Mayor Of London

Charity Number: CUSTOM_3166D509

Annual Expenditure: £700.0M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £700+ million (varies by year and program)
  • Success Rate: Competitive - varies by program (Good Growth Fund: 14% based on 27 projects from 200+ bids)
  • Decision Time: 6-8 weeks (typical for community grants)
  • Grant Range: £500 - £200,000 (depending on program)
  • Geographic Focus: London boroughs only

Contact Details

Website: https://www.london.gov.uk/programmes-strategies/search-funding

General Email: mayor@london.gov.uk

Address: Greater London Authority, City Hall, 169 Union Street, London

Funding Portal: https://glagrants.org.uk/

Response Time: 20 working days for correspondence

Note: The GLA directs applicants to use online contact forms for specific enquiries

Overview

The Greater London Authority (GLA), led by Mayor Sadiq Khan (first elected 2016, currently in third term), is the devolved regional governance body for London, managing a total budget of £20.7 billion. The GLA does not operate a central annual grants program; instead, all grants relate to specific projects and Mayoral priorities. Since 2016, the Mayor has secured over £4.8 billion from Government to deliver at least 116,000 affordable homes by March 2023, with an additional £11.7 billion secured in 2025 for social and affordable housing over 10 years. The GLA's funding priorities align with the London Growth Plan and focus on creating “A City for all Londoners” - making London fairer, more inclusive, and sustainable. The GLA has distributed over £953 million through 2,049 grants to 1,525 organizations (cumulative data). Funding streams span housing development, community integration, environmental sustainability, business growth, and skills development. The Mayor's approach emphasizes community-led solutions, equality and inclusion, and addressing climate change.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Housing Programs:

  • Affordable Homes Programme 2021-2026: Up to £200,000 per home for social rent; up to £85,000 per home for homeless accommodation. Total program: £4 billion secured from Government with £3.4 billion invested in 29,456 affordable homes following the first funding round
  • Housing Kickstart Fund: £100 million to convert market-rate homes into affordable homes

Community Funding:

  • Loved and Wanted Fund: £900,000 total funding for up to 15 community organizations to expand work connecting Londoners (grants vary by organization)
  • Mayor's Community Weekend London: £500 - £2,000 per grant (partnership with National Lottery Community Fund, £385,000 total program)
  • London Family Fund: £10,000 - £85,000 for innovative social integration projects (£600,000 over three years)
  • Community Recovery Fund: £700 - £22,000 for local events, education initiatives, and improving access to facilities (£510,000 distributed)

Environmental Grants:

  • Greener City Fund: £5,000 - £50,000 for community tree planting and green space improvements (£5 million committed)
  • London Community Energy Fund: Stream A (Development): up to £15,000; Stream B (Capital): up to £50,000 (maximum 33% of project costs); Stream C (Innovation): up to £5,000; Stream D (Training/Events): up to £5,000
  • Green and Resilient Spaces Fund: Various grant sizes for public and civil society organizations to create resilient green spaces

Economic Development:

  • Good Growth Fund: £70 million regeneration program supporting 138 projects with over £75 million allocated. Individual grants ranged from £24,000 to nearly £2 million (example: Lower Lea Threads received £1,993,792)
  • UK Shared Prosperity Fund (London allocation): £144.4 million over 2022-25 for local business, communities and place, people and skills (£38.1 million allocated to people and skills in 2024-25)
  • Green New Deal Fund: £10,000 or £15,000 grants to businesses for circular economy business models (34 businesses supported)

Skills and Training:

  • London Talent Pathways Fund: Investment in training supporting progression pathways in priority occupations aligned to the London Growth Plan
  • Go! London Fund: £150,000 grants available for charities, youth groups, social enterprises and faith groups to support under-served young Londoners in sport and physical activity (£19.5 million total program)

Application Methods

  • Rolling basis: Some funds like London Community Energy Fund
  • Fixed deadlines: Most major programs have specific application windows
  • Online portal: GLA Grants portal (glagrants.org.uk) managed by Groundwork for several programs
  • Competitive process: Multiple programs are first-come-first-served until funds are exhausted

Priority Areas

The Mayor's funding priorities align with creating “A City for all Londoners” and focus on:

Housing: Affordable homes, tackling homelessness, supporting councils to build council homes, genuinely affordable housing for Londoners

Community Cohesion: Supporting diverse communities, reducing isolation, promoting social integration, connecting Londoners, celebrating London's diversity, fighting hate crime and extremism

Environment and Climate: Net zero by 2030, community energy projects, tree planting, green spaces, circular economy, rewilding, climate resilience

