Running a mission or organisation aimed at making a positive difference to the world is not easy. In fact, it can be exhaustingly difficuly. Beyond government cutbacks, the rising cost of living affecting donations and the general challenge promoting and managing an organisation brings, you’d think hackers and cyber incidents would give such efforts a break. Unfortunately not.

In the most recent NCSC annual report, 32% of charities experienced a breach or attack in 2024 but 81% were unprepared. Hacker’s are hungry for data and the proposition of an easy target with sensitive information, alongside assets protected by minimal defences can be too tempting. Random attacks are also real and indiscriminate.

Appreciating the vast majority of such organisations are currently battling an endless number of challenges, investing time and effort in cybersecurity will likely be well worth it down the line.

Thankfully there are tools, resources and grants out there that means at least financial investment is not necessarily required. Just as there are loads of bad eggs in the cyber world, there are plenty of good ones too and I’ve found the industry to be especially conscientious when it comes to protecting their wider community - especially those who are vulnerable.

With this in mind, I wanted to highlight the potential options out there to help you secure your mission so you can get on with doing the important stuff.

Grant Opportunities

Microsoft 365 Security Grant: comprehensive set of security offerings that assess organisational risk, provides proactive monitoring and notification, and training.

National Lottery Community Fund: While not specifically security-focused, this fund can support digital transformation projects that include cybersecurity components.

Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Grants: Local PCCs often provide funding for security improvements to community organisations within their jurisdictions. Contact your local to find out if they can help you.

A side note: If you run your mission from a faith-based property or community centre in the UK - you can apply for the UK Government's Protective Security Grant Scheme. Though it’s not cyber focused, it will provide funding for security measures at faith-based properties and community centers. This scheme helps organisations implement physical security improvements which in turn boost your cybersecurity measures. It doesn’t seem to be taking applications at the time of writing, but hopefully will open again soon.

Accessing Free Security Resources

Beyond direct funding, UK charities can access various free security resources:

The Charity Commission's security guidance and risk assessment tools
The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) offers plenty of training and events on a variety of topics relavant to your industry - including data security.
NCSC's Active Cyber Defence program seeks to reduce the harm from commodity cyber attacks by providing tools and services. The organisation has also produced the Cyber Security Small Charity Guide offering essential advice tailored specifically for smaller organisations.
The NCSC also offers cybersecurity training through the Cyber Essentials scheme. At time of writing it is not currently taking applications but well worth keeping an eye on
The Charity Digital Exchange have a brilliant initiative that provides access to discounted security software which is well worth a look.
And not forgetting: Mission Secured. A free program we developed to get your most essential defences in check in under 20 minutes a day over 5. With fun case studies and links to further resources we think you’ll find interesting, we think it’s well worth signing up for - biased as we may be.

As security threats evolve, we hope that new funding opportunities continue to emerge. We’ll be sure to keep an eye out for you and report back but suggest you stay closely connected to funding bodies and security networks to be the first to know of available grants and programs.

It might take a little investment of your time and energy but securing funding and support isn't just about protecting assets - it's about ensuring the continuity of your vital services and maintaining donor trust. Regular security reviews and updates should be part of every charity's operational strategy.