BMA Giving
Through BMA Giving, we're committed to supporting doctors and the communities they serve.
We do this by offering grants to UK-registered charitable groups that support healthcare initiatives that reflect the BMA mission, vision and values, which also include initiatives with a humanitarian or health information focus in low and middle-income countries. Our work with these partner charities promotes the expertise of our members and empowers charities to develop vital projects that support those who need it most.
BMA Giving is run by a committee of our members who meet on an annual basis. It is chaired by Professor Martin McKee.
When applying for one of our grants, we want to know how you think working with the BMA, a membership organisation of over 195,000 doctors and medical students, is relevant to your mission and could benefit your work.
Watch two examples of how BMA Giving grants have had an impact.
Application process 2025
Applications for the 2025 BMA Giving grant cycle are now closed. The 2026 grant round will be announced later this year.
Grants eligibility and criteria
BMA Giving grants are only available for UK registered charities. Charities may apply for any amount up to, but not exceeding, £10,000. Grants are not available for individuals, including tuition and course fees.
Charities are asked to consider how working with the BMA, a membership organisation of over 195,000 doctors and medical students, is relevant to their mission and could benefit their work.
BMA Giving grants are assessed by the BMA Giving committee on behalf of the BMA finance committee. In judging the applications, the committee consider the following points:
- project governance and sustainability - excellent planning and design of projects, risk mitigating and safeguarding strategies. Demonstrating a proven track-record of delivering projects at this scale.
- appropriate use of funds - the funded supplies or services that will provide a valuable contribution to the project, accuracy of quotation, project completion dependency on external funding.
- importance of the work - the project details measurable outcomes and will create lasting impact for the medical profession and/or patient care at large. This can be in the UK or in low and middle-income countries.
- Alignment with BMA strategic priorities and values - the project aligns with the BMA's strategic priorities and values. This can include initiatives with a humanitarian or health information focus in low and middle-income countries. For reference please see the BMA mission, vision and values.
Applications for projects that support the health and wellbeing of doctors and medical students must complement existing BMA services. See the BMA wellbeing support services page for further details.
Successful applicants will be asked to provide progress reports and regular updates.
2025 BMA Giving recipients
Project and partnership summaries
AKAYA Foundation will deliver a community driven intervention, 'Like Her Project: Northern Edition’, to equip women in Tolon, a deprived rural district in Ghana’s Northern region, with knowledge, confidence and resources to manage their health and wellbeing effectively.
Beyond Words will ensure people with Learning Disabilities are better supported by midwives and maternity professionals to think about what it means to be pregnant, to have a baby, and the choices available.
BMA Charities will provide financial support to refugee and asylum-seeking doctors, who are members of the programmes, to support them on their journey to GMC registration.
Book Aid International will send brand-new medical textbooks to the Uganda Protestant Medical Bureau and Fortportal International Nursing School, to improve the quality of education and healthcare in Uganda.
Breaking Barriers will support refugee doctors in their return to the medical profession in the UK by funding their Language and Reaccreditation Programme.
David Nott Foundation will fund the course fees of surgeons from low and middle-income countries to attend their Hostile Environment Surgical Training, United Kingdom (HEST-UK), to prepare them to work on the frontline.
Doctors of the World UK will expand their Safe Surgeries toolkit and equip primary care clinicians with practical digital resources to help them navigate the complexities of delivering care to refugees, and people seeking asylum and residing in Home Office accommodation.
Royal Medical Benevolent Fund will provide emergency relief funds for doctors facing urgent financial crises due to illness, injury and bereavement.
Second Sight will treat and prevent blindness in rural Bihar, India's poorest state. Meticulous outreach programmes screen and treat primary eye diseases in the villages and identify the cataract-blind who are transported to hospital for pre and post operative medication, intra-ocular surgery and follow-up checks.
The Cameron Fund will provide financial support to working age GPs in financial hardship, providing money advice and covering their essential household expenditure, emergency items like car or household repairs and back to work costs.
BMA Giving committee
The BMA Giving committee is calling for expressions of interest for membership for the 2025-26 session. Four positions are available, with applications open to all BMA members.
BMA Giving committee members consider requests for charitable grants on behalf of the BMA finance committee.
The remit of the BMA Giving committee includes:
- delivering the BMA’s charitable giving strategy
- distributing £75,000 per year, on behalf of the finance committee, to applicant charities
- monitoring the impact of the BMA’s charitable donations
- ensuring that charitable donations are aligned with BMA strategic priorities.
If you would like to be a part of the BMA Giving committee for the 2025-26 session, please send in your expression of interest outlining:
- why you would like to be a BMA Giving committee member
- your experiences in charity work such as positions held on charity boards, trusteeships, charity partnerships
- how your experiences meet the skills required as described in the role profile.
To apply, please read the role profile and complete the expression of interest form and return to [email protected] by midday on Thursday 4 September 2025.
BMA Foundation for Medical Research
The BMA Foundation for Medical Research awards funds to encourage and further medical research. Approximately 12 research grants totalling £800,000 are awarded each year, all funded by past bequests and donations to the BMA.
The grants are awarded to medical doctors and research scientists to help fund innovative medical research in a variety of areas, from cancer and heart disease to asthma and schizophrenia, as well as many others. For many, they are key to supporting career developing and contributing to advances in medical research.
For more information or clarification please contact [email protected] or call 0207 383 6341.
Social mobility foundation (SMF)
The BMA works in partnership with the social mobility foundation (SMF).
SMF is a charity which aims to make a practical improvement in social mobility for young people from low-income backgrounds.
The SMF was founded in 2005 in order to provide opportunities and networks of support for 16-17 year olds who are unable to get them from their schools or families.
Widening participation in medicine
We are committed to ensuring that medicine is a career for anyone who wishes to become a doctor, regardless of their social or economic background.
Find out more about our commitment to widening participation in the medical profession.
7/7 Tavistock Square Memorial Trust
The number 30 bus blast occurred and 13 people lost their lives on 7 July 2005.
Annual lectures took place following the event at BMA House, to discuss the positive steps being made in the area of counter terrorism.
Since the tragic event a memorial was unveiled on 12 September 2018.