The Royal British Legion
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 Royal British Legion's external grants go to not-for-profit organisations that support the Armed Forces community, and applications are judged on how well a project addresses unmet need for serving personnel, veterans, their families or the bereaved, so a project that does not serve these people is unlikely to fit.
- The funder does not accept unsolicited requests, and the listing gives no route to an invitation, so a small charity should not send a cold application and should look first for a way to make contact.
- The Community Grants Programme's round closed in August, so check when the next round opens before planning a project.
- Most grants to organisations fall between £30,000 and £2,600,000, with a median of £335,000, so size any request to the project itself rather than assuming a small grant is normal, and note that no geographic focus is stated, so location alone is not a bar.
- Any applicant that is not a not-for-profit organisation should not apply, and mobility, rent and deposit, or debt support go through a separate online route.
Overview
The Royal British Legion is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 219279).
The Royal British Legion exists to support the Armed Forces community and to make sure its unique contribution is not forgotten. It has around 183,000 members, organised through approximately 2,076 branches in the UK, with a further 81 branches overseas and nine national branches. Its External Grants programmes fund not-for-profit organisations that support the Armed Forces community, and the Community Grants Programme funds projects that help members connect and come together in their local areas. The annual report records £6,742,000 awarded in grants.
What they fund
Priority Areas
The Royal British Legion’s external grants provide funding to not-for-profit organisations delivering meaningful support to the people it serves, the Armed Forces community. It works through expert partner organisations to extend its reach and build on expertise already present across the sector; its priorities are shaped by its strategy and emerging community needs. The Community Grants Programme supports projects that help members of the Armed Forces community connect locally, strengthen relationships and build connections. Organisation applications are assessed for how well they show that a project will address unmet need for RBL beneficiaries. Those beneficiaries include serving personnel, veterans, their families and the bereaved.
Themes
- Armed Forces community support
- Community connection
What they don't fund
- Online Grant Application only:
- any ongoing mobility support via this route
- rent & deposits support via this route
- debt support via this route
How to apply
Organisations submit formal applications. The Grants Department, local welfare teams and relevant subject-matter experts evaluate each application; a Grants Panel reviews the information and issues awards to organisations best able to show that their project will address an unmet need for RBL beneficiaries.
Deadlines: Applications are made when a funding round is open.
Application windows:
- Community Grants Programme: The round closed in August.
Who can apply:
- Applicants must be not-for-profit organisations.
Application success factors
What the charity says:
- Its funding priorities are shaped by its strategy and by emerging needs within the community.
Where they fund
Registered area of operation (Charity Commission)
- Belgium
- Belize
- Brazil
- Chile
- Cyprus
- Fiji
- France
- Germany
- Guernsey
- Ireland
- Isle of Man
- Japan
- Jersey
- Kenya
- Malta
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- Portugal
- Spain
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- United States
- Gibraltar
- England
- Northern Ireland
- Scotland
- Wales
Similar funders
Funders supporting work similar to The Royal British Legion.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 14 grants in year to 30 September 2025 by size
Median £337k (year to 30 September 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in this funder’s latest annual report:
- National Memorial Arboretum£2,680,000year to 30 September 2025
- Combat Stress£2,600,000year to 30 September 2025
- RFEA The Forces Employment Charity£1,647,000year to 30 September 2025
- Poppyscotland£1,055,000year to 30 September 2025
- Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League£550,000year to 30 September 2025
- Brooke House Health and Wellbeing£500,000year to 30 September 2025
- Shelter£339,000year to 30 September 2025
- King’s College London£335,000year to 30 September 2025
Grant examples taken from the funder’s filed accounts. Not included above: 1 line covering other, unnamed recipients (£21,000).
Five years of accounts
| Financial year | Income | Expenditure | Grants paid | Accounts document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| year to 30 September 2021 | £137,359,000 | £141,829,000 | £5,452,000 | Accounts for year to 30 September 2021 |
| year to 30 September 2022 | £153,527,000 | £151,854,000 | £5,711,000 | Accounts for year to 30 September 2022 |
| year to 30 September 2023 | £147,061,000 | £180,628,000 | £4,236,000 | Accounts for year to 30 September 2023 |
| year to 30 September 2024 | £160,711,000 | £174,426,000 | £1,859,000 | Accounts for year to 30 September 2024 |
| year to 30 September 2025 | £168,476,000 | £177,614,000 | £6,742,000 | Accounts for year to 30 September 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 30 September 2021; year to 30 September 2022; year to 30 September 2023; year to 30 September 2024: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).
- Grants paid, year to 30 September 2025: grants awarded in the year, as reported in the accounts.
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
- britishlegion.org.uk
- britishlegion.org.uk/get-support/how-we-help/financial-support/grants/external-grants · read on 31 October 2026
- britishlegion.org.uk/get-support/how-we-help/financial-support/grants · read on 31 October 2026
- Annual report (year to 30 September 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 The Royal British Legion?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- 0808 802 8080source
- info@britishlegion.org.uksource
- 199 Borough High St, London, SE1 1AAsource
- britishlegion.org.uk
- Apply online
Applying to The Royal British Legion?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- 0808 802 8080source
- info@britishlegion.org.uksource
- 199 Borough High St, London, SE1 1AAsource
- britishlegion.org.uk
- Apply online