What do community foundations fund?

Community foundations can meet all areas of community need such as

• arts and culture
• education
• environment
• health
• community development
• children and young people
• older people
• employment and training

Each community foundation sets its own priorities, and reviews them frequently. Not all foundations fund all the areas above.

Some community foundations have many 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.

Fair Share Trust, Comic Relief and Sport Relief funds are national funds administered through community foundations. Your local community foundation will also have a range of funds for local needs. Conatact them for details.

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 specific criteria, such as young people leaving care. Usually the emphasis is on grants to community groups and projects. Look at your local community foundations website for details.

What are community foundations unlikely to fund?

• Work outside the local area
• Major capital appeals
• Standard appeal letters
• Projects and services with an exclusively religious purpose
• Party political applications

Each community foundation makes its grant-making policy publicly available, so do contact the one in your area.

Where do I find my nearest community foundation?

• Finding community foundations gives you full contact details of your nearest foundation including a link to its website
• Community foundation websites have a section for grant applicants, explaining local criteria and procedures
• Most English community foundations cover a whole county, though some cover smaller areas. Community foundations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland cover the whole of their countries
• For community foundations in other countries, visit the Links page. Community foundations exist in many 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. CFN is the national office and does not handle any grant applications, even for national programmes. Each community foundation has its own grant-making policy, criteria and time-scales for dealing with grant applications, reflecting local priorities.

Community foundations welcome applications and will do all they can to help.

If you meet the broad criteria outlined above, please contact your local community foundation for more information about its grant programmes.