The Clothworkers’ Foundation Open Grants Programme is a lifeline for charities that need to spend money on physical assets rather than day-to-day running costs.
They provide “one-off capital grants.” This means they don’t fund salaries or bills—they fund the infrastructure that keeps your doors open.
What counts as “Capital”? This fund is specifically for:
Buildings: Purchasing or refurbishing a property.
Fittings, Fixtures & Equipment: New kitchens, furniture, or specialist equipment.
Digital Infrastructure: Laptops, servers, or software upgrades.
Vehicles: Minibuses or vans for outreach.
Who is this for? Your organisation must work in one of their specific programme areas. The good news is that these align closely with the recovery sector:
Substance misuse and addiction
Prison and rehabilitation
Homelessness
Mental health & disabilities
Communities experiencing racial inequalities
Domestic and sexual abuse
Eligibility Rule: You must demonstrate that at least 50% of the people using the asset come from one of these groups.
The Grants: There are two tiers of funding depending on the size of your organisation:
Small Grants (Up to £15,000)
For: Organisations with an annual turnover of less than £2 million.
Timeline: Decisions usually within 12 weeks.
Large Grants (Over £15,000)
For: Organisations with an annual turnover of less than £10 million.
Timeline: Two-stage process (initial decision within 6 weeks, final outcome in 6 months).
When to Apply: This is an open programme with no deadline. You can apply whenever you have identified a capital need and have your quotes ready.
