What if 100 new supporters could fund a charity for years, not just one campaign?

Rainbow Lottery launches new Community Impact Award to drive sustainable income for LGBTQ+ charities

New initiative rewards organisations that grow supporter numbers, helping build long-term unrestricted funding across the sector.

The Rainbow Lottery has launched a new initiative designed to help LGBTQ+ charities increase sustainable, unrestricted income by growing their supporter base.

The Rainbow Lottery Community Impact Award will recognise partner organisations that successfully recruit new players, with the first charity to increase its supporter numbers by 100 before the end of March receiving a hosted experience in London.

However, the focus of the initiative is not the reward — but long-term financial resilience.

Each new Rainbow Lottery player generates ongoing funding for their chosen cause. An increase of 100 supporters can deliver more than £2,600 in annual income, providing predictable, unrestricted revenue at a time when many charities face growing financial pressure.

The award has been created to encourage organisations to prioritise community growth alongside service delivery.

Tom Gattos, Co-Founder of the Rainbow Lottery, said:

“Too many charities are stuck in a cycle of one-off fundraising and short-term campaigns. The organisations that thrive long term are the ones that build communities around their mission.

The Community Impact Award is about recognising growth, sustainability and leadership — not just activity.”

The initiative is open to more than 200 LGBTQ+ charities and community organisations currently supported by the Rainbow Lottery.

Since launching less than five years ago, the Rainbow Lottery has sold over one million tickets, raising more than £500,000 for LGBTQ+ causes across the UK.

Gattos added:

“This isn’t about a prize. It’s about helping organisations create reliable income streams that grow year after year. If more charities can achieve that, the whole sector becomes stronger.”

The first Community Impact Award winner will be announced at the end of March.