Islington Giving

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £1,550,000 (together with Cripplegate Foundation in Islington)
• Total Raised Since 2010: £9,000,000+
• Success Rate: 59% (based on related Community Chest programme 2024/25)
• Decision Time: 3 weeks - 2 months (varies by programme)
• Grant Range: £500 - £14,412
• Geographic Focus: Islington, London
• Participatory Grantmaking: 81 residents involved, £870,000 awarded since 2018

Contact Details

Address: 13 Elliott's Place, Islington, London N1 8HX

Phone: 020 7288 6940

Email: mail@islingtongiving.org.uk

Website: https://islingtongiving.org.uk/

Pre-application Support:

• Sarah Page, Make it Happen Coordinator: sarah.page@islingtongiving.org.uk or 020 7123 4230
• Patrick Jones, Programme Manager: patrick.jones@cripplegate.org.uk or 020 7288 6948
• Support also available through Voluntary Action Islington

Islington Giving strongly advises applicants to get in touch before making an application to talk through criteria and explore questions.

Overview

Founded in 2010, Islington Giving is a coalition of local people, businesses and organisations working together to raise funds, support communities and create connections across Islington. Operating as a restricted fund of Cripplegate Foundation (registered charity number 207499), Islington Giving has raised over £9 million since its inception, with current annual grantmaking of approximately £1.55 million in the local area. The organisation has supported over 30,000 people in Islington and worked with over 130 local organisations. A distinctive feature of Islington Giving is its commitment to participatory grantmaking - since 2018, 81 residents have participated in grant-making panels, awarding £870,000 in total. In 2025, Islington Giving was selected as the Mayor's Charity, with Councillor Jackson stating: “Islington Giving does incredible work in the community, for the community. They represent the very best of our borough, raising funds, supporting mental health, creating jobs for young people, and connecting neighbours.” All administrative costs are covered by Cripplegate Foundation, ensuring 100% of donated funds go directly to supporting local activities and projects.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Make It Happen Fund: £500 (for Islington residents)

Small grants for local residents to act on things they care about locally, bringing people together and making a difference to the community. Applications accepted on a rolling basis with two deadlines per year in May and October.

Disability Fund: Up to £3,000 per organisation

Supports organisations' capacity to be inclusive so that people living with disabilities can take full advantage of what is on offer in Islington. Rolling applications with decisions within 21 days of receipt.

Going Greener Fund: £500 - £5,000

Small grants for organisations to operate in more environmentally friendly ways, either using tried and tested approaches or piloting experimental approaches. Fixed application rounds.

Young Grant Makers Programme: Varies (example: £14,412)

A panel of 12 young people aged 17-24 who come together over five months to make decisions about funding for local projects for children and young people. Annual cycle with fixed deadlines.

Community Panel: £150,000 total pot

Four-month process where residents award grants to local projects. Annual funding call.

Family Panel: Varies

Eight local residents shape the funding call and make grant decisions that benefit Islington parents and carers. Annual cycle.

Islington Food Fund: Varies (includes £20,000 grants for food club transitions)

Supports food banks and community food projects. Fixed deadline applications.

Priority Areas

• Tackling isolation and creating community connections: Funding programmes that bring people together and reduce social isolation
• Supporting families: Projects that benefit parents and carers in Islington
• Providing access to opportunities for young people: Education, employment and skills development for children and young people
• Mental health support: Particularly for vulnerable groups including homeless individuals and LGBTQIA+ communities
• Environmental sustainability: Projects helping organisations operate in more environmentally friendly ways
• Inclusion and accessibility: Supporting organisations to be inclusive for people living with disabilities

Geographic Priority

Priority is given to local charities based in Islington, with consideration given to other charities not based in the borough only when there are no local alternatives and/or the organisation can offer better service or more value for money to local residents.

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions not explicitly detailed in available sources, but applicants should focus on projects serving Islington residents and creating community impact in the borough.

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Governance and Leadership

Chief Executive

Sarah Roth Benioff has been Chief Executive of Cripplegate Foundation and Islington Giving since September 2019, overseeing all aspects of the organisations internally and externally. She previously worked as a civil servant focusing on community-related policy and spent many years setting up and running voluntary and community sector projects and organisations.

Board Structure

Islington Giving has its own board which includes representatives from leading coalition partners. Board members are local residents and people who work in and care about Islington. They make strategic decisions to ensure the organisation can be as effective as possible in its work.

Cripplegate Foundation, which manages Islington Giving, is overseen by 15 Governors (equivalent to trustees).

Coalition Partners

• Cripplegate Foundation
• Paul Hamlyn Foundation
• Morris Charitable Trust
• Macquarie Foundation
• Peabody Community Foundation
• City Bridge Foundation
• Cloudesley

These partners sit on the Islington Giving board and help shape the focus of local charity work.

Mayor's Recognition

Councillor Jackson said: “Islington Giving does incredible work in the community, for the community. They represent the very best of our borough, raising funds, supporting mental health, creating jobs for young people, and connecting neighbours.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Make It Happen Fund: Rolling applications with two deadlines per year (May and October). Online application process. Contact Sarah Page before applying for guidance.

Disability Fund: Rolling applications, no deadline. Applications considered within 21 days of receipt.

Other programmes: Fixed deadline applications with specific calls opened periodically. Check website for current open calls.

Pre-application Support: Strongly recommended. Contact programme managers to discuss criteria and explore questions before submitting applications. Support also available through Voluntary Action Islington.

