National Lottery Community Fund

Big Lottery Fund

Non-departmental public body overview
Formed	1 June 2004 (2004-06-01)
Preceding Non-departmental public body	Community Fund and New Opportunities Fund
Jurisdiction	United Kingdom
Headquarters	London, EC4 United Kingdom
Non-departmental public body executive	David Knott, Chief Executive Officer
Website	www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk

The National Lottery Community Fund, legally named the Big Lottery Fund,^[1] is a non-departmental public body responsible for distributing funds raised by the National Lottery for "good causes".

It is the largest community funder in the UK and its purpose is to award funding that strengthens society and improves lives across the UK. Thanks to National Lottery players, it will distribute at least £4 billion by 2030, supporting activities that create resilient communities that are more inclusive and environmentally sustainable.

The funder takes an equity-based approach to its work, investing most in places, people and communities experiencing poverty, disadvantage and discrimination. In June 2023 it launched its most recent strategy ‘It Starts with Community’.  This sets out its focus on four key missions, which are  to support communities to:  

1. Come together

2. Be environmentally sustainable

3. Help children and young people thrive

4. Enable people to live healthier lives.

National Lottery players raise over £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK. Since The National Lottery began in 1994, £47 billion has been raised.

The National Lottery Community Fund is responsible for distributing 40% of the good cause money raised and typically distributes over £500 million a year to communities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as working closely with Government to distribute vital grants and funding from key Government programmes and initiatives.

Around eight in ten of its grants are for under £10,000.

Over 80 per cent of The National Lottery Community Fund's funds go to voluntary and community organisations. It also makes grants to statutory bodies, local authorities and social enterprises.

The National Lottery Community Fund funds projects in line with objectives set by the Government but does not fund services which other parts of government have a statutory responsibility to deliver.