The Kao SEED Fund offers grants of between £500 and £2,500 to support not-for-profit, community-led projects that promote social enterprise and environmental development.
Eligibility
The grant is open to social enterprises, local community groups, not-for-profit organisations and grassroots projects.
Your organisation or social enterprise must be based in Harlow and delivering services to the residents of Harlow.
These grants will support the launch of new initiatives or the expansion of existing ones, particularly those that promote a cleaner, greener environment and foster not-for-profit enterprise schemes that will demonstrably benefit the local economy.
We will not fund:
- ordinary running costs of your service
- equipment or materials that are not directly used for your new or ongoing initiative
- any retrospective costs
Apply
You can apply for a Kao SEED grant online.
If you have any issues completing the online form, you can also download a Word version of the application form (docx)
Key dates
- 25 September 2025: Grant opens
- 6 October 2025: Meet the funder and grant support
- 3 November 2025 at 5pm: Deadline for applications
- w/c 17 November 2025: Shortlisting of applications
- w/c 8 December 2025: Decision in principle sent to grant awardee
- 31 December 2026: Deadline for spend (end of project)
- 31 January 2027: Deadline for final report submission
What happens next
If your application is successful, Harlow Council will transfer the grant by BACS. Bank details (account name, number and sort code) will need to be supplied with a summary of accounts.
Your project must be delivered by 31 December 2026. You will have to return any grant funds if the project is not delivered or the organisation receiving the funding stops operating.
A contract agreement will need to be signed between your organisation and Harlow Council before any funding is granted.
You will need to provide an end of project report to establish whether the project has met its aims and objectives, as well as to assess the overall impact on participants. Funding for the project is provided on the basis that the project evaluation form is returned within the agreed project timescale (no later than 31 January 2027).
If you have any questions, please get in touch with health.wellbeing@harlow.gov.uk.