Community energy and sustainability grants
Grants for nonprofit community projects supporting renewable energy, energy savings, low-carbon travel or sustainability education in six Mid Wales communities.
Esta oportunidad está disponible actualmente en inglés.
Windfall can fund renewable energy equipment and preparatory work such as feasibility studies, measures that reduce energy demand, low-carbon community travel and sustainability education. Autumn 2026 also accepts projects consisting entirely of running costs, including project materials, volunteer expenses, staff time and overheads. Core staff salary requests need a clearly defined project role, time commitment and end date.
For Autumn 2026, grants are normally limited to £12,500. Awards above that level require exceptional quality and cannot exceed £20,000. A project may receive several Windfall grants when each supports a distinct phase.
Co-funding is welcome but is not essential. Where other funding is involved, it normally must be finalised and evidenced before Windfall releases its grant. Contractor deposits may be funded after you accept the offer letter and meet its conditions; interim payments are available where needed. The balance is usually paid on completion with a brief report, and Windfall may retain a small percentage until a satisfactory report is received.
Recoverable VAT is excluded for VAT-registered applicants. Windfall can include VAT in the work costs for organisations that are not VAT-registered.
Eligibility
Your organisation must have a written constitution and bank account, distribute no profits to private interests, and have an asset lock: a mechanism ensuring that assets return to Windfall or the community if the organisation dissolves. Simple unincorporated associations can apply.
The project must benefit people in the Carno, Caersws, Trefeglwys, Dwyriw, Llanbrynmair or Llanerfyl Community Council areas. Organisations based elsewhere can apply to deliver projects there, although local organisations receive preference. Applications for projects outside those six communities are closed until 2027.
Your board or committee must include at least two unrelated people. The form treats family relationships, relationships through a partner and living together at one address as related. It also requires confirmation that your organisation and those with representation, decision-making or control powers have not been convicted of conspiracy, corruption, bribery, fraud, money laundering or drug trafficking, and have not been declared bankrupt.
Where project or asset ownership is relevant, explain how the resulting project will be community owned and what happens to funded assets if your organisation stops operating. For a question that does not apply to your project, the guidelines allow you to write “not applicable”. Grant funds must not work against Windfall or its donors, and you must acknowledge the funding positively in project publicity, including plaques or similar notices on premises.
How to apply
- Estado
- cerrada
- Cierra
- Condiciones de la convocatoria
- Projects must benefit Carno, Caersws, Trefeglwys, Dwyriw, Llanbrynmair or Llanerfyl Community Council areas.
- Awards above £12,500 require exceptional quality; the maximum is £20,000.
- Submit the Autumn 2026 form by email to grants@windfall.wales. Dates are subject to change.
Download the Autumn 2026 application form and email it to the grants Secretariat at grants@windfall.wales. You can apply in English or Welsh. Windfall also welcomes discussion of early project ideas through this email route.
Before a final offer, supply a signed application, constitution and asset-lock documents, a bank statement no more than three months old, accounts or a recent financial statement, a project timetable and signed terms and conditions. Supply at least two quotes or estimates unless specific circumstances mean one demonstrates best value. Relevant feasibility reports, lease or landowner agreements, consents, permits and planning correspondence are also required. These may follow a provisional offer, although Windfall prefers them with the application.
For solar panels and batteries, ask contractors to identify the equipment and material sources and explain how suppliers minimise links to slave labour.