Since the outset, we have been supporting smaller charities that can substantially benefit from our grant funding. We aim to enable transformational change through our charity partnerships, which will have a significant and long term impact within their communities.
Approximately 85% of the money we raise goes to supporting UK charities, with the remaining 15% being allocated to charities overseas, particularly those helping children and young people to escape poverty, malnutrition and neglect.
Our funding themes
Our work stretches across five main themes:
We partner with charities that support children and young people under 25 who are experiencing physical, social, or economic disadvantage. Our mission is to help build a more inclusive and accessible society for young people who face significant barriers in their lives.
Our focus is on supporting charities that deliver services for people with a cancer diagnosis, helping them feel informed, empowered, and supported. This also includes support for their immediate family members.
Our funding enables organisations to deliver mental health services and early interventions that strengthen resilience, address stigma, and improve outcomes for those who are most vulnerable.
We fund community and hospice-based programmes that support people living with a debilitating or life-limiting illness access specialist services, respite, and end-of-life care.
This is a restricted fund generously provided by St James’s Place which will offer funding from 2026 to 2028 specifically for charities delivering financial wellbeing for disadvantaged people and communities.
What we fund
The SJP Foundation funds small and medium sized UK registered charitable organisations with an annual income under £7m. We fund the direct delivery costs of services and support activities across our core themes — for example, salary costs or specific programme expenses. We also offer multi-year funding to charities.
We do not fund charities with reserves that are outside of their own policy, activities primarily the responsibility of statutory agencies, NHS charities, pilot programmes, retrospective funding, research, events, advertising, holidays, sponsorship, or charities that are raising funds on behalf of another charity. Charities must also demonstrate that their project is open access and fully inclusive, regardless of race, faith or religion.
Funding applications are by invitation only. For our programme Guidelines please click here.
How we’re transforming our grant making
Over the past year, we’ve listened closely to our charity partners and reflected on our practices and on how we can ensure our funding is more impactful, equitable and responsive.
The result is a new chapter in our grant making. From January 2026 we will be moving to quarterly calls for applications, with two calls for each of our five main funding themes annually. To find out more and to see our quarterly application window dates please click below.
2026 grant applications
The Q2 - Spring round application window will open from 30 March – 8 April 2026 for charities delivering projects that focus on the following:
- Children and young people disadvantaged physically, socially or economically
- Mental health
The application links below will not operate outside of the window.
Please note: if you do not already have a Blackbaud Applicant Portal log in, you will need to register before you can access the application.
Central Grants
The below link is for charities registered in the UK, Ireland, Jersey or Guernsey whose projects are based in those locations
Overseas Grants
The below link is for charities registered in the UK, Ireland, Jersey or Guernsey whose projects are based overseas. These charities must partner with a local overseas charity who delivers the work on the ground.
Applicant and grantee support
If you should need help accessing the online portal or have any questions that are not answered in the guidelines please contact our office at [email protected].