The Shears Foundation
The Shears Foundation offers grants of £3,000 to £6,000 to charitable organisations with an income under £1.5 million working in their priority areas.
Priority Areas
- Development of culture and the arts
- Educational opportunities for adults and/or children
- Protection, preservation, or enhancement of the natural environment
- Creating stronger, better, or more sustainable communities
- Promoting health and medicine, with emphasis on research or education (not currently accepting hospice applications)
Geographic Focus
- Primary focus (55-60% of grants): Tyne & Wear and Northumberland
- Also supporting: Former Harrogate District & City of York, City of Bradford, and Greater Manchester
Due to high demand in these core areas, applications from outside these regions are not currently accepted.
What They Fund
Project and core costs, including staffing and operational overheads. Lease and rent costs are eligible.
What They Don’t Fund
Capital projects including:
- Purchasing or refurbishing buildings
- Significant building repairs
- Major outdoor works
- Vehicles
- Larger equipment
Grant Amount
£3,000 to £6,000 per application. Do not apply for less than the minimum or more than the maximum.
Success Rate
In 2024/25, 32.7% of applications to the small grants programme were successful.
Application Tips
- Have a telephone or Zoom call with the Foundation before applying (required)
- Ensure financial information is accurate and balances
- Demonstrate funding from a range of sources, or show the grant covers the full cost of a single piece of work
- Show collaborative working with other groups, organisations, and charities
Application Deadlines
Applications are considered quarterly:
- Q1 (April-June): Deadline 31 May, decisions in June/early July
- Q2 (July-September): Deadline 31 August, decisions in early October
- Q3 (October-December): Deadline 30 November, decisions in December/early January
- Q4 (January-March): Deadline 28/29 February, decisions in March/early April
Applications submitted after quarterly deadlines will be considered in the following quarter. Applicants are notified within six weeks of the deadline.
Before Applying
Contact Carla Greenwood for help or questions:
- Phone: 07860 131297
- Book a call: Tuesdays and Wednesdays via the website
- Book a call: Tuesdays and Wednesdays via the website
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