Community foundations are there for you to make a difference locally. You might want to think about the approach to giving that suits you best. Try our Philanthropy Wheel - it will help you think through the kind of impact you want to have.

They offer customised philanthropic advice and grant portfolio development, and will often work with you over a series of meetings to help you identify a giving strategy that suits your charitable needs.

Staff will guide you through a variety of options, depending whether you wish to give in the short or long term (or both). Contributions of all sizes are welcome, but you may wish to consider setting up a fund. There is a variety of fund options available.

Once your fund is up and running, it's up to you how much involvement you want. But, hands-on or hands-off, you can rely upon the community foundation's in-depth local knowledge to ensure that your money will go to organisations and projects whose work has been thoroughly assessed for its value to the community (some of which you would probably never discover without them).

What's more, the foundation will continue to monitor recipients of grants on your behalf, and keep you informed of their progress. If you wish, you can genuinely engage with the causes you care about.

Meanwhile, professional investment managers will be applying their expertise to build the value of your fund. And we'll provide you with information on tax-efficient giving, ensuring that every penny which goes into your fund is used to the best possible effect.

Charges for funds and donations

Community foundations charge fees for the philanthropy advice, fund management and grant-making services they provide. Because a client benefits from drawing on a pool of services within the community foundation, fees and charges are highly competitive. Read more ...