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Grants to charities and organisations

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In addition to our individual grants programme, The Army Benevolent Fund also makes grants to other charities and organisations that provide services and support to the Army family: serving soldiers, former soldiers, and their immediate families (including the bereaved).

Whilst our primary focus will always be on meeting individual need as it arises, we expect to be able to support up to 100 other charities and organisations annually.

We welcome applications from organisations that meet the following criteria:

Are a UK registered charitable organisation or Community Interest Company (CIC).

Provide a service that directly supports the Army family, meeting an evidenced need that is not currently being met by statutory or other, including other charitable, providers.

Are going concerns that can demonstrate financial sustainability – evidenced through a least one years audited accounts – good governance, and impact

If you are interested in applying for a grant from the ABF click here to see if your organisation is eligible to be considered.

Who Should Apply

We welcome applications from organisations that meet the following criteria:
  • Are a UK registered charitable organisation or Community Interest Company (CIC).
  • Provide a service that directly supports the Army family, meeting an evidenced need that is not currently being met by statutory or other, including other charitable, providers.
  • Are going concerns that can demonstrate financial sustainability – evidenced through a least two years audited accounts – good governance, and impact.

How to Apply

Grants Committee Applications

Our Board of Trustees consider applications three time per year: in June, November and February.
Applications from organisations delivering services solely in Scotland are considered at a separate committee, normally held in April.
Applications from organisations we have not previously supported, or haven’t supported in the last two years, are considered at the February committee.

The application window for the February 2026 Committee is now closed.  The next Committee is the Scottish Grants Committee where applications from organisations delivering services solely in Scotland will be considered.  The application window will be open from 3 February, more information will be available here then.

All new applicants are advised to get in touch with us by email to [email protected] prior to submitting a formal application. The email should explain:
  • Why the project or service is needed.
  • The expected number of Army family beneficiaries.
  • The impact the project or service is having and/or expected to have.
  • How the project or service will be sustained going forward.
We can then advise whether it is the type of project or service we would be prepared to consider for funding, aligned with our benevolence priorities for the year and the availability of funding.  Typically grants are made for a single year. However, we may consider making a grant spread over a number of years where this would be appropriate, for example in support of a major or capital project.
Please note:
  • Grants to new partners are unlikely to exceed £20,000.
  • Preference for funding will be given to those charities and organisations that are members of Cobseo.
  • We do not normally fund specific (i.e. named) posts and salaries, but will consider contributing to an organisation’s core operating costs of which we recognise general salary costs will be a part of. This is primarily because grants are single-year commitments.
  • We will not fund full costs of any project or provided service.
  • We are unable to fund research projects, sporting activities, expeditions and similar projects.