The Leeds Fund Small Grants 2026: Apply for Up to £5,000 in Community Funding

Community organisations in Leeds, United Kingdom, can apply for up to £5,000 through The Leeds Fund Small Grants 2026. The programme is designed to support smaller and emerging community organisations that are working to strengthen their organisations, respond to local needs and create positive benefits for people and communities in Leeds.

The Leeds Fund welcomes applications for a wide range of activities, including organisational development, staff and volunteer training, new projects, employability activities, health and wellbeing initiatives, community development and other activities that can make organisations stronger and more resilient.

📌 The Leeds Fund Small Grants 2026 at a Glance

💷 How Much Funding Is Available?

Successful applicants can receive up to £5,000 through The Leeds Fund Small Grants programme. Funding can support activities lasting for up to one year.

The programme is intended to provide flexible support to smaller organisations and groups that may have difficulty accessing larger funding programmes. Priority is given to proposals that help organisations become stronger, more sustainable and resilient.

🎯 What Can The Leeds Fund Support?

The Leeds Fund provides flexibility around the types of activities that can be supported. Examples include:

• Organisational development
• Developing organisational strategies
• Staff and volunteer training
• Policy and process development
• Employability programmes
• Community consultations
• Marketing-related development activities
• Testing new activities or approaches
• Health and wellbeing initiatives
• Activities that provide new experiences
• Projects that create safer and friendlier communities
• Learning and skills development
• One-off projects
• Expansion of existing community activities

These examples are not necessarily exhaustive. Applicants should demonstrate why their proposed activity is important to their organisation and the communities they serve.

👥 Who Can Apply?

The Small Grants programme is aimed at smaller and emerging community organisations and groups working in Leeds.

For the 2026 Small Grants round, organisations must have had an income of more than £75,000 and less than £150,000 in their most recent financial year. The activity must be based in Leeds, and applicants must be based in or have a demonstrable connection to Leeds communities. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

🌍 Support for Under-Represented Communities

The Leeds Fund actively welcomes applications from projects that benefit under-represented communities. This includes work supporting LGBTQIA+ people, racially minoritised communities, and d/Deaf or disabled people.

The programme states that it plans to award at least 20% of available funds to applications supporting these communities. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

💡 What Makes a Strong Application?

Before applying, organisations should clearly explain the problem they are addressing, who will benefit, what activities they will deliver and how the funding will strengthen their work.

A strong proposal should consider:

• Community need: What problem or opportunity exists in your community?
• Beneficiaries: Who will benefit from the proposed activity?
• Activities: What exactly will you do with the funding?
• Impact: What difference will the project make?
• Organisational resilience: How will the funding make your organisation stronger?
• Budget: Can you clearly explain how the requested funding will be used?
• Local connection: How does the work directly relate to communities in Leeds?

⏰ Application Deadline

The application deadline for The Leeds Fund Small Grants 2026 is:

Applicants should avoid waiting until the final day to prepare their application. Allow enough time to review your eligibility, prepare your project description and check your budget before submission.

📋 Application Checklist

• Confirm that your organisation meets the income requirement.
• Confirm that your activity is based in Leeds.
• Demonstrate your connection to Leeds communities.
• Define the community need your project will address.
• Explain the activities you plan to deliver.
• Explain who will benefit.
• Prepare a realistic project budget.
• Explain how the funding will strengthen your organisation or benefit your community.
• Submit the application before the deadline.

⚠️ Important Notice

Funding programmes can change their eligibility requirements, deadlines or application procedures. Always verify the latest information with the official funder before submitting an application.

The Leeds Fund Small Grants are specifically focused on activities and organisations connected to Leeds. Organisations outside Leeds should check the eligibility requirements carefully before spending time preparing an application.

🔗 Final Thoughts

The Leeds Fund Small Grants programme provides an opportunity for eligible community organisations in Leeds to access up to £5,000 for activities that strengthen their organisation and create positive community impact.

If your organisation meets the eligibility requirements, the deadline of 20 October 2026 at 12 noon makes it important to begin preparing your application early. Focus on demonstrating genuine community need, clear activities, measurable benefits and how the funding will contribute to organisational resilience.

Source: Leeds Community Foundation / Doing Good Leeds. Funding information checked in September 2026.