Grants and Loans for Church Buildings in 2025
The revised application form and guidelines for the 2025 Diocesan Church Buildings Grants and Loan Schemes are now available for download at the links below:
Grants for Church Buildings Application Form 2025 (Word Version)
Grants for Church Buildings Application Form 2025 (PDF)
Parish Loans for Church Buildings Application Form 2025 ( Word Version)
The first application deadline for the grant scheme will be Friday 28th February 2025. Parish loan applications can be submitted at any time.
Full details on the eligibility criteria for applicants can be found in the documents above. For queries regarding the Church Building Grant or Loan Schemes please email ResourcingParishes@leeds.anglican.org or telephone Janet Edmond (Senior Stewardship Officer) on 07376 525684; Alena-Rose Douglas (Church Buildings Support Officer) on 07933 509860; or Fran Taylor, Net Zero Carbon Fundraising Officer on fran.taylor@leeds.anglican.org.
Find Your Funder on our Funding Portal
If you are looking for a funder for your particular community or church project then take a look at our funding portal. We are able to search for funders on your behalf or we can show you how to look for yourself. You can find the portal at this link: https://funding.idoxopen4community.co.uk/diomanchester
We also have a recorded webinar where Matthew Godfrey of Funding 4 Community demonstrates how to search the portal. Again, contact us on resourcingparishes@leeds.anglican.org for more information.
Click below to watch the webinar:
Funding Opportunities for Big and Small Projects
A booklet compiled by several Dioceses about current funding opportunities is the easiest place to start your funding search. Click on the image below for the PDF.
The Heritage Funding Directory is a free guide to financial support for anyone undertaking UK related heritage projects. This is a useful starting point for navigating funding sources in the sector.
Funding for Accessibility Projects
The Church of England's Disability Project has launched the Parish Grants Scheme providing small and large grants to parishes aiming to improve the accessibility and inclusion in their churches.
You can find out more information at the link here.
Funding for Environmental Projects
For information on funding to support your environmental project please click here.
The Environmental and Sustainability Projects section of the Charitable Grants for Churches List (above) was updated in June 2023. For the updated version please click here
Give To Go Green
The next round of Give To Go Green has just opened, and we are accepting applications until March 2025. This is a match-funding pilot project from the Church of England working with churches to double locally raised donations, using digital giving, for carbon-cutting building projects. Read about our previous round of funding here.
Applications are open now, and will close on the 16th March 2025. This period will be split into two phases, those who apply before 28th January 2025 and those who apply after, so those earlier applicants can get on with fundraising.
More information, and application details are available on the Church of England website here. Feel free to get in touch with Beth Vickers-Smith at beth.vickers-smith@leeds.anglican.org to ask any questions.
The National Team are holding two information webinars for interested churches to find out more and ask questions.
12th November, 7pm - register here
13th November, 12.30pm - register here
Funding Webinars
Finding funding to replace your church's heating system with a greener alternative is just one of the many environmental projects you may contemplate for your church as we all act to combat climate change. For an introduction to the fundraising landscape for environmental projects in churches and how to plan a fundraising strategy watch recordings of three helpful webinars recently hosted by the Church of England with speaker Andrew Evans Senior Consultant, Philanthropy Company. Click on the links below to access each of the recordings on YouTube.
Environmental Fundraising Part 1 - Opportunities - click here
Environmental Fundraising Part 2 - How to start fundraising - click here
Environmental Fundraising Part 3 - Environmental Fundraising for experienced fundraisers - click here
Local Funding Opportunities
The Leeds Church Extension Society exists to support churches in the episcopal area of Leeds. The objectives and activities are to help provide finance for mission halls and new parish churches and vicarages, to assist with the stipends of both clergy and lay workers, and to help maintain and re-order churches and church halls. In addition grants are made to church community and similar outreach activities within the city.
Finding Your Own Funding
Doing Good Leeds is an advice website if you are based in Leeds and the surrounding areas. There is an excellent funding document which is updated regularly and can be found here. Go to: https://doinggoodleeds.org.uk/
It's always good to get something back from the taxman and with the Listed Place of Worship Scheme you can do just that! Works to listed buildings are able to claim back VAT costs.
Five Community Foundations that operate in our Diocese are the Community Foundation for Calderdale, 2 Ridings Community Foundation, One Community, the Lancashire Community Foundation and Leeds Community Foundation. If you are planning a community action project then they are a good place to look for funding.
Ecclesiastical Fundraising Hub
Working in partnership with The Philanthropy Company, Ecclesiastical have produced this excellent set of webpages that will advise you on all aspects of fundraising. Click on the image below:
Where To Start If You Are Planning Major Fundraising
Fundraising is a crucial part of any project. 'Raise the Funds' is the Church of England's step-by-step guide to fundraising in your church. It begins with advice on putting together your fundraising team and gives guidance on developing your vision and story, collecting evidence and writing your strategy. An invaluable toolkit is available to download. This is an excellent place to start for ideas.
There is a wealth of information available to help churches looking for funding, through the funding guides on the Parish Resources website, and when planning a larger project here.
The Fundraising Handbook is useful to work through as a team to plan your strategy and events.
The Stewardship and Income Generation Team have produced a 20 minute film which will help you plan your fundraising for a larger project. Please click on the image below to be taken to the Digital Learning Platform.
We know that leading a larger project can be a daunting prospect and so the Church of England have produced a toolkit called 'Crossing the Threshold'. First created by the Diocese of Hereford in 2009, and subsequently updated in 2013, this invaluable resource is packed with 268 pages of advice, hints and tips for any group taking a community development approach towards adapting a church building for wider community use, while balancing the needs of existing worshippers. This free resource breaks down projects into three key stages:
- Preparing the Ground,
- Looking at Your Options,
- Delivering Your Project
Help is Always At Hand
Support and advice is available through the stewardship team to help with funding projects. Look out for training events or contact us have a chat about the opportunities and challenges specific to your project.