Rainforest Trust UK grants
Rainforest Trust UK funds registered NGOs working to create or expand protected areas for rainforests and other tropical habitats overseas.
Guidance last checked 16 July 2026· from the funder’s own website
Overview
Rainforest Trust UK is a UK-registered charity that funds the creation or expansion of protected or conserved areas for rainforests and other tropical habitats, working with local organisations and indigenous communities overseas. In its most recent accounts it gave £2,353,862 in grants to organisations, from an income of £2,737,884. Applicants must be a legally registered non-government organisation authorised to work in the country of the project. There is no set maximum grant for its Protected or Conserved Area Creation Awards, with amounts assessed individually, while its Feasibility Awards average $10,000, and amounts of greater than $20,000 may be considered in exceptional situations. It does not fund fixed-rate overhead costs, long-term ecological monitoring or research, or large-scale habitat restoration such as tree planting.
What they fund
Rainforest Trust UK funds NGOs creating or expanding protected areas for rainforests and tropical habitats overseas.
Who and where
It is registered in England and Wales but funds projects across many countries, including Indonesia, Brazil, Kenya and Peru.
Who they help
Where they fund
What Rainforest Trust UK says in its own guidance
Quoted directly from the funder’s own website, with a link to the page each quote came from. Always the most current word is theirs — check the source before you apply.
What they say they're looking for
“The primary objective must be the creation/expansion of a protected or conserved area”
Source: rainforesttrust.org — Apply for Funding – Rainforest Trust →
Who they say they'll fund
“The Project Implementer must be a legally registered non-government organization and authorized to conduct work in the country of the project.”
Source: rainforesttrust.org — Apply for Funding – Rainforest Trust →
What they say they won't fund
“Fixed rate overhead costs, although please note that itemized expenditures will be considered. Long-term ecological monitoring or research.”
Source: rainforesttrust.org — Apply for Funding – Rainforest Trust →
“Large scale habitat restoration (e.g., tree planting).”
Source: rainforesttrust.org — Apply for Funding – Rainforest Trust →
Grant sizes they mention
“The average size of Feasibility Awards is $10,000; in exceptional situations, amounts of greater than $20,000 may be considered.”
Source: rainforesttrust.org — Apply for Funding – Rainforest Trust →
“There is no set maximum grant amount for these Awards, with applications assessed and awarded on an individual basis.”
Source: rainforesttrust.org — Apply for Funding – Rainforest Trust →
Deadlines they mention
“Application Deadlines for Protected or Conserved Area Creation Awards of $250,000 and above are: March 1 • July 1 • October 1”
Source: rainforesttrust.org — Apply for Funding – Rainforest Trust →
How they say to apply
“we recommend submitting your Concept Note for review four months in advance of our application deadlines”
Source: rainforesttrust.org — Apply for Funding – Rainforest Trust →
Their charitable objects
As registered with the Charity Commission (their formal purposes):
To conserve, or assist in the conservation of, rainforests and other tropical habitats around the world, particularly areas that store large quantities of carbon to help mitigate the impacts of climate change, and those which are home to endangered species. This conservation is achieved by working in collaboration…
How to approach them
Start with the official sources — they’re always more current than any directory, including this one.
Common questions
How much does it typically give?
There is no set maximum for its Protected or Conserved Area Creation Awards, which are assessed individually. Its Feasibility Awards average $10,000, and amounts of greater than $20,000 may be considered in exceptional situations.
What does it fund?
It funds projects whose primary objective is the creation or expansion of a protected or conserved area for rainforests and other tropical habitats.
Who can apply?
The project implementer must be a legally registered non-government organisation, authorised to work in the country of the project.
What won't it fund?
It excludes fixed-rate overhead costs (though itemised expenditure is considered), long-term ecological monitoring or research, and large-scale habitat restoration such as tree planting.
How do I apply?
Submit a concept note for review at least four months ahead of your target deadline. Application deadlines for its largest awards ($250,000 and above) fall on 1 March, 1 July and 1 October. Check the funder's own website (www.rainforesttrust.org/uk) and its Charity Commission entry (charity number 1169111) for current guidance, as processes can change.
Is your charity a fit for Rainforest Trust UK?
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Contains public sector information from the Charity Commission for England and Wales licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0, and grants data from 360Giving used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. Figures are derived (filtered and summarised by TrusteeMeetings), not republished unchanged. About the data · Terms of use. This page is a starting point for your own research, not a promise of funding, and is not endorsed by or affiliated with Rainforest Trust UK.