The Light Fund Company

Charity Number: 1145596

Annual Expenditure: £0.4M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £356,000 (varies year to year based on fundraising)
  • Decision Time: 2-3 months (applications in autumn, decisions in December)
  • Grant Range: £3,500 - £5,500
  • Maximum Grant: £5,000
  • Geographic Focus: UK and international (must be UK registered charity)
  • Application Cycle: Annual (applications open October-November)
  • Charities Funded Annually: 15-49 (varies by fundraising success)

Contact Details

  • Website: www.lightfund.org
  • Email: info@lightfund.org
  • Phone: 020 7700 6740
  • Charity Registration Number: 1145596

Overview

The Light Fund Company was established in 2004 by members of the UK licensing industry to support charitable projects benefiting men, women, and children. The name stands for “Licensing Industry Giving Help Together.” Since inception, the charity has raised over £2.2 million and funded hundreds of projects. The organization operates with 15 volunteer trustees and 10 additional volunteers, all from the licensing industry who donate their time freely, ensuring 100% of funds raised go directly to charitable causes. The charity has two committees - a London-based committee and a Northern Light Fund committee - that meet approximately six times per year. Annual giving fluctuates based on fundraising success, ranging from approximately £125,000 to £391,000. The Light Fund focuses on tangible, project-specific grants with clear outcomes rather than general operational support.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Main Grant Programme: £3,500 - £5,500 (typically up to £5,000)

  • Annual application cycle opening in October
  • Projects must be completed within the calendar year following the grant award
  • Funding awarded through trustee and committee voting process
  • Applications submitted online only

Priority Areas

The Light Fund supports a broad range of causes focused on improving physical and mental health of disadvantaged individuals:

  • Children's Health and Welfare: Paediatric hospices, children's hospitals, special care baby units, support for children with serious illnesses
  • Cancer Support: Research, patient support services, information resources, helplines for various cancer types (bone, bowel, brain, pancreatic, male cancers)
  • Mental Health: Suicide prevention helplines, mental health support services, bereavement support
  • Disease-Specific Support: Motor neurone disease, Crohn's and Colitis, brain tumours, multiple sclerosis
  • International Development: Projects in countries like Kenya and Nepal (water facilities, education support)
  • Disaster Relief: Emergency appeals (through established charities like ShelterBox and DEC)
  • Youth Support: Services for disadvantaged young people, food poverty initiatives
  • Disability Services: Assistance dogs, therapy centres, accessibility equipment

The charity particularly values applications for tangible projects with clear, measurable outcomes such as:

  • Information packs and patient support boxes
  • Specific equipment purchases
  • Training programmes with defined participant numbers
  • Helpline services with quantified impact
  • Infrastructure projects (e.g., water facilities)

What They Don't Fund

While The Light Fund does not publish a detailed exclusions list, the following restrictions apply:

  • Non-UK registered charities: Organizations must have a UK charity registration number, even if operating internationally
  • Projects exceeding £5,000: Maximum grant amount is strictly enforced
  • Non-specific operational costs: Preference given to tangible projects over general running costs
  • Organizations not in good standing: Charities must be current with Charity Commission requirements
  • Individual applications: Only registered charities may apply
  • Multiple projects: Only one submission per charity per year (except for different regional divisions of the same charity)
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees and Governance

The Light Fund is governed by 15 trustees, all volunteers from the UK licensing industry who receive no remuneration. The charity maintains two committees:

  • London-based committee: Main committee coordinating fundraising and grant decisions
  • Northern Light Fund committee: Organizes fundraising events in Northern England (e.g., Northern Quiz at Hotel Football, Manchester)

Committees meet approximately six times annually to discuss fundraising and charitable matters. The organization has no paid employees, with all administrative work handled by volunteers, ensuring zero overhead costs.

