Funding Advice Bureau 


SYFAB guide to... 
Funding for UK 
groups working 
overseas 

UK voluntary and community organisations working 
overseas range from large well-known charities to small 
local churches. SYFAB can’t provide one-to-one advice 
and support to groups whose main work benefi ts people 
overseas. You can use our free online resources, some of 
which may be relevant. Our Funding News website and 
email service provides the latest funding opportunities and 
you can find possible funders for your activities with our 
funding search website. Go to www.syfab.org.uk for more 
information and to sign up (although it’s worth noting that 
these aren’t aimed at groups doing overseas work). 

This sheet provides brief information on useful resources 
and contacts for organisations working overseas. 

There are funders who are willing to support UK 
organisations working overseas, both UK funders and those 
based outside the UK. However, funders will only support 
organisations that are fundraising for activities that they 
will carry out; funders will not support organisations that 
want to pass money on to others. 

The same principles and good practice in fundraising 
that apply to fundraising for work in the UK also applies 
to work overseas. You can read our other information 
sheets for more help and advice with different aspects 
of your fundraising. 

The main UK funding sources for UK groups working 
overseas are: 

• Department for International Development and Foreign 
and Commonwealth Office 
• Big Lottery Fund 
• Comic Relief 
• Other charitable trusts also support international work. 

Support for UK groups working overseas 

New local groups may be able to get support and help 
for work overseas from a well-established charity (for 
instance, WaterAid) already working in a particular subject 
or area. There may even be small grants available from that 
organisation, or opportunities to work in partnership. 
You can research possible support organisations online 
using the BOND membership directory 
Website: www.bond.org.uk/membership-directory.php 

BOND is a network organisation for UK based international 
development organisations. It puts on regular workshops 
and events about funding, but doesn’t give specific 
funding advice. 

BOND 
Regents Wharf 
8 All Saints Street 
London N1 9RL 
Tel: 020 7837 8344 
Website: www.bond.org.uk 

The Directory of Social Change publish a range of books, 
some of which may be useful to UK groups working 
overseas. The International Development Directory is 
the most relevant. 

Directory of Social Change 
Tel: 0845 077 7707 
Website: www.dsc.org.uk/Publications 


South Yorkshire Funding 
Advice Bureau 
The Workstation 
15 Paternoster Row 
Sheffield S1 2BX 

Tel: 0114 249 4343 
Email: enquiries@syfab.org.uk 
Website: www.syfab.org.uk 

We can provide this information in other formats on 
request. Please get in touch to discuss your needs. 

Our information is produced for local community and voluntary 
groups. No permission is needed for limited reproduction if SYFAB 
is acknowledged. 
Large scale reproduction or inclusion in publications for sale 
must have written permission from SYFAB. 

SYFAB welcomes your comments and criticism. You can 
talk to any member of staff, or contact us by post, phone, 
fax or email. 

Registered Charity No: 1061118 
Reg. Company No: 3030641 

© SYFAB 2003 
All rights reserved. Version 1