We are delighted to manage the Wimbledon Foundation Community Fund (WFCF). The fund has been set up to benefit the community and provide support for local organisations to meet local needs in the boroughs of Merton and Wandsworth.
Important Changes:
In response to research on local needs*, the Wimbledon Foundation will start offering multi-year grants to better support local organisations who are providing benefit to Merton and Wandsworth residents. The economic downturn has put additional pressure on the sector, and in response, the Foundation have determined that greater long-term support is required to enable groups to concentrate their efforts on supporting their communities, rather than repeated application bids for smaller amounts. This will be the second open Multi-year Award Programme to be delivered by the Fund. The final single year grant programme intake (of awards up to £10,000 for one-year projects) also opens in this round.
If you'd like to understand more about the fund please take a look at the summary information below, and the guidelines for the last funding round by clicking on the buttons below or at the top right hand side of the screen.
In this round, you will have the option to apply for a single-year or three-year grant of up to £10,000 per year. Multi-year awards will only be available to organisations that are registered in Merton and Wandsworth, whereas single-year awards are available to all organisations seeking to benefit Merton and Wandsworth residents within the programme themes.
Themes
All organisations applying for funding should be seeking to deliver work which tackles social needs and supports local people facing disadvantage.
Applicant organisations should aim to achieve the above fund objective by addressing one or more of the following themes:
- Addressing financial insecurity / cost of living
- Supporting mental health and wellbeing
- Promoting and supporting digital inclusion
For examples of projects that might be funded through WFCF, please see the fund guidelines.
Eligibility
While all applicants must meet the LCF Core Eligibility Criteria, organisations that are looking to apply for a multi-year award must have their registered address in Merton and Wandsworth. The decision to restrict the three-year grants to local organisations is based on the lower number of grants available, demand for this king of support and Wimbledon Foundation’s commitment to support local grassroots initiatives.
We welcome applications from organisations supporting any groups facing disadvantage including:
- Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups
- Disability groups
- LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, asexual, +)
- Young people
- People not in education, employment or training
- Older people
‘Get Set, Get Active’
Please note that WFCF cannot fund sports, dance or physical activity projects. The Wimbledon Foundation supports sporting, dance and physical activity projects through its 'Get Set, Get Active' programme. The 'Get Set, Get Active' programme will open again in early 2027. Please visit the Wimbledon Foundation website for details.
Projects which have physical activity as a small element of their work, such as youth groups, can apply for funding through WFCF as long as the costs applied for are not related to the delivery of the physical activity.
Grant size
Organisations can apply for up to £10,000 per year. This means that applications for a single-year award can apply for a maximum of £10,000, those applying for a multi-year grant can apply for up to £30,000.
Who may apply?
Eligible Legal Structures – there must be a signed governing document in place appropriate to the legal structure which includes an asset lock (or equivalent clause), and the purpose of all funded activities must be charitable (not for profit):
- Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
- Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG) - may also be registered as a Charity or a Community Interest Company Limited by Guarantee (CICLG)
- Trust
- Unincorporated Association
- Community Benefit Societies (CBS). Ideally, the CBS will also be registered as charitable with HMRC, however, this is not essential.
How to apply
- To apply to this fund, please take a look at the fund guidelines, application form guidance and our core eligibility criteria by clicking on the buttons below or at the top right hand side of the screen and then clicking on the relevant 'Apply now' button.
Deadlines
- Wednesday 28th October 2026 @ 12 noon. The Panel will meet in February and decisions will be released by 5th March 2027. Project activity should therefore start from mid to late March 2027 onwards, and not before.
Contact details
If you have any questions about this fund, please contact us on 020 7582 5117 or at applications@londoncf.org.uk
Meet the funder
The Wimbledon Foundation will hold a 'Meet the Funder' session on Tuesday 22nd September at 10 am where you can ask questions about your application. Sign up to join the session on Teams.