We know that local organisations are often at the heart of meaningful change. The Communities Fund supports small, local charities and non-profits tackling financial and climate challenges – whether it’s helping people take control of their financial wellbeing or protecting the places they love in a changing climate.

The Communities Fund offers the opportunity to receive match funding through a crowdfunding platform and is aimed at organisations that:

• Have an annual income no higher than £1,000,000 (in the previous financial year)
• Are UK-based, with beneficiaries located in the UK
• Are actively making a difference in their local communities
• Focus on one or both of our key areas: financial wellbeing and climate action.

Is your project eligible?

We know your time is precious, so we aim to make our eligibility criteria as clear as possible.  Before submitting your application, please have a read through the full terms and conditions that apply to the Communities Fund. If there's anything you're unsure about, please have a look at our help centre for our FAQs, or contact us at [email protected].

Because we want to support causes that are helping to build stronger communities in the UK, your project should align with one or both of our Aviva funding areas.

Funding areas:

Financial wellbeing - helping people feel more secure and in control of their money. This could include budgeting support, debt advice, financial education, or money management.

Climate action - helping communities prevent, prepare for, and adapt to the impacts of a changing climate. This might involve restoring nature, improving access to green spaces, or providing education and skills for a sustainable future.

If your core mission is aligned with either financial wellbeing or climate action, you can apply for core running costs.

If your core mission is not directly aligned, but you’re planning a project that clearly addresses one of these areas and connects meaningfully to your wider work, you can apply for project-specific funding.

To apply to the Fund, project owners must:

• be age 18 or older
• be a UK resident
• be an employee, volunteer, trustee, director or officer of the organisation
• have authority from the organisation to apply to the Fund
• use a UK IP address and not use a disposable email address.

To apply to the Fund, organisations must:

• Be registered as a Charity, Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), Community Interest Company (CIC), or Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG).

Organisations set up as trusts (including charitable trusts), Community Amateur Sports Clubs, Constituted Community Groups and Exempt Charities are not currently eligible to participate in the Fund.

• Have been operating for at least 12 months.
• Have an annual income no higher than £1,000,000 (in the previous financial year)
• Have an active board of trustees, directors, or management body.
• Be UK-registered, with a UK bank account in the organisation's name.
• Ensure the funded project delivers impact within the UK.
• Faith-based organisations are welcome to apply, but projects must benefit the wider community, not just a single faith group.
• Have a safeguarding policy (if your organisation supports children or vulnerable people)
• Share our values and commitment to inclusion.

Please don’t submit an application if you are seeking funding for a project that:

• Benefits a single individual
• Has an outcome that is only accessible to people of a particular faith or belief

Due diligence requirements

In addition to meeting the eligibility criteria, project owners need to satisfy some additional due diligence checks. They must:

• Upload a form of photo ID
  
• Provide details of the organisation's bank account
  
• Agree to the Communities Fund Terms and Conditions and Crowdfunder's terms and conditions of funding.

Project owners may be asked to provide additional information to demonstrate that they, their project and/or their organisation is eligible to participate in the Communities Fund.

And finally...

There will be no fees on donations by Aviva (including match funding) but there will be fees on public donations. Please see section 9 of the Terms and Conditions.

Aviva and Crowdfunder reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to exclude from the Fund project owners and organisations that do not meet the eligibility criteria or to reject submissions and projects that do not meet the eligibility criteria or are incomplete, incomprehensible, false or fraudulent. Aviva and Crowdfunder reserve the right, in their sole discretion, to remove project owners, organisations, submissions and projects from the Fund at any point.