The International Downtown Association Foundation (IDAF), a US-based charitable non-profit, is offering the Backing International Small Restaurants grant for the fourth year in a row. The initiative aims to support independent restaurants by funding upgrades, whether that's renovating premises, streamlining kitchen workflows, improving tech, or other business-enhancing changes.
The programme has a global reach, operating in cities like Sydney, Tokyo, and Mexico City, and welcomed Manchester to the list for the first time last year. In 2025, twenty restaurants across London and Manchester will again each receive a share of a £220,000 funding pool. Eligible applicants must already be trading and have a physical venue in either of the two cities, so if you're a restaurateur or know a worthy local spot, make sure they get their submission in.
Applications for the IDAF grant are open until 30 June. Full details and entry criteria are available here.