The Lipman-Miliband Trust exists to fund:
“study and research into socialist ideas and practice and other allied fields and the dissemination of the results thereof to the public;
and educational activities that raise public awareness and understanding of struggles and movements for peace, human rights and co-operation and a more equal, diverse, cooperative and democratic society.”
We have a broad interpretation of these aims but they are at the heart of what we do. All applications must demonstrate how the work furthers these aims.
This grants programme is focused on supporting the development of sustainable and effective infrastructure and capabilities for the aims outlined above. We are looking to fund organisations thinking in long-term and strategic ways about how these aims can be furthered within and across movements.
You can apply for up to £30,000 over three years (maximum of £10,000 per year).
We expect applicants to apply for a minimum of £9,000 per year (minimum of £27,000 in total).
Organisations that meet the following requirements:
Were established (i.e. registered with the Charity Commission, Companies House, the Financial Conduct Authority or the Certification Officer) a minimum of two years ago.
Had an income of between £5,000 and £500,000 in the most recent financial year.
Can demonstrate impact from work carried out in the last two years.
Are based in the UK, with a UK bank account.
Individuals
If you are an individual looking for grant funding, please see our small grants programme.
Unincorporated/un-registered organisations.
Organisations with an income of less than £5,000 or more than £500,000 in the most recent financial year.
Organisations based outside of the UK.
Organisations that do not have a UK-based bank account.
Running costs.
Core costs (as long as you can clearly demonstrate how these will contribute to the aims of the programme).
Work that aims to create transformative change with demonstrable impact.
Work that demonstrate clear engagement with their proposed audiences and that promote active outcomes.
We want to fund work all over the UK, so we actively encourage applications from areas outside of London and the South-East of England.
Any element of undergraduate or postgraduate studies or research e.g. tuition fees, costs of carrying out research for an assignment or dissertation or living costs while studying.
Work focused primarily on service provision rather than educational activities. For example, an application by a foodbank or homelessness charity where the main focus is providing support to service users, rather than carrying out educational activities related to our aims. We appreciate that in some cases these things can be linked and encourage you to contact us ahead of applying if you’re unsure about which category your work falls into.
Work connected to political parties, or with party political aims; or that does not adhere to Charity Commission guidance on campaigning and political activity.
Retrospective costs (i.e. applications cannot be made for expenditure that has already occurred or will occur before the grant is received).
Yes, you can submit a partnership application. The lead organisation in the application must meet our eligibility requirements and take on full responsibility for ensuring the work is completed in adherence with the application guidelines and grant agreement.
Please try to write as clearly and straightforwardly as possible. Even if one or more of our trustees is familiar with your work, we can only make decisions based on the information provided in the application.
You must ensure that your application clearly outlines how your work furthers the aims of the Lipman-Miliband Trust. Applications that do not make this clear will not be considered for funding.
We are looking for applications that demonstrate how the work will contribute to transformative change, with an emphasis on supporting the development of sustainable and effective infrastructure and capabilities to achieve the Trust’s aims.
Please make sure you double-check the numbers given in your budget breakdown! We need to see that you can understand and manage a budget.
The application process has two stages. The first is a short application form, where you’ll briefly outline the work you’re asking us to fund.
Trustees will review the first round of applications and select a number of applicants to invite to the second round. You will receive a decision on whether or not you have been selected to apply for the second round within six weeks of completing the first application form.
If you are invited to the second round of applications, you will be sent a link to a longer application form, requesting more details on things like the impact you’re hoping to achieve and your budget.
We try to keep our application form as concise as possible. You can read through the questions on the application form here. You need to apply online though.
Timeline:
Applications open: 14th October
First round application deadline: 16th December
Decisions on first round communicated: 24th January
Second round application deadline: 24th February
Final decisions communicated: by 28th March
Grants are then distributed within 4 weeks of the decision being communicated.
Please take this timeline into account when planning your work, to ensure that your start date is realistic.
Please note that this is a new grants programme. The examples listed below are examples of work funded by our smaller grants programme. While they are all examples of things that could in theory be funded through this large grants programme, with this grants programme we are looking to fund longer-term strategic work rather than small projects.
Socialist research and education can take many forms and cover many areas of activity, so this list is not exhaustive or prescriptive. If you convince us that your application fits our aims and your work is well thought out, we will be interested.
Publications: We have funded all sorts of print and digital publications including books and magazines.
Websites: We have supported groups building, rebuilding or expanding their websites, or making them more accessible.
Audio and video: We have supported organisations/groups seeking to reach a wider audience or work with a specific community through films, videos or podcasts.
Conferences: We have supported conferences that have aimed to generate new ideas or engage with new audiences. We want them to be open and politically dynamic. We will sometimes fund travel expenses to enable people to attend.
Educational events: we have supported a number of organisations/groups putting on workshops and facilitating seminars.
Research projects: we have funded projects that bring new ideas or reinvigorate long-standing socialist discussions. We like to see research that is participative and has a good strategy for dissemination. University-based projects should show how they engage with people beyond the institution’s walls.
Archives: we have funded projects that preserve working class and socialist histories, which are so often ignored. We are looking for those projects that aim at engaging with the widest audiences, perhaps via a website, and that inspire for the future as well as preserving the past.
Art installations: we have funded street art and exhibitions where artists want to get a political message across and reach a wide audience.
Theatre productions: we have funded a number of theatre productions: small and large, local and national. We like to support high quality productions that actively engage with their audiences and we are keen to see spin-offs like podcasts or education packs.
If you have any questions about applying for funding from The Lipman-Miliband Trust, please contact us here.
