We are a responsible investor, using clear criteria and prioritising applications for funding strategically. We ensure that our decisions are based on expertise, evidence and judgement.
We are committed to giving honest advice before you apply, and our assessment is robust and fair. Before you apply for a grant, you can receive pre-application advice from development staff in the HLF regional and country teams based across the UK.
Applications for grants under all of our grant programmes are assessed by grants officers, and either a
regional/country manager, a
regional/country committee or our
Board of Trustees will make a decision on your application.
Museums, galleries and libraries’ eligibility for funding from Heritage Lottery Fund
Arts Council England (ACE) has now assumed responsibility for the museum and library sector development and improvement in England from the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.
Museums, galleries and libraries should continue to apply to the Heritage Lottery Fund - including the new
Catalyst programme- unless they are seeking funding for an arts project, in which case they should apply to ACE.
Eligibility for HLF programmes
|
HLF programme
|
Museums, galleries and collections
|
Libraries
|
|
| Your Heritage |
√ |
√ |
Grants of £3,000-50,000 |
| Young Roots |
√ |
√ |
Grants of £3,000-25,000 for youth-led projects |
| Heritage Grants |
√ |
√ |
Grants of £50,000 upwards |
Catalyst:
Endowments |
√ |
√ |
Grants of £500,000 to £1m to past and current recipients
of HLF grants |
Catalyst:
Capacity building |
√ |
√ |
Grants of £15,000 to £25,000
to build fund-raising capacity |
The Heritage Lottery Fund has invested over £1.5bn from the National Lottery in museums, galleries and libraries since 1994.