The October Club

The October Club is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1212366).

The October Club was created to raise funds for the benefit of the community and, specifically, to support charities in funding transformational projects. It began when a handful of City professionals held a fundraising dinner at The Savoy around their mutual love of horse racing. It has raised over £18m for charitable causes. Each year it selects one small to midsize charity to support, backed by over 25 of London's leading financial institutions, and while it cannot guarantee a figure, the average amount raised in recent years has been £500k.

Priority Areas

The October Club supports small and growing charities that meet its income criteria. It supports one charity each year with a transformational project based in the UK, and the funds must be used within three years. Its supported charities are generally UK-based and focused, doing remarkable work with the ambition to extend their scope. The Club says it has no particular causes it funds or avoids. It seeks projects that can catapult a charity to its next level of impact, and describes its aim as partnering with innovative charities for long-term results and sustainability. Its funding is intended to support transformative projects, rather than business as usual or linear growth.

Geographic Focus

The UK.

Charities apply by filling out the application form.

Deadlines: Applications open in November and close in February.

Application windows:

• Opens in November, closing in February

Who can apply:

• We fund small and growing charities with donations and legacies, and income arising from charitable activities, of between £750,000 and £2.5m per annum.
• The funding is for a transformational project based in the UK.
• The funds must be used within 3 years.

Applying again: Any charity is warmly encouraged to re-apply, subject to and guided by the feedback

What the charity says:

• The transformational nature of the project is fundamental to securing funding.
• Applicants should show that the project is deliverable with their financial and staffing capability.
• Applicants should demonstrate the project's impact through tangible evidence wherever possible.
• Committee members consider the project's sustainability, its fit and The October Club's ability to make a difference.
• Applications should be simple, realistic, clear and focused, following the application form and guidance notes.
• Applicants should provide accurate, realistic and deliverable financial information and show the charity's financial position.
• Governance should be strong and transparent, with trustees aware of and involved in the application and relationship.
• The project should be genuine and integral to the charity's mission and success.
• The winning charity will generally not be in the same field as beneficiaries of the previous two years.
• Charities are encouraged to ask committee members for advice about whether to apply and how to make a good application.