Sir Halley Stewart Trust Grants 2026: Global Funding for Research and Development

The Sir Halley Stewart Trust is now accepting applications for its 2026 grant cycle, offering between £5,000 and £60,000 to support innovative projects in the medical, social, and religious sectors. Founded in 1924 by Sir Halley Stewart, a Christian businessman and philanthropist, the Trust is dedicated to the “prevention” rather than just the “alleviation” of human suffering. While the foundation is rooted in Christian values, it welcomes applications from both faith-based and non-faith-based organizations that aim to improve the body, mind, and spirit.

Funding Framework: What the Trust Covers?

The Sir Halley Stewart Trust research funding offers a highly focused financial plan primarily centered on covering human resource costs and project-specific expenses.

• Main Grant Value: Awards typically range from £5,001 to £60,000 in total.
• Exceptional Funding: In rare, high-impact cases, the Trust may consider grants up to £80,000.
• Annual Support: Funding is spread over 1 to 3 years, with a maximum disbursement of £30,000 per year.
• Primary Coverage: Grants are specifically designed to cover salary costs for researchers or lead project staff.
• Small Grants Option: A separate “Small Grants” stream provides one-off payments of up to £5,000 for pilot studies or scoping projects.
• Major Stakeholder: The Trust prefers to be the sole or major funder, typically covering at least 50% of the total project cost.

Who Should Apply: Eligibility Requirements Explained

The Sir Halley Stewart Foundation, targets innovative organizations and researchers who are ready to lead first-of-their-kind projects. To be eligible, candidates must:

• Be a UK-registered charity or a UK educational institution.
• Propose a project focused on Medical, Social, or Religious innovation.
• Ensure Social projects are submitted by organizations with an annual income under £3 million.
• Design the project to focus on prevention rather than just service delivery or alleviation.
• Have a Lead Person/Principal Investigator who will be directly responsible for the project’s delivery.
• Provide evidence of strong Safeguarding policies and EEDI (Equality, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) standards.
• Ensure the project is innovative or pioneering, rather than a continuation of existing work.

How to Apply: Step-by-Step Guide for 2026 Applicants?

Applying for the Halley Stewart Trust involves a coordinated three-stage process. Follow these steps carefully:

Step 1 – Complete the Online Eligibility Test Access the official Trust portal to verify that your project fits the “prevention” remit. This is a mandatory first step before any other forms can be accessed.

Step 2 – Submit Your Expression of Interest (EOI) If you pass the eligibility test, you will be provided a link to the EOI form. Summarize your project in lay terms (max 4,000 characters), highlighting your aims and how you will use the Trust’s funds.

Step 3 – Submit Your Full Online Application If shortlisted after the EOI, you will be invited to complete the full application. You must provide a detailed budget, CVs of the project lead, and clear evidence of your project’s potential to influence policy or beneficiaries.

Important notes:

• Ensure your application is prepared by those directly involved in project delivery, not just administrative staff.
• Applications must include a specific Safeguarding Policy that complies with sector best practices.
• Research involving human participants must include evidence of independent ethical scrutiny.
• Prepare early. This is a competitive call where the Trust supports approximately 1 in 10 applications.

Why This Grant Matters for Global Innovation?

The current funding landscape often prioritizes established methods and large-scale service delivery, leaving a gap for early-stage, ground-breaking ideas. The Sir Halley Stewart Charitable Trust directly responds to:

• Funding projects that address the source of suffering rather than just managing the symptoms.
• Supporting niche social and medical issues that struggle to gain mainstream public attention.
• Providing a platform for imaginative researchers and project leads to prove their concepts.
• Backing original research that has the potential to change national or international guidelines.

By focusing on “pioneering” work, the Trust ensures that high-risk, high-reward ideas-ranging from AI-assisted medical detection to interfaith reconciliation-get the initial support they need to become self-sustaining.

Application Deadline for 2026 Sir Halley Stewart Trust Grants

The last date to submit your application for the next major 2026 funding round is 5pm GMT on 29 June 2026. Please note the portal may close earlier if meeting capacity is reached.