Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. Don't spend time on an approach; the similar funders below support the same kind of work.
Key takeaways
- The Fund's grants are for work with current and former RAF personnel and their families, so check that your services serve that group and either fill a gap in the Fund's own provision or complement it.
- Its External Grants for smaller charities are up to £5,000, and for RAF stations and units, the Large Grants stream runs from £5,000 to £35,000, so a small charity should ask for up to £5,000.
- Applications are by invitation only and unsolicited requests are not accepted, so email the team for an initial conversation before applying, and send a copy of your annual accounts if they are not available online.
- The Fund says it aims to decide within a month of receipt, which is about 4 weeks.
- Organisations that are not RAF stations or units should not apply to the Station Grants Programme, and the stated geographic priorities are the UK, Poland and Slovakia.
Overview
Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1081009).
The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund exists to be there for every member of the RAF Family, providing practical, emotional and financial support. It directly supported 33,600 people and indirectly supported 52,000. Its giving is split between an External Grants programme, which offers opportunities for smaller charities and a Partnership Grant scheme for larger organisations, and a station grants programme with Small Grants and Large Grants streams. The annual report records £678,000 paid in the year to 31 December.
What they fund
Priority Areas
The Fund supports current and former RAF personnel and their families, including dependants and carers, with practical, emotional and financial help. It also provides support through grants to partner organisations when their services fill gaps in the Fund’s own provision, and to smaller, locally embedded organisations and larger charities offering specialist expertise. Its External Grants support charities serving the RAF Family, while the RAF Stations Grants Programme funds welfare facilities, activities and projects benefiting serving personnel and dependants at stations. Station projects may range from capital works to wellbeing activities. Through these routes, the Fund seeks locally relevant, tailored support and projects aligned with its welfare outcomes.
Themes
- Veteran charity services
- RAF station welfare
Geographic Focus
Priority: UK; Poland; Slovakia.
What they don't fund
- The eligible Service person must have served in the Royal Air Force for at least one day
- You must usually have less than £16,000 in savings or, in the case of care home top-up assistance, less than £23,250 (£46,500 if capital savings in joint names)
- This application form cannot be used to seek assistance with non-priority debts
- This application form cannot be used to seek assistance with legal costs
- This application form cannot be used to seek assistance with property adaptations
- This application form cannot be used to seek assistance with care costs
- This application form cannot be used to seek assistance with your care or mobility equipment
How to apply
Charities seeking an External Grant can email the team for an initial conversation before applying.
Who can apply:
- External Grants
- Smaller charities
- Larger organisations
- RAF Station Grants Programme: RAF stations and units
What to send:
- External Grants: A copy of the annual accounts if they are not available online.
Application success factors
What the charity says:
- The Fund looks for services that fill gaps in its own provision, or complement existing provision in a way that enhances it.
- Smaller, locally embedded organisations that deliver tailored support to RAF beneficiaries are a focus, alongside larger charities offering specialist expertise.
- Small station projects should demonstrate at least one welfare outcome; large projects should demonstrate more than one.
Where they fund
Where it says it funds
- Poland
- Slovakia
- United Kingdom
Similar funders
Funders supporting work similar to Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.
Five years of accounts
| Financial year | Income | Expenditure | Grants paid | Accounts document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| year to 31 December 2021 | £25,528,000 | £22,359,000 | £2,956,000 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2021 |
| year to 31 December 2022 | £23,853,000 | £22,484,000 | £4,560,000 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2022 |
| year to 31 December 2023 | £19,003,000 | £24,133,000 | £3,162,000 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2023 |
| year to 31 December 2024 | £21,649,000 | £22,269,000 | £3,208,612 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2024 |
| year to 31 December 2025 | £27,695,000 | £22,244,000 | £678,000 | Accounts for year to 31 December 2025 |
Income vs grants paid
IncomeGrants paid
Total value each financial year
Grants paid stayed within income across the 5 years shown.
- Grants paid, year to 31 December 2021; year to 31 December 2022; year to 31 December 2023; year to 31 December 2024: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).
- Grants paid, year to 31 December 2025: grants paid out in the year.
Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
- rafbf.org · read on 31 October 2026
- rafbf.org/about-us/what-we-do/external-grants-for-veterans-charities · read on 31 October 2026
- rafbf.org/about-us/what-we-do/raf-stations/raf-station-grants-programme · read on 31 October 2026
- rafbf.org/contact-us · read on 31 October 2026
- rafbf.org/get-support/financial-assistance/apply-for-financial-help · read on 31 October 2026
- rafbf.org/sites/default/files/2025-04/External%20Grants%20-%20Small%20Grants%20Application%202025_0.pdf · read on 31 October 2026
- Annual report (year to 31 December 2025)
This profile draws on the funder’s own website as well as its filed accounts.
Sources last checked on 31 October 2026.
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At a glance
Applying to Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- 0300 102 1919source
- 020 7580 8343source
- 0808 1751 365source
- 020 7580 3436source
- welfarenavigators@rafbf.org.uksource
- hello@rafbf.org.uksource
- challenge@rafbf.org.uksource
- corporate@rafbf.org.uksource
- mail@rafbf.org.uksource
- externalgrants@rafbf.org.uksource
- rafstationgrants@rafbf.org.uksource
- RAF Benevolent Fund, 67 Portland Place, London W1B 1ARsource
- rafbf.org
- Contact form
- Apply online
Applying to Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- 0300 102 1919source
- 020 7580 8343source
- 0808 1751 365source
- 020 7580 3436source
- welfarenavigators@rafbf.org.uksource
- hello@rafbf.org.uksource
- challenge@rafbf.org.uksource
- corporate@rafbf.org.uksource
- mail@rafbf.org.uksource
- externalgrants@rafbf.org.uksource
- rafstationgrants@rafbf.org.uksource
- RAF Benevolent Fund, 67 Portland Place, London W1B 1ARsource
- rafbf.org
- Contact form
- Apply online