The Step Forward Fund

The Step Forward Fund is funding co-designed with The Phoenix Community Trust and their partners. It’s for grassroots groups from Global Majority and racially minoritised communities who: have received £20,000 or less from The National Lottery Community Fund between April 2023 and March 2026; have applied to Reaching Communities fund between April 2023 and March 2026 and been unsuccessful; need funding to make a step forward in their size and activities.

It provides further investment to:

• Continue to advocate and care for their communities
• Develop and grow their organisation
• Sustain and build on the positive impact of their work

Global Majority and racially minoritised communities, it includes but is not limited to the following groups:

• Black / African / Caribbean
• Any mixed / multiple ethnic background
• Asian
• Arab
• Jewish
• Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities

This funding is only for people with lived experiences of structural racism and oppression.

Lived experience refers to knowledge gained through direct, first-hand and personal experience.

The Step Forward Fund has £4 million to award.

The National Lottery plan to give £50,000 to £75,000 per year for between 2 to 3 years. This means you can apply for:

• A minimum of £100,000, which is £50,000 a year for 2 years
• A maximum of £225,000, which is £75,000 a year for 3 years

The National Lottery expect to make between 20 and 30 awards.

Criteria you must meet
To be eligible for this funding you must:

• Have received a small grant (£20,000 and under) from The National Lottery Fund between April 2023 and March 2026
• Have applied to Reaching Communities fund between April 2023 and March 2026 and been unsuccessful
• Have a board or leadership team where most of the members are from Global Majority and racially minoritised communities
• Priortise services and activities for Global Majority and racially minoritised communities
• Have an annual income of less than £300,000 per annum (based on a 3-year average)

Funding aims
The purpose of The Step Forward Fund is to:

• Provide funding and support to grassroots organisations from Global Majority and racially minoritised communities
• Help them move from smaller project-based funding to larger grants and investment

The funding aims are to:

• Invest in the growth of these grassroot organisations
• Give support and encouragement to organisations wanting to deliver on longer-term plans