The Brighton Rainbow Fund

Charity Number: 1181116

Annual Expenditure: £0.1M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £110,688 (2023 funding round)
  • Income: £285,084 (FY ending Sept 2023)
  • Grant Range: £250 - £30,000
  • Geographic Focus: Brighton & Hove only
  • Funding Cycle: Annual main round (October start)

Contact Details

Historic contact information:

  • Website: www.rainbow-fund.org (now redirected)
  • Email: gull.chris@gmail.com
  • Phone: 07530636636

For future grants (from autumn 2025):

  • Contact: Pride Community Foundation

Overview

The Brighton Rainbow Fund was established by Gscene editor James Ledward (who died in 2019) and Liberal Democrat Councillor Paul Elgood following fundraising for Brighton's AIDS Memorial, providing a living legacy for that project. Registered as charity number 1181116, the fund operated as a grant-giving organization exclusively for local LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS organizations in Brighton & Hove.

The fund was entirely volunteer-run with no salaries, offices, or overheads deducting from donated money. It distributed funds raised through Brighton Pride community fundraising, Brighton Bear Weekend, Bear-Patrol, LGBT+ venues, businesses, individual donors, and collection tins around the city. In its final years, the fund awarded grants totaling £110,688 in 2023 to local LGBTQ+ and HIV organizations, with a record 23 grants made in one funding round.

The charity closed in 2024 amid governance and financial difficulties. Its grant-making function transferred to the Pride Community Foundation from autumn 2025.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Innovation and Community Strengthening Fund

  • Maximum grant: £7,500
  • For projects starting October 1st
  • Required online application followed by panel interview (in-person at The Ledward Centre or via Zoom)
  • Annual funding round

Grassroots Community Fund

  • Grants up to £1,000 per 12-month period
  • Open 365 days per year
  • For volunteer-led LGBT+ projects with no paid staff in Sussex
  • First grant awarded: Speak Out Stay Safe (£400 for resources)

Meet Up.com Fund

  • Maximum grant: £250 per 12-month period
  • Encouraged LGBTQ+ meet-up groups to address social isolation and loneliness

Bursary Funds

  • For LGBTQ+ sports and social activity groups

Priority Areas

The fund supported projects specifically benefiting:

  • LGBTQ+ individuals and communities in Brighton & Hove
  • People living with HIV in Brighton & Hove
  • Frontline services in areas including:
  • HIV/AIDS support
  • Community safety
  • Mental health services
  • Trans support
  • Youth services
  • Social isolation and loneliness
  • Cost of living crisis response

Past Beneficiaries

Organizations funded over the years included:

  • MindOut (mental health services)
  • The Clare Project (trans support)
  • Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard
  • Allsorts Youth Project
  • Trans Pride
  • Lunch Positive
  • Sussex Beacon
  • Rainbow Chorus
  • Accessibility Matters
  • MenTalkHealth
  • TransSober
  • Radical Rhizomes
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees: 3 trustees (as of Sept 2023)

  • Christopher Gull (Chair, joined grants panel 2010, chair since 2013) - stood down October 2024
  • Maria Baker (Trustee)
  • Jane Pritchard (Trustee)

Volunteers: 6

Independent Grants Panel:

  • Richard Butcher Tusset (member)
  • Additional panel members not publicly listed

Quote from Chris Gull, former Chair:

On the fund's approach: “Our so-called LGBT+ community actually consists of a diverse collection of communities and cohorts within those communities” and “neither privilege, nor adversity, are distributed equally amongst our communities.”

On Pride fundraising success: “Wow! Pride is back, and so is The Brighton Rainbow Fund now that we once again have funds to distribute to local LGBTQ+ and HIV projects.”

On effective use of funds: “I will make sure the money is put to the most effective use so we get the best value for their bucks.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply (Historic Process)

Main Grants Round:

  1. Complete online application form
  2. Application deadline: September 20th at 5pm
  3. Attend interview with grants panel shortly after deadline (hybrid format: in-person at The Ledward Centre or via Zoom)
  4. Decisions made and announced shortly after interviews
  5. Funded projects start October 1st

Grassroots Fund:

  • Rolling application process, open year-round
  • Simpler application for small volunteer-led groups

Pre-Application Support:

The fund offered informal pre-advice meetings where potential applicants could discuss draft applications, understand decision-making criteria and processes, and gain awareness of project types more likely to receive funding.