Economic Growth: Regeneration in deprived areas, supporting SMEs, creating jobs, strengthening high streets, innovation, construction, creative industries, life sciences

Equality and Inclusion: Social mobility, diversity and inclusion initiatives, supporting underserved communities, addressing inequality

Skills and Education: Training pathways in priority sectors, youth employment, adult education

Health and Wellbeing: Physical activity access, mental health support, youth services

What They Don't Fund

Based on program criteria:

  • Party political activities: All grantees must demonstrate impartiality and run strictly non-party political community activity
  • Projects outside London: All funded projects must deliver benefits within the GLA area (London boroughs)
  • Private individuals: Applicants must be formally constituted organizations with organizational bank accounts
  • Projects without landowner permission: For environmental projects, landowner approval is required
  • Projects not aligned with Mayoral priorities: As all grants relate to specific Mayoral priorities and strategies
  • Organizations unable to enter legal contracts: All grantees must be able to enter into formal grant agreements
  • Projects that don't comply with Equality Act 2010: Compliance is mandatory for all funded projects
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Governance and Leadership

Governance Structure

The Greater London Authority consists of two political branches: an executive Mayor (currently Sadiq Khan) and the 25-member London Assembly, which provides checks and balances on the Mayor. The Mayor is responsible for core functions including transport, policing, fire and rescue, planning, and housing. The Assembly scrutinizes the Mayor's work via committees and plenary sessions.

Senior Leadership

Mayor: Sadiq Khan (elected 2016, re-elected 2021 and 2025 for historic third term)

Chief Officer/Head of Paid Service: Mary Harpley (joined September 2018) - leads the corporate leadership team and assumes responsibility for strategic management of GLA activity and functions

Structure: More than 800 staff employed to support the Mayor and Assembly. The GLA has Executive Directors overseeing key departments including:

  • Good Growth
  • Housing & Land
  • Communities & Skills
  • Resources
  • Assembly Secretariat
  • Strategy & Communications

Leadership Quotes

Mayor Sadiq Khan on community funding priorities:

"It is important that we all stand up for our British values of equality, inclusion and mutual respect, and I'm committed to working with community organisations to reassure Londoners and show that hate will never win. Our charities, faith groups and civil society organisations are doing incredible work to unite our communities, and through this new fund we're going to help bring even more Londoners together, as we continue to build a better London for everyone."

On his overall vision:

“I want to make London better for all Londoners – by building a city where no one is left behind and where everyone gets the opportunities they need to fulfil their potential.”

On third term commitment:

Khan pledged to “make London a byword for opportunity” as he signed in for his historic third term as Mayor of London, driven by the ambition to make it possible for all Londoners to have the opportunity to get on in life, fulfil their potential and not just survive, but thrive.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Online Portal: Most community grants administered through GLA Grants portal (https://glagrants.org.uk/) managed by Groundwork on behalf of the GLA

Current Opportunities: Check https://www.london.gov.uk/programmes-strategies/search-funding for active funding rounds

Application Process Varies by Fund:

  • Some funds require Expression of Interest before full application
  • Others accept direct full applications
  • Major programs like Good Growth Fund and Affordable Homes Programme have competitive bidding rounds
  • Community grants often use online application forms through GLA Grants portal

Prospectus Documents: Each program publishes detailed prospectus with eligibility criteria, funding priorities, and application guidance

Pre-Application: The GLA team works with potential applicants on application robustness for some programs, though detailed feedback on unsuccessful applications may not always be available due to volume

Decision Timeline

Community Grants: Typically 6-8 weeks from closing date to decision

  • Example: Mayor's Community Weekend applicants received decisions by end of June 2025 (6-8 weeks after April 30 closing date)

Payment: If successful, funding typically transferred to applicant's bank account within 14 days of approval

Major Programs: Timeline varies - Good Growth Fund had multiple funding rounds with several months between initial bid and final allocation decision

Notification: Successful applicants notified directly; funding decisions may be published on GLA website

Success Rates

Success rates vary significantly by program and competitiveness:

Good Growth Fund: Approximately 14% success rate (27 projects funded from over 200 initial bids for main allocation), plus additional 27 projects received development funding

General Competitiveness: Programs are competitive with strong demand for limited funding. Applications must demonstrate clear alignment with Mayoral priorities

Green New Deal Fund: 34 businesses selected from competitive process; 59% of businesses receiving pilot grants recorded commercial benefits within 6 months

Volume: GLA has awarded 2,049 grants totaling £953 million to 1,525 organizations (cumulative data), demonstrating substantial grant-making activity

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies vary by program. General findings:

