Since 2017, Bristol City Council has been using grant investment to tackle inequality across the city.
This grant programme, called the Bristol Impact Fund (BIF), brought together 8 of the council's grant funds to create a new programme.
This programme offers:
- medium and large grants: four-year grant funding to Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations in the city
- small grants: two-year grant funding to encourage new ideas and involvement from more diverse communities
BIF1: 2017 to 2021 and BIF 2: 2021 to 2026
The first two rounds of the Bristol Impact Fund (BIF1 and BIF2) provided grant investment to projects that build the power of communities facing disadvantage and inequality in the city, and aimed to:
- increase resilience
- enable social action
- reduce disadvantage and inequality
- improve wellbeing
BIF3: One City, Many Communities, 2026 to 2030
The third round of the Bristol Impact Fund (BIF3) will build on the foundations of BIF1 and BIF2.
BIF3 will prioritise investments into neighbourhood organisations and citywide equalities communities that:
- increase the skills and knowledge held in community
- are aiming to address community-identified priorities through co-production with the community
- aim to tackle inequity
Funding decisions for BIF3 Medium and Large grants have now been made, with projects starting on 1 April 2026.
Details of the decision, including the organisations and projects awarded funding, are available in the published decision record Bristol Impact Fund 3: Medium and Large Grants Decision.
The first round of the BIF3 small grants will run from September 2026 to August 2028, with applications opening in March 2026.
Details of how to apply can be found on types of grants available.
Medium or large grants
Applications for BIF3 medium and large grants have now closed.
Small grants
The small grants programme is designed to support:
- smaller or emerging organisations
- new and innovative ideas
- greater involvement from more diverse communities
Grant details
- There will be 2 rounds of small grants
- Grants will run for 2 years.
- Round 1 delivery period: September 2026 to August 2028.
- Organisations can apply for £2,500 to £11,000 per year.
How to apply
Round 1 of the BIF3 small grants programme is now open.
The application process will be split into two stages.
Stage 1: Expression of Interest (EOI) and Eligibility Form
All applicants must complete an online Expression of Interest (EOI) to be considered for funding.
Before you begin your EOI, please use the pdf application guidance(132 KB) , which includes:
- all EOI questions
- guidance to help you prepare your answers
- details on eligibility, priorities and assessment
- tips to help you submit your application
You must complete the EOI online form to apply.
Opening date: Tuesday 24 March 2026, midday
Closing date: Tuesday 28 April 2026, midday
Stage 1 decisions issued: End of June 2026
Stage 2: Co‑development
If shortlisted, organisations will be invited to work with the BIF3 team to further develop their proposals.
If you any have questions, email investmentandgrants@bristol.gov.uk.
Priorities for this round
This round is primarily for smaller and emerging VCSE organisations.
The priorities below have been set strategically, based on current investment through BIF3 medium and large grants and other council programmes.
They focus on communities where we want to see more resident‑led activity and where small, flexible funding can have the greatest impact.
Larger organisations with a turnover above £100,000 can apply, but will only be considered where the work is led by or directly serving one of the communities listed below.
The priorities are:
- small or emerging organisations, annual turnover under £100,000, whose work grows the power of communities experiencing the greatest inequity
- resident‑led community activity in neighbourhoods ranked within the 20% most deprived areas
- projects that support or are led by LGBTQIA+ communities
- projects that support or are led by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities
- youth‑led work, ages 18 to 25, in neighbourhoods ranked within the 30% most deprived areas
Who can apply
Organisations must meet the eligibility criteria and at least one of the priorities of the fund.
Groups must:
- be Bristol‑based, with at least 3 Bristol‑based trustees, director or committee members
- have a governing document
- have a bank account in the organisation's name with two signatories
- have an eligible organisational structure (CIO, CIC, Company Limited by Guarantee, Community Benefit Company or CASC)
Full details will be included in the guidance document published here on 24 March.
How to find out more
We'll hold online information sessions on:
- Thursday 26 March, 1pm to 2pm
- Monday 30 March, 5.30pm to 6.30pm
- Tuesday 31 March, 12pm to 1pm
You can sign up to these sessision on Eventbrite Go to https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bristol-impact-fund-3-small-grants-information-session-tickets-1985051691044?aff=oddtdtcreator (opens new window).
Since the launch of BIF, 70 organisations have received grants and 7,000 volunteers have been involved. BIF has funded projects that have:
- reduced financial, food and fuel poverty
- tackled unemployment
- improved people's access to technology
- enabled people to better participate in their community
- reduced social isolation
- improved wellbeing
To find out more about the impact of BIF, see these independent evaluations:
Explore past and current funded projects
You can find details of past grants published on the grant funding data page (data.gov.uk).
Download our pdf Bristol Impact Fund 2 project summary 2021 to 2026(235 KB) , for an overview of all small, medium and large projects funded over the past 5 years.
If you any have questions, email investmentandgrants@bristol.gov.uk.