Charity Bank’s Brighter Futures Fund Unlocks £4.7 Million of Additional Social Investment

Charity Bank has published its first Brighter Futures Fund Report 2026, showing how combining grants with social investment can help charities and social enterprises access the finance they need to grow and deliver greater impact.  

Launched in late 2024, the Brighter Futures Fund provides targeted grant funding to organisations that are not yet ready for loan finance, or whose projects would not be financially viable without additional support. By combining grant funding with lending and investment, the Fund helps organisations move from reliance on grants alone towards long term financial sustainability.  

Since launch, the Fund has awarded £684,000 in grants to 16 organisations, helping unlock around £4.7 million in additional lending and investment. For every £1 awarded through the Fund, a further £6.82 of lending and investment has been mobilised.  

The Fund focuses on organisations serving communities that can struggle to access mainstream finance. According to the report, 81% of grants went to organisations working in the UK’s 30% most deprived communities, while 69% went to diverse led organisations.  

Overcoming barriers to access finance  

Many charities and social enterprises face barriers to accessing finance, including limited reserves, a lack of financial track record, early stage business models or the costs involved in developing projects. The Brighter Futures Fund helps overcome these barriers by supporting project development, strengthening organisational capacity and improving investment readiness.  

Charity Bank’s analysis found that none of the organisations supported through the Fund would have met its lending criteria without grant support. The Fund has therefore enabled projects to proceed that might otherwise have stalled or failed to secure finance.  

The Fund is financed through Charity Bank’s retained profits and waived shareholder dividends, enabling the bank to reinvest value back into underserved communities. Grants are administered through an independent governance process, with due diligence, compliance checks and ongoing impact monitoring to ensure funds are used responsibly and effectively.  

Ed Siegel, Chief Executive of Charity Bank, said:  

“The Brighter Futures Fund shows what can be achieved when grant funding and social investment work together. Too many charities and social enterprises are delivering vital services in their communities but find themselves caught between grant funding and access to lending.”  

“Since launching the Fund, we have helped unlock around £4.7 million of additional investment, supporting organisations and projects that may otherwise never have secured the funding they needed.”  

“This demonstrates how relatively small amounts of grant funding can have a much greater impact when used strategically. By bringing together philanthropy, grants and social investment, we can help more organisations deliver lasting change in communities across the UK.” 

The full Brighter Futures Fund Report 2026 is available now.