What is the project:
Need some additional funding for your project? Cambridge BID has set aside some limited funding to support applications from external organisations for creative and engaging projects that would support, compliment, or add to the BID’s objectives.
We are proud to support a range of local projects and events, on behalf of our levy-paying businesses. In a competitive funding climate, local organisations benefit from small-scale grants and sponsorships which can help with costs and potentially leverage more external funding.
How it works:
Organisations who are delivering an event, festival or project with the Cambridge BID Area can apply to us for funding, of up to £2,000 (if you would like to apply for more, please first email Jenny.Granshaw@cambridgebid.co.uk for a discussion).
We favour applications for events and projects that are free to access, and we do not grant funding for events or projects that have already taken place.
Our funding year runs from April – March, and entries are welcome from April onwards. The application approval process can take up to 6 weeks from date of submission. The Grant Pot is very popular and always oversubscribed, and once the funding has been allocated this page will be updated to confirm that entries are now closed.
Please understand that we cannot support all the organisations that approach us, but we endeavour to support a range of causes each year. Whether you are successful or unsuccessful, we will email you personally to confirm our decision.
Please email Jenny.Granshaw@cambridgebid.co.uk with any questions about the application process.
Project Status
The Grant Pot for 2025-26 is open for applications, please download and complete the form.
Grant Pot in 2024-25
We helped launch the first ever Cambridge Criterium, a cycling event through the city streets on August bank holiday 2024. It attracted 4000 event spectators, 1000 family riders cycling the route, and elite riders competing for a prize pot.
We were a silver tier sponsor of Cambridge PRIDE, in its 4th year of delivery by a dedicated volunteer team. The event on Jesus Green was an inclusive celebration of live music, performance and uniting the city in support of the LGBTQ+ community.
We sponsored the Cambridge Independent’s Business Awards in the ‘Hospitality Business of the Year’ category to shine a light on the city’s many hard-grafting and customer focused businesses.
Two of the city’s premier cultural festivals, the Cambridge Literary Festival and Cambridge Film Festival were supported with a grant and with private event commissions (for a Cambridge BID business audience) to give them a platform to reach new audiences and promote their festivals.
Festivals welcome a huge and diverse audience, and often include free events in the program. Our support this year went to Cambridge Chocolate Festival, Cambridge Festival of Cycling, Open Cambridge, Cambridge Jazz Festival, Cambridge Summer Music and the City Council’s Music in the Parks series.
