Fundraising Support
Islington Funding Toolkit
The Islington Funding Toolkit is a free, searchable database of thousands of funding opportunities for charities and community organisations. Search by your organisation type (CIC, CIO etc), your area of work and the communities you support, then set up personalised funding alerts to receive new opportunities straight to your inbox. Free access is available to organisations providing charitable services in Islington. The toolkit is funded by Islington Council.
Access the Islington Funding Toolkit here and video here on how to use the toolkit.
Help us improve
Have you secured funding using the toolkit? We'd love to hear from you.
Do share your experience with us to help us demonstrate the toolkit's impact and support more Islington organisations to secure funding.
Access the Islington Funding Toolkit online
VAI Fundraising Booklet
We publish a Funding Booklet twice a year featuring over 100 funding opportunities for organisations. Organised into clear categories, it's quick and easy to browse and complements the Islington Funding Toolkit by bringing current funding opportunities together in one practical guide.
Fundraising Training & Events
We deliver fundraising training and events to help organisations build their skills and confidence in securing funding.
From practical workshops to peer learning sessions, our events provide opportunities to share knowledge, exchange experiences, and connect with other organisations.
Upcoming Training
Fundraising Resources
Funding Search Tools and Databases
The Islington Funding Toolkit is a free way to search for funding opportunities. If you want to broaden your search, the tools below can help you find grants and research funders. Some are free to use, while others require a subscription.
- 360Giving GrantNav – Free search tool for over 1.4 million UK grants using open grants data.
- Turn2us Grants Search – Free search for grants and welfare support.
- You're My Cup of Tea – Free AI-powered funder matching tool using 360Giving data.
- GRANTfinder – Subscription database of UK grant programmes from trusts, foundations, government and businesses.
- Funds Online (DSC) – Subscription funding database for researching trusts and foundations.
- My Funding Central – Funding database and grant intelligence service (free for some smaller charities; subscription otherwise).
- GrantRadar – AI-powered funding search and opportunity monitoring tool.
- Charity Excellence -online fundraising platforms guide.
Fundraising Regulators
Fundraising is subject to a range of legal and regulatory requirements. The organisations below provide guidance, set standards and regulate different aspects of charity governance, fundraising and data protection.
- The Charity Commission – Regulates charities in England and Wales, providing guidance on charity law, governance and fundraising responsibilities.
- Fundraising Regulator – Sets the standards for charitable fundraising in England, Wales and Northern Ireland through the Code of Fundraising Practice.
- Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) – Regulates data protection and privacy law, including how organisations collect, store and use personal data for fundraising.
- Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies (CIC Regulator) – Regulates Community Interest Companies (CICs), ensuring they operate for community benefit and meet their legal obligations.
Fundraising Guidance and Templates
This section brings together practical guides, templates and resources to support you at every stage of the fundraising process, from planning projects to submitting strong funding applications.
- Planning a Funding Proposal – Guidance on developing a strong funding proposal from the outset.
- Application Technique – Practical tips for completing funding applications effectively.
- What All Funders Want to Know – An overview of the key information funders typically ask for.
- Project Proposal Template – A template to help you develop and present your project ideas.
- Writing a Fundraising Strategy – Guidance on creating a fundraising strategy for your organisation.
- Steps to Success and Why Applications Fail – Common reasons funding applications succeed or are unsuccessful, with tips to improve your chances.
- Gift Aid – An introduction to Gift Aid, including how it works and who can claim it.
- Glossary of Terms – Definitions of common fundraising terms and jargon.
- Gift Aid Declaration Forms – Standard declaration forms for donors to enable Gift Aid claims.
Contracts and Tendering
Contracts can be an important source of income for voluntary and community organisations. This section provides information on bidding for public sector contracts and finding tender opportunities.
- Islington Council Contract Opportunities – Find current contract and tender opportunities with Islington Council and access the London Tenders Portal to register for alerts.