Somerset Community Foundation grants
Somerset Community Foundation makes grants to smaller charities and community groups based in Somerset, including grants of up to £10,000 through its Somerset Older People's Fund.
Guidance last checked 16 July 2026· from the funder’s own website
Overview
Most of Somerset Community Foundation's money goes to smaller groups based and working in Somerset - but not those in BANES or North Somerset, which it excludes. By smaller it means groups who normally run on under £500,000 a year, and it says most of its funding goes to groups who run on under £100,000. It runs several funds, each with its own rules and deadline; its Somerset Older People's Fund lists a grant size of up to £10,000. Charities need at least 3 unrelated trustees registered with the Charity Commission. Community groups need a governing document with charitable aims benefitting the wider public, and at least 3 unrelated community members running them. If your group has more than 12 months running costs in free reserves, it will not give you a grant.
What they fund
These are the purposes recorded for Somerset Community Foundation on the Charity Commission register. Its individual funds are narrower, so read the rules for the fund you want.
Who and where
The register records that it works in the South West of England. Its own website says it gives most of its money to smaller groups based in Somerset, but not those in BANES or North Somerset.
Who they help
Where they fund
What Somerset Community 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.
Who they say they'll fund
“Community groups, or unincorporated associations can apply if they have a governing document that includes charitable aims benefitting the wider public. They also need to be run by at least 3 unrelated community members”
Source: somersetcf.org.uk — FAQs for Groups - Somerset Community Foundation →
“give most of our money to smaller groups based here in Somerset (but not those in BANES or North Somerset)”
Source: somersetcf.org.uk — Grants & Funding For Groups - Somerset Community Foundation →
“Charities, including charitable incorporated organisations (CIO), can apply if they have at least 3 unrelated trustees registered with the Charity Commission”
Source: somersetcf.org.uk — FAQs for Groups - Somerset Community Foundation →
What they say they won't fund
“Unfortunately, we can't give you money for animal welfare, but we can support animal welfare projects that clearly benefit people in the wider community”
Source: somersetcf.org.uk — FAQs for Groups - Somerset Community Foundation →
“Unfortunately, we can't give you money for something that has happened in the past”
Source: somersetcf.org.uk — FAQs for Groups - Somerset Community Foundation →
“We don't support political groups”
Source: somersetcf.org.uk — FAQs for Groups - Somerset Community Foundation →
“Unfortunately, we can't give you money for medical research, equipment or treatment”
Source: somersetcf.org.uk — FAQs for Groups - Somerset Community Foundation →
Grant sizes they mention
“Somerset Older People's Fund Grant size Up to £10,000”
Source: somersetcf.org.uk — Grants & Funding For Groups - Somerset Community Foundation →
Income limits they mention
“If your group has more than 12 months running costs in free reserves then we won't give you a grant”
Source: somersetcf.org.uk — FAQs for Groups - Somerset Community Foundation →
“Our priority is to give money to smaller groups based and working in Somerset. By smaller, we mean groups who normally run on under £500,000 a year. Most of our funding goes to groups who run on under £100,000.”
Source: somersetcf.org.uk — FAQs for Groups - Somerset Community Foundation →
Deadlines they mention
“Apply by Monday 3 August 2026, by 5pm”
Source: somersetcf.org.uk — Grants & Funding For Groups - Somerset Community Foundation →
How they say to apply
“We ask all groups to write a report if we give them some money”
Source: somersetcf.org.uk — FAQs for Groups - Somerset Community Foundation →
Their charitable objects
As registered with the Charity Commission (their formal purposes):
The promotion of any charitable purposes for the benefit of the community in the area served by somerset county council on the date of incorporation of the company and in particular the relief of poverty and the advancement of education. Other exclusively charitable purposes in the united kingdom and elsewhere which…
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 Somerset Community Foundation give?
Amounts differ by fund. Its Somerset Older People's Fund lists a grant size of up to £10,000. We do not have a typical (median) award figure for this funder, so check the grant size shown against the individual fund you want to apply to.
What does Somerset Community Foundation fund?
Its objects are the promotion of any charitable purposes for the benefit of the community in the area served by Somerset County Council at the date it was incorporated, and in particular the relief of poverty and the advancement of education. Its Charity Commission entry also records arts, culture, heritage and science, community development and employment, amateur sport, education and training, environment and conservation, and disability.
Who can apply?
It says charities, including charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs), can apply if they have at least 3 unrelated trustees registered with the Charity Commission. Community groups, or unincorporated associations, can apply if they have a governing document that includes charitable aims benefitting the wider public, and are run by at least 3 unrelated community members. It also says that if your group has more than 12 months running costs in free reserves, it will not give you a grant.
What won't Somerset Community Foundation fund?
It says it cannot give money for animal welfare, though it can support animal welfare projects that clearly benefit people in the wider community. It also says it cannot fund something that has happened in the past, or medical research, equipment or treatment, and that it does not support political groups.
How do I apply?
Each fund has its own deadline, published on its grants page; one listed when this page was compiled closed at 5pm on Monday 3 August 2026, so confirm the current dates before you rely on them. It asks all groups to write a report if it gives them money. Check the funder's own website (www.somersetcf.org.uk) and its Charity Commission entry (charity number 1094446) for current deadlines and guidance, as processes can change.
Is your charity a fit for Somerset Community Foundation?
Type your charity’s name and we’ll check this funder — and every other active UK grant-maker — against your purposes, your area and your size. Free, and nothing to fill in: we read your entry on the official register.
Check my charity’s matches — free →Thinking of applying? Start here.
Finding a funder is the easy part. These short guides help with the part that decides whether you get the money.
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 Somerset Community Foundation.