The Social Investment Fund is a charitable grantmaking organization that uses public and privately donated funds to strengthen charities and nonprofit organizations across the Bailiwick of Guernsey. Incorporated in 2020, SIF has awarded more than £8 million through 278 grants supporting community services, vulnerable people, education, health, environmental protection, arts, culture, heritage and sport.
Introduction
The Social Investment Fund, commonly known as SIF, invests in the charitable and third sectors to improve islanders’ lives, strengthen communities and create lasting impact throughout the Bailiwick of Guernsey.
SIF operates two principal funding streams: the Small Grants Programme for requests of up to £15,000 and the Major Grants Programme for requests above £15,000. Funding is available to eligible registered charities and nonprofit organizations operating within or for the benefit of the Bailiwick.
History and Background
The Social Investment Fund was established following an agreement by the States of Deliberation through the 2018 Budget Report.
It was incorporated in Guernsey on April 1, 2020, as Social Investment Fund LBG. Its company registration number is 67587, and its charity registration number is CH638.
Soon after incorporation, SIF responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by launching the COVID-19 Community Charity Appeal. The initiative raised money for local charities facing increased demand, lost income and operational disruption.
Once the immediate pandemic response was established, SIF proceeded with its original plan to provide structured funding through Small and Major Grants programmes.
These grant programs formally launched in 2021 and have since become significant sources of support for Guernsey’s charitable sector.
Purpose and Mission
SIF’s purpose is to use funding received from public and private sources to invest in Guernsey’s third sector.
It seeks to:
- Improve the lives of Bailiwick residents.
- Strengthen community organizations.
- Improve cooperation between government and the charitable sector.
- Support the financial sustainability of charities.
- Direct funding toward areas of greatest community need.
- Improve health, well-being and social inclusion.
- Support people experiencing disadvantage or vulnerability.
- Protect Guernsey’s environment, culture and heritage.
- Expand employment, education and training opportunities.
- Encourage volunteering and social enterprise.
SIF does not simply distribute grants. It also seeks to build stronger working relationships among government bodies, charities, nonprofit organizations, donors and community partners.
Geographic Focus
SIF’s funding is locally focused.
Eligible organizations must operate within the Bailiwick of Guernsey or demonstrate that their activities directly benefit its residents.
The Bailiwick includes:
- Guernsey.
- Alderney.
- Sark.
- Herm.
- Other associated islands.
Projects delivered outside the Bailiwick would generally need to demonstrate a clear and direct benefit for Bailiwick residents to be considered.
Legal and Institutional Structure
The Social Investment Fund is registered as Social Investment Fund LBG, a company limited by guarantee.
It is a separately constituted charitable body that works as a partner of the States of Guernsey. This structure gives it organizational independence while supporting cooperation between government and the third sector.
SIF’s registered and operational office is at Sir Charles Frossard House in St Peter Port, Guernsey.
Governance and Board
The Social Investment Fund is governed by a Board of Directors responsible for strategic direction, grant decisions, financial oversight and organizational accountability.
Steve Sharman became Chair of the SIF Board on April 1, 2026. He succeeded the Very Reverend Tim Barker, who completed his term after serving as a director since SIF’s establishment in 2020 and as Chair from April 2023.
Directors may serve a maximum of two three-year terms.
Board members bring experience from areas such as:
- Charitable-sector leadership.
- Community development.
- Government partnerships.
- Financial management.
- Grant assessment.
- Governance.
- Social services.
- Business and professional practice.
The Board makes final decisions on Small and Major Grant applications.
Operational Management
SIF’s professional team manages:
- Grant enquiries.
- Applicant consultations.
- Due diligence.
- Application processing.
- Financial assessment.
- Monitoring and reporting.
- Communications with funded organizations.
- Preparation of recommendations for the Board.
Sadie Siviter de Paucar serves as SIF’s Lead Officer and is a principal contact for the Major Grants Programme.
Funding Mechanisms
SIF receives money from a combination of public and private sources.
Its primary grant-funding sources include:
- Guernsey’s net proceeds from the Channel Islands Lottery.
- Funds from the Guernsey Probate Registry.