Operating Model

The charity's funding model is unique - annual giving varies based on fundraising success from the licensing industry. This means the number of grants awarded fluctuates year to year:

  • 2022: 49 primary grants totaling £356,242
  • 2023: 25 grants (22 primary + 3 discretionary)
  • 2024: 19 grants

Trustees and committee members individually vote on project proposals, with projects receiving the highest vote counts being funded.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be a UK registered charity
  • Must be in good standing with the Charity Commission
  • Can support beneficiaries in UK or overseas
  • Only one application per charity per year (exceptions for separate regional divisions)

Application Method:

  • Online submissions only via website portal
  • Portal opens in October each year
  • Applications must include charity registration details
  • Maximum project value: £5,000
  • Project must be completed in the calendar year following the grant

Application Period:

  • Portal opens: October
  • Submissions close: Early November (historically around November 7th at 5pm)
  • Applications only accepted when portal is open

Decision Timeline

  • Submission deadline: Early November
  • Committee voting: December
  • Decision notifications: End of December
  • Total timeline: Approximately 2-3 months from submission to decision
  • Funded projects published: On website following notification

Unsuccessful applicants are not contacted individually. The Light Fund states: “We receive far more applications than we can support, and regrettably there is no correspondence about funding decisions.”

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not published, but can be estimated from available information:

  • Applications received: Not disclosed, but described as “far more applications than we can support”
  • Number of grants awarded: Varies annually (15-49 charities)
  • Estimated success rate: Approximately 10-25% (based on typical small grant-maker ratios)

Success depends heavily on annual fundraising performance, which varies significantly year to year.

Reapplication Policy

The Light Fund allows charities to reapply annually. There are no stated restrictions or waiting periods for unsuccessful applicants. Charities should wait for the portal to reopen in October of the following year.

Application Success Factors

What The Light Fund Values

Tangible Projects with Clear Outcomes:

The charity explicitly states: “In our experience applications that outline that the funds being applied for will be allocated to a tangible project or outcome generally perform better in the voting process.”

Successful applications typically include:

  • Specific deliverables (e.g., “300 Patient Support Boxes,” “15,000 printed guides,” “500 Information Packs”)
  • Quantified beneficiary numbers
  • Defined timescales for project completion
  • Clear connection between funding and impact

Evidence from Recent Grants

Analysis of 2023-2024 beneficiaries reveals successful project types:

Information and Resources: Multiple grants for printed materials, information packs, and patient guides (Bone Cancer Research Trust, Bowel Cancer UK, Brain Tumour Charity)

Helpline Services: Ongoing support for established helpline services with proven track records (CALM, Crohn's & Colitis UK, Pancreatic Cancer UK)

Equipment and Infrastructure: Specific equipment purchases for defined locations (Great Ormond Street Hospital, New Life Special Care Babies)

Training and Workshops: Programmes with clear participant numbers and outcomes (Child Bereavement UK, Maggie's, Papyrus)

International Development: Well-defined infrastructure projects (Child Rescue Nepal's water facility)

Strategic Considerations

Vote-Based Selection: Since funding decisions are made by individual committee member votes, applications should:

  • Be emotionally compelling and clearly communicate impact
  • Have broad appeal across different areas of charitable interest
  • Demonstrate value for money
  • Show how £5,000 or less can make a measurable difference

Committee Background: All voting members come from the licensing industry (entertainment, IP rights, brands). While they fund diverse causes, the committee's professional background may influence preferences for:

  • Well-known, established charities with proven track records
  • Projects with creative or innovative approaches
  • Clear branding and communication of impact

Proven Track Record: Review of beneficiaries shows many repeat recipients across years, suggesting that:

  • Previous beneficiaries can successfully reapply
  • Demonstrating effective use of previous grants strengthens applications
  • Building a relationship with the charity over time may be valuable

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Be specific and tangible: Clearly articulate exactly what will be delivered with the funding - avoid vague operational costs
  • Quantify everything: Include specific numbers of beneficiaries, items produced, or services delivered
  • Respect the £5,000 limit: Budget precisely at or under £5,000 - applications over this amount will not be considered
  • Apply when portal opens: Mark October in your calendar as applications are only accepted during the brief window when the portal is open
  • One shot per year: You get one application annually, so make it count - choose your strongest, most tangible project
  • No response means rejection: Successful applicants are notified in December; if you don't hear anything, your application was unsuccessful
  • Consider the voting process: Your application needs to win votes from individual committee members, so clarity and emotional impact matter
  • Timing is crucial: Projects must be completed within the calendar year following the grant, so ensure realistic timescales

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