Social Investment Business Foundation grants
Social Investment Business Foundation runs several funds for charities and social enterprises, including grants of £5,000 to £15,000 through its Reach Fund and larger finance through its Community Builders and Energy Resilience funds.
Guidance last checked 16 July 2026· from the funder’s own website
Overview
Social Investment Business Foundation is a national charity that provides grants, loans and other finance to charities and social enterprises through several named funds. Its Reach Fund offers grants of £5,000 to £15,000 through an Access Point (an approved social investor who refers applicants), to organisations in England that are close to raising social investment and need support to provide the information an investor needs. Its Community Builders Fund offers £100,000 to £1.5m to UK charities and social enterprises in England, Wales and Scotland working to improve people's lives or their environment, and asks for a minimum turnover of £100,000 in the last set of accounts. Its Energy Resilience Fund offers £25,000 to £250,000 as a 40% grant, alongside finance, to charities and social enterprises in England with fewer than 250 employees and turnover not exceeding £40m. Priority within the Reach Fund goes to applicants in areas of higher deprivation or rural areas, or led by people with protected characteristics.
What they fund
Social Investment Business Foundation is registered for economic and community development, employment, and other charitable purposes.
Who and where
It is registered to support a wide range of groups across England, delivered through several named funds, each with its own eligibility rules.
Who they help
Where they fund
What Social Investment Business Foundation 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
“Priority applications include those where your servicers/support is aligned with the increased EDI intentionality of the Reach Fund, such as those operating in IMD 1–3 and Rural areas or you are led by individuals with protected characteristics.”
Source: sibgroup.org.uk — Reach Fund Application Guidance →
Who they say they'll fund
“The Community Builders Fund is for UK charities and social enterprises based in England, Wales and Scotland who are improving people's lives, or the environment they live in.”
Source: sibgroup.org.uk — Community Builders Fund – Social Investment →
“The Reach Fund is for charities and social enterprises in England that are close to raising social investment and need support to provide the final information an investor needs.”
Source: sibgroup.org.uk — Reach Fund - Social Investment Business →
“Incorporated voluntary, community or social enterprise organisation*. Based in England and serving communities primarily within England.”
Source: sibgroup.org.uk — Energy Resilience Fund for Charities & Social Enterprises →
What they say they won't fund
“A loan cannot be used to support the following sectors: Banks, Building Societies, Non-bank Deposit-taking Organisations Insurers and Reinsurers (excluding Insurance Brokers) Public sector bodies State funded primary and secondary schools”
Source: sibgroup.org.uk — Community Builders Fund – Social Investment →
“Buildings or sections of them used for worship/ furtherance of faith, unless: >50% of activity/usage of the building is for community services, and the Energy efficiency measures being funded benefit the areas of the building used primarily for community services.”
Source: sibgroup.org.uk — Energy Resilience Fund for Charities & Social Enterprises →
Grant sizes they mention
“grants of between £5,000 to £15,000 to help organisations carry out the work needed before an investor can make an investment decision”
Source: sibgroup.org.uk — Reach Fund - Social Investment Business →
“£100k to £1.5m”
Source: sibgroup.org.uk — Community Builders Fund – Social Investment →
“£25k – £250k (40% grant)”
Source: sibgroup.org.uk — Energy Resilience Fund for Charities & Social Enterprises →
Income limits they mention
“A minimum turnover of £100k in your last set of end of year accounts. Does your organisation have less than 250 employees and an annual turnover not exceeding £40m”
Source: sibgroup.org.uk — Energy Resilience Fund for Charities & Social Enterprises →
How they say to apply
“Applications are made through an Access Point – approved social investors who can refer organisations to apply for grants.”
Source: sibgroup.org.uk — Reach Fund - Social Investment Business →
Their charitable objects
As registered with the Charity Commission (their formal purposes):
The objects of the charity are to promote for the public benefit all purposes as are recognised as charitable under the laws of england and wales including but not limited to:supporting community organisations in areas of social need that are charities and the charitable activities of other community organisations…
How to approach them
Start with the official sources — they’re always more current than any directory, including this one.
Common questions
How much do these funds give?
Amounts vary by fund: the Reach Fund gives £5,000 to £15,000, the Community Builders Fund gives £100,000 to £1.5m, and the Energy Resilience Fund gives £25,000 to £250,000 as a 40% grant.
What does Social Investment Business Foundation fund?
It supports charities and social enterprises working on economic and community development and other charitable purposes, through a mix of grants, loans and other finance.
Who can apply?
Eligibility differs by fund. The Reach Fund is for organisations in England close to raising social investment; the Community Builders Fund is for organisations in England, Wales and Scotland with a minimum turnover of £100,000; the Energy Resilience Fund is for organisations in England with fewer than 250 employees and turnover under £40m.
What won't it fund?
The Energy Resilience Fund excludes buildings used mainly for worship, unless most of the building is used for community services. Loan funding cannot be used to support banks, building societies, insurers, public sector bodies or state-funded schools.
How do I apply?
Apply to the Reach Fund through an Access Point — an approved social investor who can refer organisations. Check the funder's own website (www.sibgroup.org.uk) and its Charity Commission entry (charity number 1117185) for current guidance on each fund, as processes can change.
Is your charity a fit for Social Investment Business Foundation?
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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 Social Investment Business Foundation.