Shelter

Shelter is the UK’s leading housing and homelessness charity, founded in 1966 to confront the hidden crisis of poor housing. Nearly 60 years on, it remains a frontline lifeline for hundreds of thousands of people each year, offering expert advice, legal support, and emergency help to those facing eviction or homelessness.

In 2023/24, it raised £53.3 million, primarily from donations and legacies, charity shops, and funded services. Beyond frontline support, Shelter campaigns nationally for tenants’ rights, social housing investment, and welfare reform. At a time of soaring rents and record temporary accommodation, it shines a spotlight on the human cost of the housing emergency while pushing for lasting solutions.

Shelter began using GrantFinder in 2021 to support its fundraising workstreams.

GrantFinder is a subscription-based, dynamic funding database designed for community groups, charities, researchers, and public-sector organisations across the UK.

Harvey Marcus, Senior New Partnerships Manager, Trusts and Foundations at Shelter says: “Grantfinder is a well-designed system, and the team have always been really responsive and supportive at every stage.

“We’ve seen a huge increase in trusts changing their eligibility criteria to exclude organisations the size of Shelter. One of the strengths of Grantfinder, is how clearly it communicates these guidelines, helping us avoid spending time on applications that aren’t viable.”