Navigating the world of grants can be a bit of a headache, especially as they regularly change in terms of available funds, deadlines, criteria and application processes. To save you time, we’ve compiled some of the main rugby club funders to consider and have provided you with access to the RFU Grant Finder which allows you to search through thousands of grants that could help your club. It is important to put your club in the best position possible to be successful when you apply for funding.
When applying for funding, it is important to have your club arrangements in order to enable you to successfully gain funding for your project. The questions in the Are you ready for funding? checklist aim to help your club ensure everything is in place so that you are in the best possible position to access grant funding.
RFU Grant Finder tool
Our free to use grant search facility allows you to search through the thousands of grants and loans that could help your club.
The information that you search is updated daily by a team of researchers and is fully comprehensive. The search tool is completely free to use and there is no limit as to how many times you can use it.
RWC2025 IMPACT FACILITY FUND
Between 2023 and 2027, the RFU will deliver a transformational Rugby World Cup 2025 Impact programme in partnership with HM Treasury, DCMS (Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) and Sport England. The programme includes a £7m facility investment fund.
The objective of this fund is to; ‘Enhance the rugby club experience for females’ as set out in the RFU’s Every Rose Action Plan.
Within the programme grant funding is available for;
- The provision of basic sanitary requirements
- Improvements to rugby club female toilets
- Impact refurbishments to create female friendly club social spaces
- Enhancements to existing and construction of new female changing rooms
The application window has now closed for sanitary and toilet upgrades. Watch this space for future opportunities for funding linked to the RWC2025 Impact Programme.
If you have any questions, visit the Community Rugby Help Portal.
Changing Rooms and Social Space Improvements
The programme also includes grant funding to support clubs to improve and refurbish their social space and changing rooms. Access to these funds is managed through the Constituent Body (CB) facility planning process. Club needs are established via the CB Facility Audit and this information is prioritised by each CB in conjunction with the RFU Facility Development Team. For more information, please contact your CB or your local RFU Facility Development Team
SPORT ENGLAND
Sport England funding options that are applicable to rugby clubs and can be found here.
There are three parts to the funding:
- Return to Play: Small Grants
- Active Together: Crowdfunding
- Places and Spaces Fund – linked to Commonwealth Games
NEEDS BASED TRAVEL FUNDING SUPPORT
Travel funding for this year has now been allocated. Funding information for next year will be communicated later this season.
Can't find what you need?
Visit the Community Rugby Help Centre for more information.