Decision Timeline

  • Application closes: September 20th at 5pm
  • Panel interviews: Shortly after deadline
  • Decisions announced: Shortly after interviews
  • Projects begin: October 1st

Specific timeframes in weeks/months were not publicly documented.

Success Rates

In 2023, the fund made a record 23 grants totaling £110,688. In 2022, £220,000 was raised for distribution.

The fund acknowledged that with limited resources, it did not automatically award funding to all applicants - it was a competitive process where even strong applications might not succeed. Specific numerical success rates (percentage of applications vs. awards) were not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy was documented in public materials. The fund's pre-advice meeting service suggested they were open to working with applicants to strengthen applications.

Application Success Factors

Specific Requirements from the Fund

Geographic and Community Focus:

Projects had to specifically benefit LGBTQ+ individuals and communities in Brighton & Hove, and those living with HIV in Brighton & Hove. This was a strict requirement.

Level Playing Field Philosophy:

The fund's concept provided “a level playing field for projects big and small, which is especially important for new projects with no track record.”

Competitive Nature:

As Chris Gull stated, the fund supported “a diverse collection of communities and cohorts” with the understanding that “neither privilege, nor adversity, are distributed equally amongst our communities.” This suggests the panel looked for projects addressing specific needs within LGBTQ+ subgroups.

Grant Examples (2022 Round)

The fund's 2022 awards demonstrate their priorities:

Mental Health & Wellbeing:

  • MindOut: £15,000 for Counselling Project (continuing support)
  • MenTalkHealth: £7,000 to train volunteers in LGBTQ+ groups

Trans Support:

  • The Clare Project: £10,000 for Nourish Project
  • The Clare Project: £10,000 for TNBI Voluntary Community Support Project
  • Trans Pride: £19,000 to recruit Trans Centre Co-ordinator

HIV/AIDS Support:

  • Lunch Positive: £18,900 for Friday HIV Lunch Club (continuing support)

Crisis Response:

  • Lunch Positive: £9,360 for Tuesday 'Warm House' drop-in (cost of living crisis)
  • Brighton & Hove LGBT Switchboard (with partners): £30,000 to pilot LGBTQ+ Night Shelter

Substance Use:

  • TransSober: £8,000 for one-to-one outreach support

QTIPOC Support:

  • Radical Rhizomes: £10,700 for QTIPOC project (continuing support)

Strategic Insights

  1. Pre-application advice was available: Organizations could meet with the fund before applying, suggesting the panel valued relationship-building and wanted to support strong applications
  1. Continuing support vs. new projects: The fund supported both established projects (marked as “continuing support”) and new initiatives, indicating they valued both proven work and innovation
  1. Response to current needs: The 2022 awards included specific responses to the cost of living crisis, showing the fund valued timely, responsive projects
  1. Partnership working: The £30,000 night shelter pilot involved multiple organizations working together, suggesting the fund supported collaborative approaches
  1. Capacity building: Grants like the Trans Pride coordinator position showed support for organizational development, not just service delivery

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

NOTE: This funder is now closed. For current opportunities, contact Pride Community Foundation from autumn 2025.

For historical context and understanding the Brighton LGBTQ+ funding landscape:

  • Geographic restriction was absolute: Only Brighton & Hove based LGBTQ+ and HIV projects were eligible - no exceptions
  • Pre-application advice was valuable: The fund actively encouraged informal pre-advice meetings, suggesting relationship-building before application improved success
  • Diverse communities focus: The fund recognized LGBTQ+ encompasses many distinct communities with different needs - specificity about which subgroup you serve was important
  • Evidence of need and impact: With competitive funding, demonstrating specific community need and your capacity to deliver was critical
  • Both continuation and innovation funded: Established projects received “continuing support” while new initiatives were also welcomed
  • Volunteer ethos: The fund was entirely volunteer-run and valued efficient use of resources - no funds diverted to overheads
  • Timing matters: Projects needed to start October 1st, requiring readiness to deliver quickly after award
  • Size-appropriate funding: The multi-tier approach (£250-£30,000) meant organizations of all sizes could access support appropriate to their needs

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