- A proportion of proceeds from seized assets.
- Private donations.
- Contributions from individuals.
- Business donations.
- Charitable trust support.
- Special fundraising appeals.
A States decision in 2021 enabled SIF to receive a percentage of seized-asset proceeds for community investment.
Long-Term Funding Approach
SIF follows a funding-allocation policy designed to distribute reserves prudently over a five-year period.
This approach is intended to:
- Provide greater certainty to the charitable sector.
- Maintain sustainable grant funding.
- Avoid allocating all reserves within a short period.
- Support multi-year commitments.
- Allow charities to undertake longer-term planning.
Available funding varies between years according to income, reserves, existing commitments and funding decisions.
Funding Available in 2026
SIF announced up to £1.67 million for distribution to the charitable sector in 2026, representing an increase of 19% over the amount made available in 2025.
The allocation included:
- Approximately £330,000 for the Small Grants Programme.
- Approximately £1.34 million for the Major Grants Programme.
The 2026 schedule included two Small Grants rounds and one Major Grants round.
Small Grants Programme
The Small Grants Programme supports charitable activities and projects across Guernsey’s third sector.
Eligible organizations may apply for grants of up to £15,000.
Funding may support:
- One-off community projects.
- Equipment purchases.
- Capital expenses.
- Organizational running costs for up to one year.
- Service delivery.
- Community events.
- Pilot initiatives.
- Volunteer-led activities.
- Improvements to charitable facilities.
- Arts, culture, heritage and sports activities.
The Small Grants Programme generally opens twice each year, although the focus and schedule may vary.
Current Small Grants Round
The second Small Grants round of 2026 opened on September 21, 2026, and accepts applications from all sectors.
Applications must be submitted by 12:00 p.m. on October 19, 2026.
Registered charities and nonprofit organizations may request up to £15,000 for one-off projects, capital expenses or running costs covering up to one year.
Applicants should verify the deadline and current documents on the official SIF website before submitting.
Major Grants Programme
The Major Grants Programme supports requests above £15,000.
It is designed to improve the financial sustainability, capacity and long-term impact of Guernsey’s charitable sector.
Major Grants may support:
- Multi-year services.
- Significant community programs.
- Organizational running costs.
- Salary costs.
- Service expansion.
- Capital projects.
- New facilities.
- Partnership initiatives.
- Capacity development.
- Programs addressing substantial or unmet needs.
The program does not publish a fixed maximum grant amount. Awards have ranged from amounts above £15,000 to several hundred thousand pounds.
Since launching in 2021, the Major Grants Programme has awarded more than £6 million through 75 grants. More than £1 million was distributed through this program in 2025 alone.
Major Grant Priorities
Major Grant applications should contribute to at least one of SIF’s community outcomes:
- Improving the lives of people with specific needs, disadvantages or vulnerabilities.
- Expanding employment, education or training opportunities.
- Protecting the natural environment, culture or heritage.
- Improving community health and well-being.
- Creating an inclusive community that challenges disadvantage and discrimination.
Applications should propose measurable outputs that demonstrate how the requested funding will contribute to the selected outcome.
Activities SIF Seeks to Support
Competitive applications may:
- Address a clearly demonstrated community need.
- Provide services that are not currently available.
- Complement existing services without unnecessary duplication.
- Improve the sustainability of an important service.
- Take a multi-year approach.
- Promote cooperation among several agencies.
- Attract additional philanthropic or private-sector funding.
- Build the capacity of a nonprofit organization.
- Encourage volunteering.
- Support social-enterprise development.
- Produce measurable benefits for Bailiwick residents.
Who Can Apply?
The Small and Major Grants programmes are open to:
- Registered charities.
- Registered nonprofit organizations.
- Organizations operating within the Bailiwick of Guernsey.
- Organizations providing a direct and identifiable benefit to Bailiwick residents.
Organizations should have appropriate governance, financial controls and operational capacity.
Eligibility alone does not guarantee funding. SIF assesses applications competitively and directs resources toward organizations and activities it considers most needed.
Application Requirements
The required documents depend on the funding program and proposed activity.
Applicants may need to submit:
- A completed application form.
