Funding available to support registered charities and constituted groups to help high-quality social organisations make a step change to their business model that will create a more solid platform from which they can deliver services.

The Oxfordshire Community Foundation exists to benefit disadvantaged communities by making grants to support relevant charitable or voluntary organisations, which make a difference to their local communities. Through the Step-Change-Fund the foundation provides grants of between £10,000 and £50,000 to registered charities and constituted groups to help high-quality social organisations make a step change to their business model that will create a more solid platform from which they can deliver services.

Funding Details

The fund has over £1 million to distribute over the next four years.
• Grants in the first instance will be between £10,000 and £50,000
• There is the possibility of further funding up to £25,000 for follow-on projects.
• Total grants will be capped at £75,000, and will not normally be greater than 30% of the applicant’s annual income, should this be less.

Who Can Apply

The Step Change Fund accepts applications from registered charities, constituted groups or social enterprises/CICs that:
• Are based in Oxfordshire and operate primarily within the county
• Are focused on enhancing the quality of people’s lives
• Have an annual income of not less than £100,000 and not more than £1,000,000
• Have been operating for three years or more
• Have outstanding leadership and the capacity to grow.

The closing date for applications is 27th March 2026. Organisations interested in applying should do so here.