CIC funding
Grants for CICs: how to check if your community interest company can apply
A UK CIC guide to grant eligibility, legal-form checks and finding funders that fit a community project.
A grant listing that says “community organisations” may or may not accept your community interest company. Check whether it names CICs, specifies a company form or imposes other conditions before writing a proposal.
What your CIC status tells a funder
A CIC is a form of limited company designed to benefit the community, with an asset lock. GOV.UK's social enterprise guide explains the structure, and the CIC Regulator's guidance explains the asset lock and the difference between companies limited by guarantee and by shares. Your specific company form and governing documents may matter to a funder, so describe them accurately rather than writing only “social enterprise”.
How to test a grant's CIC eligibility
Read the programme's “who can apply” and “who cannot apply” pages together. One concrete example: Reaching Communities England lists CICs among its eligible organisation types, subject to its other conditions. That does not extend to every National Lottery programme or every CIC structure.
Check whether the funder requires a company limited by guarantee, a named asset lock, non-distribution of profits, a minimum trading history or an established community track record. These are questions to check, not rules that apply to all grants. If the guidance is silent, contact the funder with your company number and legal form.
Find programmes suited to your project
Search by your community outcome and delivery area, then filter for grants and Charity / VCSE applicants. The government Find a grant service includes opportunities for voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations. OpenGrant's broad Charity / VCSE filter includes CICs but can also return listings for other organisation types, so verify your precise eligibility against each funder's page. Compare permitted costs and timing before starting an application.
What to send when eligibility is unclear
- Your company number and whether the CIC is limited by guarantee or by shares.
- A short description of the project, its delivery area and the people who will benefit.
- The specific rule you cannot resolve from the guidance, such as whether your company form is accepted.
- Any articles, asset-lock details or accounts the funder asks to see. Keep the reply with your application notes.