Decision Timeline

Disability Fund: Within 21 days of receipt

Food Fund: Applications assessed approximately 3-4 weeks after deadline, with decisions communicated by end of following month (e.g., deadline 31st March, panel meets week of 21st April, decisions by end of April)

Young Grant Makers: Applications shortlisted over 1-2 months, shortlisted groups interviewed, final decisions announced approximately 1 month after interviews

Make It Happen: Decisions made at biannual review points (May and October rounds)

Success Rates

Based on related Islington Council's Community Chest programme managed through Cripplegate Foundation: 59% success rate in 2024/25 (79 applications, 59% successful), compared to 61% in 2023/24.

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applicants normally must wait one year from the date of application to reapply if they have been refused funding.

For the Make It Happen Fund specifically, applications cannot be accepted from groups or individuals who are still running projects from an earlier application or if they applied in the previous funding round. Applicants can apply again if their previous project is complete and they have sent feedback on how it went.

If in doubt about reapplication eligibility, applicants should contact the Programme Team.

Application Success Factors

Key Advice from the Funder

• Get in touch before applying: Islington Giving strongly advises that applicants contact them before making an application to talk through criteria and explore questions
• 100% of funds go to projects: All administrative costs are covered by Cripplegate Foundation, so donors can be confident their money directly supports local activities
• Focus on community connections: The purpose is to bring people together and do something that makes people feel proud of where they live

Participatory Grantmaking Philosophy

Islington Giving believes that “people who access, take part in and benefit from the projects they fund should be a part of the decision-making process about how grants are awarded.” This philosophy extends to residents making funding decisions through panels where all panellists are paid the London Living Wage for their time.

Examples of Recently Funded Projects

Make It Happen Fund:

• ADHD Islington: Community support group for parents and carers with children who have ADHD, running monthly sessions including skills and wellbeing workshops
• Bonnington Garden Group: Estate-based gardening project creating togetherness and neighbourly bonds
• Vibast Stay and Play: Inclusive group for childminders and parents, with funding for play equipment
• Wrayvens Women's Football Club: Local women's football team training at Wray Crescent Park
• Friends of Marriott Rd Association: Coronation street party bringing 150+ neighbours together

Young Grant Makers:

• Single Homeless Project: £14,412 for Arthouse project for young women experiencing homelessness

Mind the Gap Fund:

• Stonewall Housing: Specialist Mental Health advocate over 2 years to support homeless LGBTQIA+ individuals
• KMEWO: Mother-Tongue Counselling Sessions for 32 Islington women
• Islington Mind: Enablement Housing model providing targeted housing support to adults with co-existing disadvantages

Standing Out

Projects that demonstrate:

• Direct benefit to Islington residents
• Community connection and reducing isolation
• Resident involvement in project design and delivery
• Sustainability and local impact
• Alignment with participatory approaches that share power with beneficiaries

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Pre-application contact is essential: Take advantage of free support from programme managers before submitting - this is strongly advised and can significantly improve application quality

1. Focus on community connections: Islington Giving prioritizes projects that bring people together, reduce isolation, and create a greater sense of community in Islington

1. Understand participatory grantmaking: The organisation values sharing power with residents - consider how your project involves beneficiaries in decision-making

1. Be Islington-focused: Priority goes to local charities based in Islington serving local residents; demonstrate clear local impact

1. Choose the right programme: With multiple grant streams from £500 to over £14,000, select the most appropriate funding route for your project size and scope

1. Plan for decision timelines: Allow 3 weeks to 2 months for decisions depending on the programme; rolling programmes like Disability Fund offer faster turnaround (21 days)

1. Success rates are encouraging: Related programmes show approximately 59-61% success rates, indicating competitive but realistic chances for well-aligned applications

1. One-year reapplication wait: If unsuccessful, plan for a one-year gap before reapplying unless your circumstances have significantly changed - use this time to strengthen your application with support from programme staff

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• London Borough of Islington
• The London Community Foundation
• CRIPPLEGATE FOUNDATION
• The Henry Smith Foundation
• The Blagrave Trust
• The Pilgrim Trust
• Sir Halley Stewart Trust
• Camden Giving
• The Percy Bilton Charity
• Lewisham Local
• THE BRIDGE TRUST
• The Arsenal Foundation
• National Lottery
• HENRY SMITH
• HIGHBURY
• HANLEY CROUCH COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION LIMITED
• THE MORRIS CHARITABLE TRUST
• THE UNITED CHARITIES
• GET OUT
• MY CHILD

References

1. Islington Giving Homepage - https://islingtongiving.org.uk/
2. Islington Giving - Grants & Programmes - https://islingtongiving.org.uk/apply-for-funding/grants-programmes/
3. Islington Giving - About Us - https://islingtongiving.org.uk/about-us/
4. Islington Giving - Eligibility & FAQs - https://islingtongiving.org.uk/apply-for-funding/eligibility-faqs/
5. Islington Giving - Make it Happen Fund - https://islingtongiving.org.uk/make-it-happen-fund/
6. Islington Giving - Our Team - https://islingtongiving.org.uk/about-us/who-we-are/our-team/
7. Islington Giving - Power, Place and Progress (Participatory Grantmaking) - https://islingtongiving.org.uk/resident-led-grant-making/
8. Islington Giving - Projects Funded by Make It Happen Fund - https://islingtongiving.org.uk/projects-funded-by-the-make-it-happen-fund/
9. Islington Giving - Community Panel 2024 Report - https://islingtongiving.org.uk/islington-giving-community-panel-2024-report/
10. Cripplegate Foundation - Islington Giving Funds - https://cripplegate.org/funding-programme/islington-giving-funds/
11. Cripplegate Foundation - Annual Report: Islington Council's Community Chest - https://cripplegate.org/news/annual-report-islington-councils-community-chest/
12. Cripplegate Foundation - FAQs - https://www.cripplegate.org/support-funding/our-funding/faqs
13. Islington Giving - Mayor's Charity 2025-2026 announcement - https://islingtongiving.org.uk/islington-giving-mayors-charity/