Opportunity Title : Cambridge City Council Organisation Support Grants 2026

The Organisation Support Grants programme is designed to strengthen Cambridge's voluntary and community sector by providing financial support to organisations that make a meaningful contribution to the local community.

A key feature of the programme is that the funding is unrestricted. Unlike project-specific grants, where applicants are normally required to spend the money on a particular activity or project, unrestricted funding provides organisations with greater flexibility.

This means successful organisations can potentially direct the funding towards their most important organisational priorities, helping them maintain and strengthen their operations and continue providing valuable services to Cambridge residents.

The multi-year nature of the programme can also provide greater financial stability, allowing organisations to plan ahead and develop their capacity over a longer period.

The opportunity may therefore be particularly valuable to established community and voluntary organisations that need reliable core support to continue delivering their work.

One of the major benefits of the Cambridge City Council Organisation Support Grants programme is the level and flexibility of financial support available.

Eligible organisations can receive:

• Up to £40,000 per year, or
• 20% of the organisation's average annual turnover over the previous three years,

whichever is lower.

For example, an organisation with an average annual turnover of £100,000 over the previous three years would have a 20% turnover calculation of £20,000. Subject to all other requirements, this would be lower than the £40,000 maximum.

The actual amount awarded will depend on the programme's assessment process and the applicant's eligibility.

Other potential benefits include:

Flexible use of funding:
Because the funding is unrestricted, successful organisations have more freedom to determine where the money can provide the greatest benefit.

Organisational sustainability:
The funding can help eligible organisations strengthen their financial position and maintain essential operations.

Longer-term planning:
Multi-year support can make it easier for organisations to plan their activities and organisational development beyond a single funding year.

Support for core needs:
Rather than focusing exclusively on one project, the funding is intended to help strengthen the organisation as a whole.

Applicants are expected to satisfy the programme's specific requirements. These may include the following areas:

Governance Requirements

Applicants should have appropriate governance structures and arrangements in place.

The organisation should be properly constituted and demonstrate that it is managed and governed in an appropriate and accountable manner.

Financial Requirements

Applicants must satisfy the programme's financial criteria and provide relevant financial information.

Financial records may be required to demonstrate the organisation's financial position and calculate the potential level of funding available.

Documentation Requirements

Applicants should ensure that they have all required supporting documents ready before beginning the application.

Depending on the programme's requirements, applicants may need to provide organisational, governance and financial documentation.

Submitting complete and accurate information can help ensure that the application can be properly assessed.

Interested organisations should begin by reviewing the official Cambridge City Council Organisation Support Grants guidance.

The general application process involves:

Step 1: Check eligibility
Confirm that the organisation meets the programme's organisational, governance, financial and local-impact requirements.

Step 2: Review the guidance
Read the official application instructions carefully and identify all information and documents required.

Step 3: Prepare supporting documents
Gather relevant organisational, governance and financial documents before starting the application.

Step 4: Complete the application
Provide accurate information about the organisation, its activities, its impact on Cambridge residents and its funding needs.

Step 5: Submit the application
Complete and submit the application through the designated official application website before the applicable deadline.

Applicants should avoid waiting until the last minute to submit their applications in case they encounter technical problems or discover that additional information is required.

Click the official application link to check eligibility, read the full guidance and submit your application.

Before applying, make sure you verify the current application deadline, eligibility criteria, funding conditions and required supporting documents on the official Cambridge City Council website.