Aviva Community Fund

A new approach to funding progress

We’ve been running the Aviva Community Fund for over four years now, and we’re proud to have helped thousands of small charities and good causes build stronger communities all across the UK.

And now, to take the Aviva Community Fund to the next level, we’ve teamed up with Crowdfunder to give charities and community interest companies the opportunity to further build their capabilities, drive sustainable fundraising and leverage our talented and enthusiastic workforce to get their best and brightest ideas off the ground.

Take part

On 21 January, eligible causes will be able to submit their projects to the Aviva Community Fund through Crowdfunder. Funding applications are open to projects looking to secure up to £50,000.

We’ve streamlined the process so that, unlike earlier years, there are no activity categories or funding levels you need to select. If you need any help, we’ll guide you through the process with free toolkits and resources.

Take a risk

We’re looking for charities to submit forward-thinking projects. We've always supported people through life’s challenges and opportunities, and now we want to give charities the wiggle room to embrace new ways of doing things. Because social progress happens when people are free to test new ideas.

All applications will need to be submitted by 23:59 on 11 February. The Crowdfunder page for each project goes live on 4 March so everyone gets an equal opportunity to attract donations.

Take it away

The power is now in the hands of Aviva employees to decide how the Aviva Community Fund money is distributed. Between them, they’ll have £250,000 of Fund money to donate to the projects that matter to them most. You'll also have the opportunity to reach out to your networks and the general public to raise your target amount by sharing links through social media and more.

Once you’ve reached your fundraising target, you can withdraw the funds and get to work. The closing date for attracting Aviva Community Fund donations from our employees is 15 April but, if you’re yet to reach your target, you can keep your page open to continue public fundraising.

Is your idea eligible?

We want to support projects that boost the resilience of communities in the face of uncertainty, so we’re investing in two key areas:

• Community resilience: Tackling inequality and improving environments to build more connected, more resilient communities

• Financial capability and inclusion: Giving people the tools to become more financially independent

We believe that the charities that make the biggest impact are those that are given the opportunity to innovate and test new ideas without fear of risk. That’s why we’re focusing on funding small charities with forward-thinking ideas. To this end, any projects submitted should be to develop a new approach, product or technology, pilot a new scheme, implement a new initiative, or expand existing services to a new area or beneficiary group.

Your project must also:

• Be submitted by an applicant aged 18 or older

• Be UK based and for the benefit of UK communities

• Not be for the benefit of any one individual

Your project must also:

• Be registered in the UK as a charity or community interest company

• Have a bank account in its own name and have been operating for over 12 months

• Have an annual income below £1 million

You can review the full eligibility criteria here.

If you’re not eligible for funding opportunities, we still want to support your cause. Find out how else you can get involved.