairs cannot be funded.

Click here for more information about the fund guidelines

Select ‘Apply now’ to access the General form. When prompted, choose ‘Yes’ and type the fund name: Local Development Fund

If you’ve applied through the Annual or General route, you don’t need to apply again — your application will automatically be considered for this fund.

The Trust has pledged funding for charitable organisations requiring financial support for projects that promote traditional crafts and skills, improve the habitat or advance amateur sport.

Applications of up to £10,000 will be considered for one of these three criteria.

• The promotion of traditional crafts and skills in the built environment, agriculture and the conservation of historic bridges

• The advancement of environmental protection or improvement on the River Medway and its banks and in Rochester and Strood

• Community development and advancement of amateur sport through access to and appropriate use of the River Medway

Select ‘Apply now’ to access the General form. When prompted, choose ‘Yes’ and type the fund name: The Rochester Bridge Trust.

If you’ve applied through the Annual or General route, you don’t need to apply again — your application will automatically be considered for this fund.

Port of Dover Community Fund accepts requests up to £10,000 for projects that provide opportunities to develop skills, support people on the pathway into employment and assist job creation, with a particular focus on young people and community led activities that enrich the social, cultural and environmental life of local communities, enhancing Dover as an attractive and welcoming place to live, work and visit.

Select ‘Apply now’ to access the General form. When prompted, choose ‘Yes’ and type the fund name: Port of Dover Community Fund. 

If you’ve applied through the Annual or General route, you don’t need to apply again — your application will automatically be considered for this fund.

Are you a sports club, community group delivering physical activities, or a charity focused on physical health? This fund could support your work.

The fund aims to increase access to healthy recreational activities across Ashford, especially for people who currently face barriers such as cost, confidence or lack of local opportunities. We particularly welcome applications from groups offering new activities in areas where little or nothing is currently available.

Eligible activities include indoor and outdoor pursuits that improve physical wellbeing — from dance, walking groups and table tennis to martial arts, yoga, Pilates, Zumba, sports, athletics and more. Activities can be aimed at any age or community group.

Grants of up to £10,000 (more for exceptional projects) are available for delivery costs, overheads and capital items such as new or upgraded equipment.

Projects must benefit people within the Ashford borough — from Chilham to Hamstreet, and Monks Horton to Biddenden.

The fund is open year‑round via our General route. Choose the theme that best matches your beneficiaries. Panels are held twice a year, in April and October, with applications taken to the nearest panel based on when they’re submitted.

If you’ve applied through the Annual or General route, you don’t need to apply again — your application will automatically be considered for this fund.

Grants to support impactful work in the communities of East Kent, with a focus on Herne Bay and Canterbury. 

Select ‘Apply now’ to access the General form. When prompted, choose ‘Yes’ and type the fund name: Crown Charitable Fund.  

If you’ve applied through the Annual or General route, you don’t need to apply again — your application will automatically be considered for this fund.

Little Cheyne Court Wind Farm Community Fund seeks to support smaller charitable organisations with grants of up to £5,000 from groups in the TN31 area who support the local community. 

Select ‘Apply now’ to access the General form. When prompted, choose ‘Yes’ and type the fund name: Little Cheyne Court Wind Farm Community Fund.

If you’ve applied through the Annual or General route, you don’t need to apply again — your application will automatically be considered for this fund.

The Medway and Swale Community Chest Fund as part of the Medway and Swale Community Health Catalyst programme welcomes applications from organisations for amounts of up to £5,000.

Funding is open to organisations in the Medway and Swale Health and Care Partnership geographical boundaries. Click here to access a map and check you fall within the eligible area.

Priority will be given to organisations supporting areas of highest deprivation and those seldom heard in Medway and Swale. The projects funded through this fund must be co-created by local people with the purpose to deliver support for those with unmet needs.

Successful organisations will be contacted by the programme leads of the Community Health Catalyst Programme to support with outcomes and evaluation.

If you have any questions or require any help accessing or completing your application form, please contact bruce@kentcf.org.uk or 01303 815 151.

Select ‘Apply now’ to access the General form. When prompted, choose ‘Yes’ and type the fund name: Medway & Swale Community Chest Fund.