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Backbone Fund

This fund is by invitation-only

Amount: Up to £250,000
Duration: 5 years 
Four young people are in a dance studio. Three young boys are holding a large abstract object crafted out of brown paper, while a young woman next to them in a wheelchair gestures to the object and smiles
One Dance UK. Photo credit: Dani Bower

The Backbone Fund supports organisations who are working to strengthen civil society as whole and to play a part in shaping a more equitable future.

In this section

About the Fund

Our Backbone Fund supports organisations who are working to strengthen civil society as whole and to play a part in shaping a more equitable future.

Many of these organisations carry out key infrastructure functions – like capacity building, policy and advocacy, influencing, networking and research. By providing shared services and networks, they bring organisations and communities together and strengthen their collective voice and impact.

This funding is for core activity. Through the funding, we make a lasting commitment of up to five years to each organisation. We hope this funding means organisations can resource their core services, fund essential posts and ensure that there is funding they can rely on for a significant period.

Work we fund

To contribute to a more equitable voluntary sector, the Backbone Fund seeks to support organisations across the UK who are working to:

  • Create equitable opportunities to be part of the voluntary sector, especially for people and communities who have historically been underrepresented.
  • Recognise, engage with and support marginalised communities.
  • Actively pursue deep structural change. This might include ending current ways of doing things to allow new approaches to thrive.

Principles we look for

Grants available

The Backbone Fund is an invitation-only fund. We have already selected our recipients for 2024. We allocate £2 million per year and generally make around six to eight new awards every year. Most grants are for five years with a maximum of £250,000.

We use our networks and knowledge of the fields we work in to invite organisations who are important to our overall strategy to apply. You can log your interest in the Fund at backbonefund@phf.org.uk. We welcome applications to our other open funds.

A group of 10 or so older people are standing in a room, talking and smiling, with a DJ playing music in the background
Counterpoints Arts. Photo credit: Marcia Chandra 

How can we contribute to a more equitable voluntary sector? 

This blog explores some of the thinking behind the Backbone Fund and what we’ve heard from the organisations we support.

Read the blog