Grants Without a Charity Number: What Groups Can Get

Plenty of community groups run for years without registering as a charity. That does not mean they are locked out of funding. Many small grants are open to constituted voluntary groups that have never registered with the Charity Commission. What most funders will not accept is a completely informal set-up with no written rules and no shared bank account.

Last checked: 12 October 2026. Eligibility claims below were checked on each funder's own page.

Charity, constituted group or informal group?

These three labels get mixed up, so it helps to keep them separate:

• Registered charity. On the Charity Commission register (or OSCR in Scotland, or the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland). You have a charity number.
• Constituted group. You have a written governing document (often called a constitution), a committee of at least two unrelated people, and agreed rules. You may still be unregistered.
• Informal group. Friends running an activity with no written rules, no committee minutes and money held in a personal account.

A charity number is one form of recognition. A constitution is the document that says who you are and how decisions get made. Funders often care more about the second than the first for small grants. The Charity Commission's guide to charity types and structures (CC22a) explains the main legal forms if you later decide to register.

Grants open to groups without a charity number

National Lottery Awards for All England is the clearest national example. The Community Fund's "who can apply" page lists constituted voluntary or community organisations and constituted groups or clubs alongside registered charities, CIOs, not-for-profit companies, CICs, schools, statutory bodies and community benefit societies. You need at least two board or committee members who are not related. The application treats a charity registration number as optional where it applies. Awards for All does not say it funds unconstituted groups.

Other funders take a similar line. National Grid's Community Matters Fund offers up to £5,000 for registered charities and companies limited by guarantee, and up to £2,000 for constituted organisations without a charity number (checked on National Grid's page, 12 Oct 2026). Local warm-spaces schemes often ask for a constitution and two signatories rather than a charity number. See warm spaces funding for winter examples.

Sport England's Movement Fund and many community sport programmes also fund not-for-profit clubs that are not charities. See grants for sports clubs. If you are a CIC, see can a CIC apply for National Lottery funding.

What funders check instead

When there is no charity number, expect funders to ask for a written constitution in the same legal name as the form, a committee with at least two unrelated people, a bank account in the organisation's name with a recent statement, two unrelated UK contacts, and basic policies where relevant (safeguarding, insurance). They will also ask for annual income, or a note that you are new. Awards for All does not accept applications written by private bid writers, and it prioritises smaller-income organisations.

Writing a simple constitution

A constitution does not need to be long. Cover the group's name and purpose, who can be a member, how the committee is chosen, how money is handled (two signatories, no personal benefit), what happens to assets if you close, and how the document can be changed. Keep a signed, dated copy. Use the same name on the bank account, the constitution and every grant form. Local CVS or rural community council templates are usually enough for small grants. CC22a helps if you later choose between an unincorporated association, a trust, a CIO or a charitable company.

Bank accounts and two unrelated signatories

Most funders will not pay a grant into a personal account. Open an account in the group's name with at least two unrelated signatories (not married or in a civil partnership, not living at the same address, and not related by blood). Get a recent bank statement ready. If the account is new, some funders accept opening confirmation instead of a three-month statement; check each funder's rules.

Using a host organisation

If you are still informal, one practical route is to partner with a host that already has the right structure: a registered charity, a parish council, a village hall charity or a CVS. The host holds the grant and you deliver the activity under a simple agreement. Make sure both sides are clear about reporting, insurance and who owns any equipment bought with the money. Hosting is a bridge, not a substitute for sorting your own governance if you plan to apply often.

Questions people ask

Do we need a charity number to get a grant? Not always. Many small grants accept constituted groups without one. Larger trusts and company foundations often do require a registered charity. Always read the funder's own eligibility list.

Can an unconstituted group apply to Awards for All? No. The Community Fund asks for a constituted voluntary or community organisation (or another listed legal form). Write a constitution first, then apply.

When should we register as a charity? When your income is heading toward £5,000 a year, when you want Gift Aid, when a funder you care about only funds registered charities, or when trustees want the clearer legal protection of a CIO or charitable company. Registration is a commitment, not a box-tick.

Where do we look next? Start with how small groups win a first grant and grants for community groups. To browse charity-focused funds, see grants for charities.

Want alerts for small local grants? Create a free GrantMatch account and set your area. Every listing stays free to read.

We check eligibility on the funder's own website before publishing. Rules change, so always confirm on their site before you apply.