- Governing documents.
- The organization’s most recent accounts.
- Independently reviewed or audited financial information.
- A current annual report.
- A business or strategic plan.
- A project plan.
- Evidence explaining how the project fits the organization’s strategy.
- Project budgets.
- Capital-project quotations.
- Job descriptions for proposed salary costs.
- Governance policies.
- Safeguarding policies.
- Information about financial controls.
- Evidence of community need.
SIF may request further information during its due-diligence process.
How to Apply for a Small Grant
Applicants should:
- Review the Small Grants Programme guidelines.
- Confirm that the organization is an eligible charity or nonprofit.
- Ensure that the activities operate within or benefit the Bailiwick of Guernsey.
- Identify a clear project, capital expense or operating need.
- Prepare the required financial and governance documents.
- Complete the official application form.
- Submit the complete application before the stated deadline.
- Respond promptly to requests for due-diligence or safeguarding information.
- Wait for the Board’s written funding decision.
Successful applicants receive a grant agreement for signature before payment is released.
How to Apply for a Major Grant
Major Grant applicants must first meet with SIF before submitting an application.
The process generally involves:
- Contacting SIF to arrange a preliminary discussion.
- Explaining the organization’s funding need and community value.
- Discussing the anticipated outcomes and measurable impact.
- Confirming eligibility and suitability for the Major Grants Programme.
- Preparing the application and supporting documents.
- Demonstrating sound governance and financial management.
- Explaining organizational and project sustainability.
- Showing that the organization has adequate staff, skills and resources.
- Submitting the application by the published deadline.
- Responding to questions arising during assessment.
This preliminary engagement allows SIF to understand the proposal before it reaches formal review.
How Applications Are Assessed
SIF considers several factors when reviewing applications:
- Number of people expected to benefit.
- Nature and severity of the community need.
- Anticipated project or service impact.
- Alignment with SIF outcomes.
- Financial health of the applicant.
- Evidence that alternative funding is unavailable.
- Organizational governance.
- Financial controls.
- Safeguarding arrangements.
- Sustainability.
- Strategic planning.
- Delivery capacity.
- Partnership working.
- Value for money.
- Measurable outputs and outcomes.
Funding may be declined even when an organization meets the basic eligibility requirements.
COVID-19 Community Charity Appeal
SIF launched its COVID-19 Community Charity Appeal immediately after its incorporation in 2020.
The appeal supported organizations that:
- Experienced significant income losses.
- Faced increased demand for services.
- Supported vulnerable residents.
- Responded to domestic abuse.
- Addressed isolation and mental-health needs.
- Delivered emergency community support.
The appeal raised more than £467,000 through donations from individuals, businesses and charitable trusts.
Impact and Grantmaking Record
Since its incorporation in 2020, SIF has:
- Awarded more than £8 million.
- Distributed 278 grants.
- Supported more than 158 charitable organizations.
- Awarded 165 Small Grants totalling more than £1.5 million by September 2026.
- Awarded more than £6 million through 75 Major Grants since 2021.
The funding has supported a broad range of beneficiaries, causes and community organizations.
Examples of Major Grants
Guernsey Sports Commission
SIF awarded £103,102 over three years to support the Guernsey Sports Commission’s On Your Marks program.
The program provides an inclusive sports and activity-based holiday club for children from Year 1 to Year 9.
It places particular emphasis on families for whom participation costs may be a barrier. At least 25% of available spaces are intended for children and families needing financial support.
Alderney Wildlife Trust
SIF awarded a three-year grant of £136,500 toward the Alderney State of Nature program.
The initiative monitors and protects Alderney’s wildlife and natural habitats while responding to threats connected with climate change, pollution, land management and invasive species.
The grant helped move the program from a largely volunteer-led model toward a professionally supported and sustainable environmental-monitoring framework.
Independence
Independence received £46,524 toward three years of service delivery and professional development.
The organization supports people experiencing at-risk or problem gambling, their families and other affected individuals.
Buzzer Buses and Community Transport
SIF funding has supported organizations delivering accessible transportation to elderly, disabled and less-mobile residents.
