The Prince's Countryside Fund grants
The Prince's Countryside Fund (Royal Countryside Fund) is a national funder giving around £655k to rural community organisations, with a typical grant of around £20,075.
Guidance last checked 16 July 2026· from the funder’s own website
Overview
The Prince's Countryside Fund, which operates as the Royal Countryside Fund, is a national foundation supporting farming families and rural communities across the UK. It gave around £655k in grants to organisations, and describes itself as one of very few funders focused on rural communities across the UK. Its aim is to 'power up, not prop up' those who live and work in the countryside.
What they fund
The Prince's Countryside Fund (Royal Countryside Fund) supports farming and rural communities across the UK, funding poverty relief, community and economic development, education, and environmental causes.
Who and where
It funds rural community organisations and social enterprises across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Who they help
Where they fund
What The Prince's Countryside Fund 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
“Our grants help bring community ideas to fruition. Our aim is to power up, not prop up those who live and work in the countryside”
Source: royalcountrysidefund.org.uk — In your community - The Royal Countryside Fund →
Who they say they'll fund
“The Royal Countryside Fund remains one of very few funders focused on rural communities across the UK”
Source: royalcountrysidefund.org.uk — In your community - The Royal Countryside Fund →
Grant sizes they mention
“Countryside Learning Scotland is an education charity formed in 2003 to meet the need for outdoor learning in secondary schools. In 2023 The RCF awarded the charity £12,500 in funding to support rural career pathways for young people”
Source: royalcountrysidefund.org.uk — In your community - The Royal Countryside Fund →
How they say to apply
“The Royal Countryside Fund is committed to transparency and we work with 360Giving to publish information about our grants”
Source: royalcountrysidefund.org.uk — In your community - The Royal Countryside Fund →
What a typical grant looks like
| Typical (median) grant | £20,075 |
|---|---|
| Middle half of grants | £11,438 – £25,000 |
| Grants published openly | 126 |
| Most recent published grant | 2025 |
Recent grants
- Ynni Bro Rhian CyfyngedigThis funding will support Ynni Bro Rhian to launch a Local Energy Club, identify a community led renewable energy project and support the development of local ancillary business initiatives.£25,000September 2025
- Grow the Glens CICFunding for a programme of courses and workshops aimed at creating rural employment, addressing skill shortages and improving community well-being in Cushendall.£25,000September 2025
- Lochview Rural TrainingThis project aims to upskill young people living in the Scottish Highlands in rural, land-based, heritage and environmental practices. The project will also pair young people with older crofters to share their knowledge and skills and build mutual understanding.£24,848September 2025
- Ventnor Exchange CICFunding to develop a bespoke education and training programme for young people run in tandem with the launch of a new touring portable arts centre for communities across the Isle of Wight.£20,000September 2025
- River Waveney TrustThis project will create a single information hub for all things flood related for rural communities within the River Waveney catchment, as well as developing natural flood management schemes in partnership with rural communities.£25,000August 2025
- Landlinked CICFunding for a new project to deliver hands-on training in sustainable land management for 18-25 year olds, in and around the Vale of Clwyd.£24,690August 2025
From grants The Prince's Countryside Fund publishes openly via 360Giving (the UK open grants-data standard), used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence.
Their charitable objects
As registered with the Charity Commission (their formal purposes):
1 the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment in farming and/or rural areas;2.2 the advancement of education in all matters relating to farming and/or rural areas;2.3 the prevention or relief of poverty in farming and/or rural areas;2.4 the advancement of health in farming…
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 the Royal Countryside Fund typically give?
Based on 126 grants it has recorded (the most recent dated 2025), the median award was £20,075, with the middle half of grants ranging from £11,437 to £25,000. For example, in 2023 it awarded Countryside Learning Scotland £12,500 to support rural career pathways for young people.
What does the Royal Countryside Fund fund?
It supports the prevention or relief of poverty, economic and community development, education and training, and environmental and heritage causes, focused on farming and rural areas. Its aim is to 'power up, not prop up' those who live and work in the countryside, funding community-led solutions for sustainable rural development.
Who can apply to the Royal Countryside Fund?
It funds rural community organisations and social enterprises working across the UK's nations in farming, environmental sustainability and community resilience; it describes itself as one of very few funders focused specifically on rural communities.
How do I apply to the Royal Countryside Fund?
It publishes its grants data with 360Giving. See its website, www.royalcountrysidefund.org.uk, and its charity registration (number 1136077) on the Charity Commission register for current application guidance.
Is your charity a fit for The Prince's Countryside Fund?
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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 The Prince's Countryside Fund.