Deadline: 04-Sep-2026
The Step Change Fund is inviting applications from charities and community organizations in Oxfordshire seeking to strengthen their leadership, governance, financial resilience, and long-term sustainability. The fund supports transformational projects that help organizations build a stronger foundation, increase their impact, and better address social challenges affecting disadvantaged communities.
A distinctive feature of the fund is the provision of an experienced volunteer project manager who works alongside successful applicants to develop and deliver a clear transformation plan.
About the Fund
- The Step Change Fund supports organizational development and transformation projects.
- The fund aims to strengthen the charitable sector across Oxfordshire.
- Funding is designed to help organizations become more sustainable and resilient.
- Projects must demonstrate a significant step change in impact or financial sustainability.
- The fund focuses on long-term improvement rather than maintaining existing operations.
- Successful applicants receive support from a volunteer project manager with business strategy or management experience.
- Projects must benefit disadvantaged people living in Oxfordshire.
Fund Objectives
- Strengthen leadership and governance.
- Improve organizational sustainability.
- Build financial resilience.
- Support strategic growth and transformation.
- Expand service reach and community impact.
- Increase organizational effectiveness.
- Strengthen the local charitable sector.
- Improve outcomes for disadvantaged communities.
Priority Focus Areas
- Capacity building.
- Organizational transformation.
- Leadership development.
- Governance improvement.
- Financial sustainability.
- Strategic planning.
- Service expansion.
- Charitable sector strengthening.
- Long-term resilience.
- Increased community impact.
Volunteer Project Manager Support
A key component of the Step Change Fund is dedicated project management support.
The volunteer project manager will:
- Work with the organization throughout the project.
- Help develop a clear transformation strategy.
- Assist in creating a fully costed implementation plan.
- Support project delivery and milestone tracking.
- Provide business and management expertise.
- Help ensure projects remain focused on achieving long-term change.
Funding Information
- Grant size: £10,000 to £50,000.
- Total grant support is generally capped at £75,000.
- Funding typically should not exceed 30% of an organization’s annual income where applicable.
- Relevant core costs may be included when directly linked to the transformation project.
- The fund does not provide unrestricted core funding for maintaining existing services.
What Types of Projects Are Supported?
Eligible projects may include:
- Organizational restructuring.
- Leadership development initiatives.
- Governance improvement programs.
- Financial sustainability planning.
- Strategic growth projects.
- Service expansion initiatives.
- Operational transformation activities.
- Systems and process improvements.
- Projects that increase reach and impact.
- Activities that strengthen long-term resilience.
Projects should demonstrate a clear and measurable step change in organizational effectiveness or sustainability.
Who Can Apply?
Eligible applicants include:
- Registered charities.
- Community Interest Companies (CICs).
- Companies limited by guarantee.
- Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs).
- Unincorporated associations.
- Community benefit societies.
Organizations must:
- Have been operating for at least three years.
- Have an annual income between £100,000 and £1 million.
- Demonstrate that at least 80% of beneficiaries are based in Oxfordshire.
- Focus on improving the lives of disadvantaged people.
- Have strong leadership and governance structures.
- Have at least three unrelated trustees or committee members.
- Maintain a bank account with at least two unrelated signatories.
- Hold a minimum of three months’ operating reserves.
- Remain open to people of all religious and political affiliations without proselytising.
Who Cannot Apply?
Ineligible applicants include:
- National charities and financially integrated branches.
- Public or statutory bodies.
- Parish councils.
- Town councils.
- Animal-focused charities.
- Individual applicants.
- Organizations seeking funding for vehicle purchases.
- Projects requesting retrospective funding.
- Organizations rejected by the fund within the previous 12 months.
Expected Outcomes
Funded projects are expected to contribute to:
- Stronger organizational leadership.
- Improved governance practices.
- Increased financial sustainability.
- Greater organizational resilience.
- Expanded reach and service delivery.
- Enhanced community impact.
- Improved support for disadvantaged populations.
- Long-term sector strengthening across Oxfordshire.
Why This Fund Matters
- Many charities face increasing demand while operating with limited resources.
- Sustainable organizations are better positioned to respond to complex social challenges.
- Strong leadership and governance are essential for long-term success.
- Capacity-building investments create lasting benefits beyond individual projects.
- Strategic transformation can help organizations increase their impact and reach more people in need.
- The inclusion of expert project management support increases the likelihood of successful implementation.
Application Tips
- Clearly explain the transformational change your organization wants to achieve.
- Demonstrate how the project will improve sustainability or impact.
- Show strong leadership commitment to the proposed changes.
- Present a realistic and well-planned implementation strategy.
- Provide evidence of community need and expected benefits.
- Explain how disadvantaged people in Oxfordshire will benefit.
- Outline measurable outcomes and long-term benefits.
- Ensure governance and financial information are up to date.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the purpose of the Step Change Fund?
- The fund supports organizational transformation projects that improve the sustainability, effectiveness, and impact of charities serving disadvantaged communities in Oxfordshire.
How much funding is available?
- Grants range from £10,000 to £50,000, with total support generally capped at £75,000.
Does the fund provide core funding?
- The fund does not provide funding solely to maintain existing services, although relevant core costs linked to transformation projects may be considered.
Who can apply?
- Eligible applicants include registered charities, CICs, CIOs, community benefit societies, unincorporated associations, and companies limited by guarantee.
What is the income requirement?
- Applicant organizations must have an annual income between £100,000 and £1 million.
What additional support is provided?
- Every funded project receives support from an experienced volunteer project manager who assists with planning and implementation.
Who benefits from funded projects?
- Projects must primarily benefit disadvantaged people in Oxfordshire, with at least 80% of beneficiaries located within the county.
Conclusion
The Step Change Fund offers charities and community organizations in Oxfordshire an opportunity to strengthen their leadership, governance, and long-term sustainability through transformational projects. With grants of up to £50,000 and dedicated project management support, the fund helps organizations build resilience, expand their impact, and create lasting benefits for disadvantaged communities across Oxfordshire.
For more information, visit Oxfordshire Community Foundation.