Bernard Sunley Foundation — Capital Grants
What they fund
Capital projects including new buildings, extensions, refurbishments, recreational spaces, freehold purchases, and new vehicles. Project costs must be between £10,000 and £5 million.
Who can apply
- Registered charities and CIOs registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales
- Community Benefit Societies
- Scout, guide or other uniformed groups
- Specialist schools
- Museums, galleries or heritage centres (with strong learning/outreach)
- Churches or places of worship with significant regular secular activities
- And Special Educational Needs schools
- Annual income must be under £10 million
- Organisations must have at least one set of audited annual accounts
- Charities registered outside England or Wales
- Community Amateur Sports Clubs, Community Interest Companies, or unregistered community groups
- Town or parish councils
- Churches or religious bodies with no or limited secular activity
Show all 13 exclusions
- NHS hospitals or charities fundraising on their behalf
- Mainstream schools, colleges or universities
- Individuals
- Does not fund: core costs (salaries, running costs, rent, utilities, websites)
- Fees (building surveys, planning applications, feasibility studies)
- Solar panels or air source heat pumps
- Second-hand vehicles
- Fittings (electrical appliances, furniture)
- Or IT infrastructure and AV systems
See how many funds you could apply for
Grant details
England and Wales only.
Three grant levels: Large grants £25,000 and above; Medium grants up to £20,000; Small grants £5,000 and under. The Foundation does not fully fund projects — grants are offered as a contribution to overall project costs, and trustees decide the amount pledged (you do not specify an amount).
Rolling programme with no deadlines — applications accepted all year round. Large and Medium grants are decided at Trustees' meetings held in March, July, and November. Small grants are decided monthly. You will be contacted to confirm the outcome. If rejected, you can reapply 12 months after your original application.
Complete a 12-question eligibility check. If successful, you can access the full application form. You can save the form and return to it at any time. You must provide a copy of your organisation's most recent accounts and a project budget or quotes from your chosen contractor. You will receive an email confirming receipt of your application.
A strong application includes a detailed project budget or contractor quotes, evidence of fundraising already underway with a clear plan, and planning permission if required. If applying for a leasehold property project, you must have more than 10 years remaining on the lease.
The Foundation funds around 50% of all applications received. Trustees prefer to support smaller organisations where their funding can have more impact. If your project costs are over £5 million but below £10 million, contact the office before applying. If you have claimed a previous grant from the Foundation, you can submit a new application. Large grant applications may result in a trustee visit.