For grant seekers

This section is for people who want to apply for funding from a UK community foundation. All grant-making is done by local community foundations - Community Foundation Network’s national office does not make grants or handle grant applications. Here we answer:

	What do community foundations fund?
	Do community foundations accept applications from individuals?
	What are community foundations unlikely to fund?
	Where do I find my nearest community foundation?
	Do I apply direct to the community foundation?
	Do all community foundations make grants?
	If our project receives a grant, what obligations do we have to the community foundation?

WHAT DO COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS FUND?

All members of CFN subscribe to some common aims and all share a vision about community-based philanthropy. They support local causes and community activity through grants to local groups and organisations.

Within these broad objectives there is some variation between foundations. Some foundations have criteria with a focus on social need and opportunity while others have more specific themes, generally reviewed every three years. Some community foundations have a large number of funds from which to make grants. They will either advise you on the most appropriate fund to apply to, or have a common application form for all their funds. The grants adviser at your local community foundation is there to help you through the application process, so don’t hesitate to contact them.

Lasting value describes some typical grant-making programmes, and gives examples of projects that have received funding through a community foundation.

DO COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS ACCEPT APPLICATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS?

Only a few community foundations have funds available to help individuals, and then only for people who meet precise criteria, for example, a fund specifically for young people leaving care. In general the emphasis is on grants to community groups and projects.

WHAT ARE COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS UNLIKELY TO FUND?

Each community foundation covers a specific area of the UK and will not normally be able to support work outside its area. They will want to be sure that any application from a national charity for local work is firmly rooted in their area. They are unlikely to donate to major capital appeals, or to consider standard appeal letters. Most would also rule out projects and services with an exclusively religious purpose. They could not support any work with a party political content. Each community foundation makes its grant-making policy publicly available, so don’t hesitate to contact the one in your area.

WHERE DO I FIND MY NEAREST COMMUNITY FOUNDATION?

Use Finding community foundations which gives you full contact details and a link direct to the community foundation’s own website, if available. Most community foundation websites have a section for grant applicants, explaining local criteria and procedures. If they do not have a website, contact them by phone, email or letter for details of their grants programmes. There are about 60 community foundations, covering all of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and most parts of England. Most English community foundations cover a whole county, though some operate in smaller areas. For community foundations in other countries, see ‘The wider community foundation movement’ in the Links section. Community foundations exist in several European countries including Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa and the USA.

DO I APPLY DIRECT TO THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION?

Yes, all applications need to be made to a local foundation – we do not handle any grant applications here at CFN’s national office. Each community foundation has its own grant-making policy, criteria and time-scales for dealing with grant applications, drawn up to reflect its community’s priorities.

DO ALL COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS MAKE GRANTS?

The network comprises Members (established community foundations) and Associates (aspiring community foundations). All Members and many Associates run grant programmes; some Associates who are still at a very early stage of development may not have started to make any grants yet. Community foundations are a relatively new concept in the UK and it can take time to build up enough funds for a grant-making programme.

IF OUR PROJECT RECEIVES A GRANT, WHAT OBLIGATIONS DO WE HAVE TO THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION?

While it varies from one community foundation to another, most will ask funded projects to report back on how funds have been spent and what has been achieved.