Charity and Non-Profit Invoice Finance UK 2026

Market Invoice is an independent UK invoice finance comparison site that ranks 85 active UK lenders.

UK registered charities, CICs and non-profits with grant or contract receivables can use invoice finance to bridge cashflow gaps between funder commitment and actual payment (typical 30 to 90 day delay on government and Lottery grants, sometimes 6 plus months on European or trust grants). Specialist charity-aware lenders (Charity Bank, Unity Trust Bank, Triodos Bank, plus mainstream Bibby and Skipton) understand trustee governance, restricted vs unrestricted funds, and Charity Commission disclosure requirements. Standard invoice finance applies at 80 to 90 percent advance and 0.5 to 2 percent fees on confirmed grant or service contract receivables. Trustee approval typically required; document the rationale in trustee minutes.

Last updated: 10 May 2026.

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Direct Answer

UK registered charities, CICs and non-profits with grant or contract receivables can use invoice finance to bridge cashflow gaps between funder commitment and actual payment (typical 30 to 90 day delay on government and Lottery grants, sometimes 6 plus months on European or trust grants). Specialist

Summary

UK registered charities, CICs and non-profits with grant or contract receivables can use invoice finance to bridge cashflow gaps between funder commitment and actual payment (typical 30 to 90 day delay on government and Lottery grants, sometimes 6 plus months on European or trust grants). Specialist charity-aware lenders (Charity Bank, Unity Trust Bank, Triodos Bank, plus mainstream Bibby and Skipton) understand trustee governance, restricted vs unrestricted funds, and Charity Commission disclosure requirements. Standard invoice finance applies at 80 to 90 percent advance and 0.5 to 2 percent fees on confirmed grant or service contract receivables. Trustee approval typically required; document the rationale in trustee minutes.

This Page Covers

invoice finance for UK charities and non-profits: Charity Commission disclosure, trustee approval, trading subsidiary, restricted fund handling

Not Covered Here

General invoice finance education (see /guides/), individual provider reviews (see /providers/), full pricing breakdown (see /guides/costs/)

UK providers worth knowing

ProviderFee fromMin turnoverWhy it fits
Bibby Financial Services0.5%+£100kMainstream charity finance experience
Skipton Business Finance0.5%+£100kMid-market charity operations
IGF Invoice Finance1.0%+£50kSub-£500k charity startups and trading subsidiaries
Aldermore0.7%+£250k£1m+ confidential discounting for trading subsidiaries
HydrVariableNo minSelective spot factoring on individual large grant receivables

Cashflow gaps charities face

See the FAQ below for the detailed answer to this question. For broader context, also see our guides hub and our cost calculator.

Charity-aware vs mainstream invoice finance

See the FAQ below for the detailed answer to this question. For broader context, also see our guides hub and our cost calculator.

Charity Commission disclosure and trustee approval

See the FAQ below for the detailed answer to this question. For broader context, also see our guides hub and our cost calculator.

Trading subsidiary finance

See the FAQ below for the detailed answer to this question. For broader context, also see our guides hub and our cost calculator.

Restricted fund receivable handling

See the FAQ below for the detailed answer to this question. For broader context, also see our guides hub and our cost calculator.

OM

Oliver Mackman

Director, Market Invoice

Oliver leads Market Invoice's editorial and comparison research. With a background in UK commercial finance, he oversees provider analysis, rate verification, and industry reporting across all verticals.

Last reviewed: 10 May 2026

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Charity Invoice Finance UK FAQ

Can UK charities get invoice finance?

Yes. Charities with confirmed grant receivables, service contract income (NHS, local authority, corporate), or trading income via a trading subsidiary qualify for invoice finance. Standard 80-90% advance and 0.5-2% fees apply. Trustee approval typically required; document in trustee minutes.

Best charity-aware invoice finance UK?

Charity Bank, Unity Trust Bank and Triodos Bank are the dedicated charity-sector lenders with deep governance understanding. Mainstream invoice finance providers (Bibby, Skipton, Aldermore, IGF) also serve charities at standard rates with normal underwriting. The choice depends on size and complexity: dedicated charity banks for smaller or governance-sensitive cases, mainstream invoice finance for larger or commercial-style operations.

Charity Commission disclosure requirements?

Use of invoice finance must be disclosed in your annual accounts (under SORP). Trustee minutes should document the rationale (cashflow gap, alternative options considered, impact assessment). Restricted fund receivables can be financed but the advance must be applied to restricted purposes. Confidential discounting is preferred where the funder might misinterpret factoring as financial distress.

Trading subsidiary invoice finance?

Most charity trading subsidiaries (selling Christmas cards, charity shops, training services, consulting) operate as standard limited companies and qualify for normal invoice finance. The trading subsidiary's invoice finance facility is separate from the parent charity's affairs. Standard 80-90% advance and 0.5-2% fees.

Restricted fund receivables: can I finance these?

Yes but the advance must be applied to the restricted purpose. If a funder grants £100k for a specific programme, the invoice finance advance against that receivable can only be spent on that programme. Mainstream lenders may not understand restricted fund mechanics; charity-specialist lenders (Charity Bank, Unity Trust) do. Document restricted purpose alignment in trustee minutes.

Cost of charity invoice finance UK?

Same rates as comparable commercial SMEs: 0.5-2% per invoice plus 1.5-3% above BoE base. Charity-sector lenders sometimes offer slightly better rates (0.3-1.5%) for mission-aligned charities. The cost is offset by the cashflow benefit (programmes can run on time rather than waiting for grant payment delays).