Community foundations are the UK's leading experts in revitalising local communities through effective charitable giving.

Local charities themselves, they connect those with money to dynamic local organisations. Often lack of money is the only thing that hinders local organisations' ability to change lives for the better.

Community foundations use their local expertise to ensure that money invested in local organisations makes the lasting difference donors want and expect.

Community foundations are the ideal product for financial advisers, solicitors and accountants with clients wishing to give. Our Professional Adviser website provides more information and case studies.

Importantly, community foundations are independent and cause-neutral, providing expert advice and thorough local knowledge. Community foundations ensure your giving makes a lasting impact in the area you care about most.

Empowering local community groups to achieve their goals

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• Community foundations enable local people to tackle issues of disadvantage that matter, and to create opportunities using to the full local resources and their knowledge of how to get things done.

Tackling important social issues

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• Community foundations create a powerful community spirit that brings together all types of people to tackle important social issues in their area.
  Read  'Tackling social issues' 

Community foundations take a leadership role in the community

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• Community foundations provide practical, financial and creative leadership in their local communities. This leadership is based on extensive local knowledge, strong links into communities and a reputation for successfully facilitating change. 
  Read 'Community foundations take a leadership role in the community'
  

Building capacity in local voluntary and community organisations

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• Good intentions need more than money to become a reality. Community foundations provide a wide range of support to small community groups to help them become more efficient, effective and better equipped to face the challenges in their local area.
  Read 'Building capacity in local voluntary and community organisations'
  

Promoting volunteering and active citizenship

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• Volunteers and active citizens are the heart and soul of strong communities. They are also an essential and valued part of every strong community foundation.
  Read 'Promoting volunteering and active citizenship'
  

Developing and researching local knowledge

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• Community foundations have strong connections within their local communities. Contact with local people and organisations creates essential 'grassroots' knowledge. This sets community foundations apart from other grant-makers and ensures donations are accurately targeted to achieve the greatest impact. 
  Read 'Developing and researching local knowledge'

Encouraging local philanthropy

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• Community foundations exist to encourage and support local philanthropy, making it a rewarding experience for the donor.  They offer customised services for donors where required and provide support for strategic long term giving. Giving through a community foundation is simple and straightforward. It offers individual and corporate donors the immensely satisfying experience of making a lasting difference in their local community.
  Read 'Encouraging local philanthropy' 
  

More information

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• Finding UK community foundations Find out more about your local community foundation
• See how your donation can go further with the Grassroots Grants Endowment Match Challenge
• Quality Accreditation How community foundations demonstrate quality and accountability
• Community Foundation Network (CFN) The role of the national association
• Frequently asked questions about community foundations and CFN
• Looking for funding? Essential information for community groups
• History Landmarks in the development of UK community foundations
• Links to information on the wider community foundation movement and philanthropy, and press coverage of community foundations
• Home