  • Programs typically run in phases or rounds, allowing unsuccessful applicants to apply in subsequent rounds
  • No general prohibition on reapplication found in available documentation
  • Community energy groups and other organizations have successfully received funding across multiple phases of ongoing programs
  • The GLA welcomes applications from organizations who have not previously been involved in certain sectors (e.g., community energy projects)
  • Due to high volume, detailed feedback on unsuccessful applications may not always be available, which can make reapplication challenging

Application Success Factors

Strategic Alignment is Critical

The GLA does not have a central grants program - all funding relates to specific Mayoral priorities. Successful applications demonstrate clear alignment with:

  • Current strategic priorities (London Growth Plan, climate goals, housing targets)
  • Equality, diversity, and inclusion commitments
  • Community-led approaches
  • Projects that make London “fairer and more inclusive”

Key Success Factors

Clear Project Plans: Your application must clearly demonstrate your plans for the grant with reasonable cost estimates, why your plans are important, who will benefit, and details of resources, staff, and expertise to achieve goals

Partnerships and Collaboration: The GLA “welcomes proposals from partnerships which build on the strengths of different organisations” - collaborative projects often score highly

Community Benefits: Projects must demonstrate tangible benefits to Londoners, particularly in areas with high levels of unemployment, youth violence, poor mental health, or deprivation

Innovation and Sustainability: The Mayor seeks projects that drive sustainable economic growth, innovation (particularly circular economy models), and long-term community benefits

Measurable Outcomes: Applications must explain "who it helps and how, and how you'll measure success"

Impartiality: For community grants, organizations must demonstrate impartiality and run strictly non-party political activities

Common Reasons for Rejection

  • Failing to provide all requested information: Incomplete applications are a main reason for failure
  • Not clearly explaining the project: Lack of clarity about how grant funds will be used
  • Poor alignment with funder priorities: Projects that don't match current Mayoral priorities
  • Missing eligibility criteria: Not meeting basic requirements (e.g., London location, organizational structure)
  • Insufficient time for quality application: Rushing applications without gathering proper evidence

Examples of Successful Projects

Environmental Projects:

  • Rewild London Fund: 62 projects supported including reintroducing beavers in Ealing and rewilding patches in the City
  • Green Roots: London National Park City received £101,650 to provide microgrants for rangers across London (32 microgrants totaling £27,698 distributed across 18 boroughs)

Economic Development:

  • Lower Lea Threads: £1,993,792 from Good Growth Fund to address structural challenges in fashion sector
  • Connecting Wood Green: Good Growth Fund support to create affordable workspace and support small businesses
  • 34 circular economy businesses: Grants of £10k-£15k through Green New Deal fund, with 59% recording commercial benefits within 6 months and two businesses attracting £3.8m in private investment

Community Projects:

  • 15 community organizations through Community-Led Action Grants for social action projects
  • 20 community organizations through London Community Story Grants capturing COVID-19 experiences

Application Tips

Timing: "Give yourself enough time: gathering evidence and writing your application takes time. Make sure you're capable of meeting the deadline before you begin"

Research: “Think about who is awarding the grant: do your plans line up with what the funder is aiming to do?”

Eligibility: “Make sure you meet the eligibility criteria: you may need to have a bank account or a particular business structure to be eligible”

Clarity: "Be clear in your objectives: you need to know exactly how you'll use the funds to achieve your goals, and be able to state those objectives clearly"

Demonstrate Impact: Use concrete numbers, evidence, and examples of how your project will benefit Londoners

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Match Mayoral Priorities Precisely: All GLA grants relate to specific Mayoral priorities - study the London Growth Plan, housing targets, climate goals, and equality objectives. Generic applications will not succeed.
  1. Emphasize Community-Led Approaches: The Mayor strongly favors community-led solutions that bring diverse Londoners together. Highlight how your organization connects with and serves local communities.
  1. Demonstrate Value Beyond Grant Amount: Show leverage - how your project will generate additional benefits, attract match funding, or create sustainable long-term change. Green New Deal recipients attracted £3.8m in private investment.
  1. Focus on Inclusion and Accessibility: Projects serving underserved communities, addressing inequality, or improving access for marginalized groups align with the Mayor's core mission of “a city for all Londoners.”
  1. Partnership Applications Have Advantage: The GLA actively welcomes collaborative proposals that “build on the strengths of different organisations” - consider partnership applications.
  1. Plan Adequate Application Time: Quality applications require significant time to gather evidence, develop clear objectives, and articulate measurable outcomes. Don't rush.
  1. Monitor the Funding Portal Regularly: With no central annual program, new opportunities appear throughout the year. Check https://www.london.gov.uk/programmes-strategies/search-funding and https://glagrants.org.uk/ frequently for new rounds.

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