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Small grants programme 2026
Applications for Lloyd's Register Foundation's small grants programme will open from 19 October to 14 December 2026.
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Lloyd's Register Foundation small grants programme - for grants up to £10,000 GBP.
Overview
The ethos of the programme is that "a little can go a long way". Grants of up to £10,000 for projects of up to 12 months will be available to support activities that:
- Initiate, build, or consolidate partnerships with organisations in the relevant sectors.
- Test out ideas through pilot studies, proof of concept projects or activities aligned with one or more of our strategic pillars, including, but not limited to, heritage, maritime and public sectors.
- We are also particularly interested in proposals which utilise insights from any World Risk Poll wave to date, including secondary analysis, evidence generation, synthesis, or exploration of a specific issue, with the aim of producing insights, learning, or resources that are relevant and useful to and demonstrate clear value for a specific audience or user group.
Eligibility
We will only consider applications related to the charitable mission of Lloyd’s Register Foundation.
- Projects or activities should demonstrate the potential to lead to future collaborations, clear knowledge exchange, or create/accelerate impact.
- Desk-based work and research
- Fieldwork (such as in-person interviews and visits to archives)
- We are additionally interested in receiving applications related to the World Risk Poll. Examples of projects funded through previous World Risk Poll funding calls can be found here.
- Please note grants are not normally awarded consecutively and can be no more than 12 months long.
Applicants seeking funding for projects relating to fishing safety are encouraged to first explore the International Fund for Fishing Safety (IFFS): International Fund for Fishing Safety | The Seafarers' Charity. IFFS is a partnership between Lloyd's Register Foundation, the Seafarers' Charity and FISH Platform, and the route by which the Foundation funds most of its fishing safety work.
We will not consider applications for:
- Work which is not within the Foundation's mission
- For individuals, where activities only directly benefit the applicant
- Conservation of historic vessels
- Projects focused solely on naval history
- Capital works
- School, college or university fees
- Retrospective funding
- Lobbying and campaigning
- Business / first-class travel
- Core equipment; however, specialist equipment would be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Funding for a component of an already-funded project (such as journal publication costs, additional travel, sub-projects)
- Archaeological field work (eg vessel hire and subsea surveys)
- Applications that are not written in English
We will not consider applications of World Risk Poll related proposals which have:
- No clear World Risk Poll data use
- Applications without a research output. Projects should generate new knowledge, evidence or insights through the use of the data, although an academic publication is not required.
- Large or complex interventions
- Work requiring significant primary data collection
- Business as usual NGO programming or work that can be delivered without the Poll
- Duplication of existing evidence
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Frequently asked questions
Our small grants programme is open to non-profit organisations, as well as profit organisations delivering work on a non-profit basis. Eligible applicants include registered charities, universities, and verifiable individual entities working in fields aligned with our charitable mission. Applicants must be able to responsibly manage funds, deliver measurable outcomes, and provide recent financial documentation (e.g. annual accounts).
Yes. We fund work globally, including locally led initiatives, provided the organisation meets our eligibility criteria and the project delivers demonstrable public benefit aligned with our mission.
Generally, only one application per lead organisation will be considered per call to ensure fairness. However, additional applications with distinct leads and delivery teams may be allowed. Any organisation worldwide can apply - most funding is expected to go to organisations outside the UK, particularly in developing economies.
Collaboration is not mandatory, but partnerships are encouraged - especially where they bring technical expertise, local engagement, or extend the reach of learning.
Yes. Co-funding is acceptable if the overall project aligns with our mission and the Foundation’s contribution is distinct and non-duplicative.
Projects must advance the Foundation’s mission to enhance the safety of life and property, particularly through engineering, risk, or systems approaches. We welcome both technical and non-technical projects that demonstrate clear public benefit.
The Foundation does not fund full salaries or general overheads. However, reasonable staff time dedicated to project delivery (e.g. coordination, convening) can be included if proportionate and clearly justified.
Projects must contribute to improved safety or reduced risk for people and communities - not solely benefit private or commercial interests. Findings should be shareable and publicly accessible.
We assess proposals against four criteria:
- Alignment with the Foundation’s mission and strategy
- Feasibility and proportionality
- Innovation and learning potential
- Delivery and accountability
Applicants may request up to £10,000. Smaller requests are welcome where proportionate to the scope and outcomes.
Applications are submitted through the Foundation’s online grants portal, accessible via the website.
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