easyfundraising opens £500 grant applications for UK schools and PTAs
The UK cashback platform is allocating £10,000 through a new Impact Fund as charities report rising financial pressure.
Schools and PTAs across the UK can now apply for £500 grants after cashback fundraising platform easyfundraising opened applications to its new Impact Fund. The initiative will distribute £10,000 in total, awarding £500 each to 20 charities and good causes, including education settings.
The funding pot marks the platform’s first move into small-scale grant funding and is supported through a ring-fenced annual budget. Applications remain open until 5 April 2026.
The development comes as many charities and community groups report financial strain linked to the cost-of-living crisis.
Direct funding amid rising pressure
According to easyfundraising’s State of the Nation survey, published in December 2025, 90 percent of charities and causes said their situation had worsened due to cost-of-living pressures. The survey also found that 84 percent have experienced reduced fundraising income and 54 percent are concerned about cash flow.
The new Impact Fund is designed to provide direct financial support alongside the free donations that supporters raise when shopping through the easyfundraising platform.
James Moir, CEO of easyfundraising, says: “The Impact Fund is designed to be a practical, sustainable way to provide some much-needed extra funding alongside the free donations people raise every day via easyfundraising. We want to help causes cover real-world costs at a time when many are really struggling to survive.”
Open to schools and community groups
The Impact Fund is open to a broad range of UK-based good causes, including:
Schools and education settings
After-school and youth groups
Sports teams and clubs
Registered charities
Not-for-profit organizations
Social enterprises and CICs
Churches and religious organizations
Applicants do not need to be signed up to easyfundraising to apply, and the funding is unrestricted, meaning recipients can use it according to their needs.
Moir adds: “We’re hoping this is just the start of how we use grant funding to support more charities and good causes in the UK. It’s a really simple application process that will enable as many causes – even ones with very little time and resources – to apply.”
Small grants, immediate impact
While £500 grants are modest in scale, the timing is significant for schools and PTAs managing tightening budgets and reduced voluntary income streams. For many education settings, small unrestricted grants can support enrichment activities, equipment purchases, or offset rising operational costs.
easyfundraising reports that its platform has helped UK charities and good causes raise more than £65 million to date. The Impact Fund represents a shift from passive cashback income toward proactive distribution of grant funding. Applications close on 5 April 2026.
ETIH Innovation Awards 2026
The ETIH Innovation Awards 2026 are now open and recognize education technology organizations delivering measurable impact across K–12, higher education, and lifelong learning. The awards are open to entries from the UK, the Americas, and internationally, with submissions assessed on evidence of outcomes and real-world application.
