How funding works

We’re committed to supporting projects that deliver maximum impact with minimal waste. We believe that small, well-targeted grants can unlock significant change, especially when driven by organisations that know their communities best.

That’s why we look for:
•    A well-defined problem and a practical solution
•    Direct action with clear, measurable outcomes
•    A commitment to social or environmental benefit through physical delivery; not through education or awareness alone
•    Efficient use of funds with transparent reporting of the impact achieved
•    Tangible and direct interventions with clear and immediate benefit

We want every pound we invest to stretch as far as possible – creating real impact for people, places, and the planet.

Our funding priorities are geographically targeted across Great Britain, with a particular focus on where Calisen operates and where our employees live. This approach ensures our support is rooted in the communities we know best. The fifth category, Net-Zero & Energy Efficiency Projects, is open to eligible charities across Great Britain, provided their core mission aligns with one of the other four funding areas.

The Trustees will accept applications for funding based on their alignment with the Charity's core objectives which are detailed as follows:

Youth Empowerment, Children's Play & Safe Spaces
•    Supporting schools, youth clubs and programmes that actively reduce social exclusion, improve physical and mental wellbeing, and equip young people with life and employment skills through hands-on engagement.

Hospice & Palliative Care 
•    We fund projects that complement and enhance the essential work of hospices, focusing on initiatives that improve comfort and dignity for patients and families. We do not fund core clinical operations or NHS-run hospices. 

Community-Based Social Benefit Projects 
•    Enabling initiatives that strengthen local communities through direct support, such as food banks, befriending schemes, accessible transport services, or improvements to shared facilities that promote inclusion and wellbeing. 

Community-Led Environmental Action
•    Funding hands-on projects that enhance local environments and foster community wellbeing, including but not limited to tree planting, habitat restoration, community gardens, and the creation or improvement of outdoor spaces designed for public use.

Net-Zero & Energy Efficiency Projects
•    Investing in infrastructure for charities whose core mission aligns with one of our other funding priorities that drives immediate carbon reduction - including but not limited to solar panel installations, heat pump systems, and retrofit schemes - with demonstrable environmental and cost-saving benefits. 

Please note that for your application to be considered your Charity must:

a) agree that they comply with all applicable laws;

b) be registered with The Charity Commission;

c) represent that they do not discriminate in employment practices or services they provide on the basis of race, religion, colour, sex, sexual orientation, gender identification, national origin, age, marital status, disability, pregnancy or any other basis prohibited by applicable law;

d) not operate or support activities that are counter to the policies, values or ideals of Calisen Impact Charitable Trust, in its sole discretion;

e) not benefit terrorist groups or activities;

 
f) not have the primary purpose of supporting political activities;

g) not have the primary purpose to regrant to other registered charities without the prior written consent of the Calisen Impact Charitable Trust;

h) not be a Faith-based charity or religious program whose primary purpose is promulgating a particular religious faith, creed or doctrine (e.g., ministries, missions, church planting projects, religious orders, schools whose primary purpose is to prepare students for ministry, etc.);

i) not have applied for and received funding from the Calisen Impact Trust in the last 12 months.

You can contact our team of trustees at charitabletrust@calisen.com