Funding for charities, community organisations and social enterprises

External funding advice and support from Suffolk County Council and its partners.

External funding provides an opportunity for organisations to access additional finance to support their programmes and initiatives. The application process is predominantly competitive, requiring applicants to submit a clear, evidenced and well costed bid.

Suffolk County Council works in partnership with a range of programmes and initiatives that support charities and community groups.

The external funding team can:

  • identify potential funding opportunities
  • assist you with developing your bid or writing an application
  • signpost you to additional sources of help and support

Receive voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) grants information

If you would like to receive free grant funding information, simply register using the form below and you will be added to our grant alert contact database. You will be sent our fortnightly grant alert detailing the latest grant funding opportunities available to VCFSEs in Suffolk. In addition, where appropriate, we will send you grant leads related to your organisations service area. Read our privacy policy

Download the latest VCFSE Grant Alert

Grant funding advice

If you need advice and guidance to help you either:

  1. identify potential funding opportunities
  2. develop your bid, or write an application

then complete the grant funding enquiry form, which can be downloaded below,  and one of the team will contact you within 5 working days. Please ensure you fully complete the form and open the (i) prompt to each section. This background information is important to us when advising you on grant funding matters.

For further funding news follow us on Twitter: @FundingSuffolk

To contact the team, email: fundingenquiries@suffolk.gov.uk


Funding 4 Suffolk grant search portal

Funded by all of Suffolk's local authorities, this is a free to use grant search facility for Suffolk's VCFSE sector. You will need to register to use this service.


Tool Kit

We’ve developed some template documents that can be used to help shape and plan your ideas into project proposals with the purpose of applying for grant funding.


Finding useful local data


Community Action Suffolk (CAS)

Suffolk County Council provides funding to Community Action Suffolk to support the VCFSE sector, enabling them to operate more effectively. Support includes:

  • Advice and support: CAS provides support to help set-up new community organisations and charities, as well as advice on legislation, governance, funding and management
  • Health check: a free to use self-assessment tool which can help organisations identify strengths and weaknesses, as well as helping to prepare for submitting funding applications.

Suffolk Community Foundation

Suffolk Community Foundation provides grant funding to small and medium sized charities, voluntary and community groups, and social enterprises, who deliver essential services in Suffolk.  Sign up to their enewsletter.

Councillor Locality Budget

Each (Suffolk County Council) county councillor has a locality budget. They can use this to respond to local needs in their divisions, supporting projects or activities that benefit the communities they represent.


Privacy policy

Read our privacy policy.