The Comedy Levy
Raising funds and expectations
Comedy keeps us going through joy, social connection, and cultural truth-telling. But ‘Comedy’ has never had the funding or institutional infrastructure that other major artforms receive. CRAFT is building that infrastructure. The Comedy Levy is one of the simplest ways to do it.
The Comedy Levy raises funds and invites and receives contributions, grants, sponsorship, donations, gifts and legacies, and to administer voluntary funding mechanisms, including but not limited to ticketing levies, voluntary point-of-sale donations and profit pledges.
As of launch, CRAFT is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO in formation) and can receive restricted or unrestricted funds, with gift aid.
Governance and transparency
CRAFT is a UK Charitable Incorporated Organisation (in formation), established for the public benefit.
As per UK Charity Commission requirements—and comedy industry transparency expectations—we will record with clear tracking so we can report what was raised and where it went.
Levy funds are managed with
trustee oversight and conflict-of-interest controls;
clear allocation criteria for grants and programmes; and
public reporting on what was raised, what was funded, and what impact was delivered.
We are building trust at scale—comedy needs transparency and legitimacy.
Where funds flow: CRAFT’s Five Pillars
CRAFT allocates levy funds through programmes and grants aligned to our Five Pillars, with published criteria and trustee oversight.
Talent & Grassroots Access: Removing barriers to participation, widening access, and supporting the next generation—especially those locked out by cost, geography, access (disability), or lack of networks.
Businesses & Community Delivery: Supporting the comedy industry professionals and businesses to thrive and innovate.
Professional Standards, Safety & Wellbeing: Raising standards, improving safeguarding and care, and supporting a healthier comedy ecosystem. This includes the CRAFT Certified Public Register Directory—so commissioners, venues, and the public can find verified, accountable professionals and businesses.
Public Affairs, Artistic Freedom & Inclusion: Protecting lawful satire and social commentary, improving representation and inclusion, and ensuring comedy is recognised in policy, so the sector isn’t structurally excluded.
Research, Education & Innovation: Publishing evidence, running training and education, and building the research base that helps comedy attract investment and support—especially for creative health and public benefit delivery.
Fund distribution
CRAFT is a UK charity, established for the public benefit. Our Charity Commission constitution includes the standard power to “do all such other lawful things as are necessary or incidental to achieving our charitable objects,” enabling us to deliver the Five Pillars in a practical, accountable way.
CRAFT is currently volunteer-run: the founding team of patrons, trustees, advisors, and observers are all working without pay while we establish core governance, transparency processes, and early delivery.
As funding grows: CRAFT intends to employ a separate team to manage and administer the charity, so as to maximise growth and meet the reporting, safeguarding, and compliance requirements expected of a national sector body.
Allocation method: Allocations are informed by sector consultation, evidence, and geographic/access gaps. We expect allocations to be set on an ad-hoc basis throughout the first 12 months of operation.
Funding types: Support may include micro-grants, bursaries, commissions, subsidised training, and pilot partnerships.
Eligibility: Open to comedy industry professionals and businesses operating across all formats, where comedy is the primary artform, including but not limited to live, broadcast, recorded, digital, writing and visual/illustrative comedy.
Decision process: Applications are assessed against published criteria with conflict-of-interest controls and proportionate due diligence.
Restricted/unrestricted: Restricted funds are ring-fenced to donor intent (e.g. £50k specifically to fund a Top 20 talent to attend Edinburgh Fringe). Unrestricted funds support general delivery and core infrastructure (e.g. £100k to support any format and pillar).
Reporting: We publish what was raised and funded, where it went, and what outcomes were delivered.