Lottery Minister's Discretionary Fund
Simple applicationProvides grants to not-for-profit organisations for projects that fall outside the scope of other Lottery funds, with priorities including volunteer firefighting, emergency ambulance services, animal welfare, and learning and development projects.
What they fund
Who can apply
What they won't fund
What they care about
The Lottery Minister's Discretionary Fund prioritises funding for one-off projects in three areas: volunteer firefighting and emergency ambulance services, animal welfare projects, and learning and development projects focused on financial planning and good governance, especially for children's organizations.
Writing tips
Applications should clearly demonstrate how the project benefits the community and aligns with the fund's priorities. Emphasize the uniqueness of the project and its alignment with the specified priority areas.
Common mistakes to avoid
Requests for ongoing operational costs, vehicles for emergency services, and projects already covered by other Lottery funds are typically rejected. Applications that do not show clear community benefit or fail to meet the criteria for priority areas are also likely to be declined.
What makes a strong application
Projects that provide clear evidence of community benefit, align with the fund's priority areas, and demonstrate how the grant will achieve measurable outcomes are more likely to be funded.
Application structure
Project Description
Provide a detailed description of the project, including its purpose, expected outcomes, and how it aligns with the fund's priorities.
Benefit to the Community
Explain how the project will benefit the community and provide evidence that funding is not available from other sources.
Required documents
- • Detailed project plan
- • Budget breakdown