What’s Happening with Grant-Making in 2025? Insights from David Burgess, Apollo Fundraising

David Burgess, Apollo Fundraising

Grant fundraising is always evolving, and 2025 is no exception. Our friend David Burgess from Apollo Fundraising has put together a brilliant report, What’s Going on with Grant-Making in 2025?, which takes a deep dive into the big shifts happening in the world of grants right now. If your organisation relies on trusts and foundations fundraising, and uses CRM tools or nonprofit grant management software, understanding these changes is key.

One of the biggest takeaways? While it might seem like funders are shutting up shop, that’s not really the case. Many are still actively distributing money, just in different ways. Here’s a closer look at some of the most important trends from the report:

Funders Haven’t Stopped Giving—They’re Just Changing Tactics

Some funders may have stopped accepting new applications, but that doesn’t mean they’ve stopped giving out grants. Many are simply shifting towards a more proactive approach, choosing who they fund rather than running open calls. This means charities need to focus on making themselves visible and building relationships rather than just submitting cold applications. If your organisation uses a charity CRM for trusts and foundations, this can help track and manage key relationships effectively.

More Competition, Same Pot of Money

The total amount of grant funding available hasn’t dramatically changed, but the number of applications has gone through the roof. With more organisations competing for the same resources, success rates are naturally dropping. That makes it even more crucial to focus on quality over quantity when it comes to applications. Investing in fundraising CRM software or CRM for donor engagement can help streamline and optimise grant applications.

Strategic Reviews and Tightening Eligibility

Some funders are taking a break from accepting applications so they can review their strategy. Others are tightening their eligibility criteria, narrowing the scope of who they fund. This means some organisations that used to qualify might no longer be eligible. Fundraisers need to stay on top of these changes and adjust their prospect lists accordingly. Using foundation grant management UK charity software can help track these updates and keep fundraising strategies aligned.

Funders Taking the Lead in Choosing Who to Support

A growing number of grant-makers are no longer running open application rounds and instead are selecting charities based on their own research. If your organisation isn’t already on their radar, it’s time to think about how to get noticed. A well-maintained website, strong social media presence, and a clear demonstration of impact can all help ensure your work stands out. A trusts CRM for managing trusts and foundations can be a powerful tool for maintaining visibility and engagement.

Prioritising Existing Relationships

If your organisation has received funding before, now is the time to nurture those relationships. Funders are more likely to stick with organisations they already know and trust. Keeping them updated on your progress and impact can improve your chances of securing renewed support. Don’t wait until you need funding again—keep those lines of communication open year-round. Donor management software for UK charities can help automate updates and track previous engagement.

Proving Your Impact Matters More Than Ever

Funders are increasingly looking to back projects that have already proven their effectiveness rather than taking a risk on new, untested ideas. This means charities need to get better at tracking, measuring, and showcasing their impact. If you don’t already have a strong evaluation framework in place, now’s the time to develop one. CRM for grant tracking and fundraising campaign management tools can make this process more efficient.

What’s the Key Takeaway for Fundraisers?

The biggest lesson from all this? It’s not about broad sector-wide trends—it’s about what’s happening with the specific funders you’re targeting. Keeping up-to-date with how your funders are adapting, focusing on relationship-building, and demonstrating real impact will all be key to success in 2025.

Whether you use nonprofit CRM systems, charity CRM solutions, or best CRM for UK charities, having the right tools in place will give you an edge in an increasingly competitive space.

For the full details (and loads more valuable insights from David), make sure to check out the full report here: https://apollofundraising.com/blog/grant-making-2025/

A big thank you to David Burgess at Apollo Fundraising for putting together such a useful resource.