Such services improve access to healthcare, social activities, shopping and other essential community facilities.
Examples of Small Grants
Recent Small Grant recipients have included:
- La Société Guernesiaise Conservation Herd: £10,000 to establish a starter group of Royal Golden Guernsey Goats within the conservation herd.
- Priaulx Library: £15,000 toward digitizing historic local newspapers.
- Little Quilts, Big Hugs: £800 for quilting supplies.
- Guernsey Volleyball Association: £3,384 for sporting and community-event equipment.
- Guernsey Arthritis Care: £7,700 for specialist exercise sessions.
- Guernsey Botanical Trust LBG: £5,161 for education-centre presentation equipment.
- Guernsey Caring for Ex-Offenders: £6,371 toward a kitchen extension and basic cooking courses.
- Choices: £12,500 for a pilot online booking system.
- Guernsey Street Festival: £14,280 toward performances and associated travel expenses.
These awards demonstrate that SIF supports both small grassroots activities and substantial multi-year services.
Funding Areas
SIF grants may benefit causes including:
- People experiencing disadvantage.
- Disability services.
- Children and families.
- Older people.
- Mental health.
- Physical health and well-being.
- Education and training.
- Employment support.
- Community transport.
- Environment and conservation.
- Arts and culture.
- Heritage.
- Sport and recreation.
- Social inclusion.
- Rehabilitation and offender support.
- Volunteering.
- Community facilities.
Partnership with Government and the Third Sector
A central purpose of SIF is to improve cooperation between the States of Guernsey and the charitable sector.
Charities often deliver specialized services that complement government provision. SIF helps resource this work while encouraging shared planning and coordinated delivery.
Its separately constituted structure allows it to act as a bridge between public funding, private philanthropy and community organizations.
Why the Social Investment Fund Matters
Guernsey’s charities provide essential services in health, care, disability support, culture, sport, environmental conservation and community development.
Many organizations depend on volunteers, donations and limited operating income. This can make it difficult to retain staff, maintain facilities or plan services over several years.
SIF addresses these challenges by offering both small, accessible grants and substantial multi-year support. Its funding can cover operations, staffing, capital costs and service delivery rather than being limited to short-term activities.
Common Application Mistakes
Applicants should avoid:
- Applying without checking current eligibility requirements.
- Submitting a Major Grant application without first meeting SIF.
- Failing to demonstrate a direct benefit to Bailiwick residents.
- Providing incomplete financial information.
- Omitting governance or safeguarding documents.
- Describing activities without measurable outcomes.
- Requesting funding without demonstrating financial need.
- Duplicating services already available without justification.
- Providing an unrealistic project budget.
- Missing the published deadline.
Applicants should use the latest guidance because funding thresholds and program schedules can change.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Social Investment Fund?
The Social Investment Fund is a Guernsey-registered charitable company that distributes public and privately sourced funding to charities and nonprofit organizations benefiting the Bailiwick.
How much funding does SIF provide?
Small Grants provide up to £15,000. Major Grants support applications above £15,000 and do not have a published fixed maximum.
Who can apply?
Registered charities and nonprofit organizations operating within or for the benefit of the Bailiwick of Guernsey may apply, subject to the current program criteria.
What can a Small Grant cover?
Small Grants may support one-off projects, capital expenses or operating costs covering up to one year.
Can organizations receive multi-year funding?
Yes. The Major Grants Programme can support eligible services and activities through multi-year awards.
Where does SIF’s funding come from?
Principal sources include Guernsey’s net proceeds from the Channel Islands Lottery, the Guernsey Probate Registry, a proportion of seized-asset proceeds and private donations.
When is the current Small Grants deadline?
The second Small Grants round of 2026 closes at 12:00 p.m. on October 19, 2026. Applicants should confirm the deadline on the official website.
Conclusion
The Social Investment Fund is a major source of charitable funding in the Bailiwick of Guernsey. Since its incorporation in 2020, it has awarded more than £8 million through 278 grants and supported over 158 organizations.
Through its Small Grants Programme, Major Grants Programme and special community appeals, SIF supports vital services, community projects, organizational sustainability and long-term social impact.
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