“A smart way to support local communities over the long term.”
Rolls-Royce
Corporate Social Responsibility
Companies do not exist in isolation but are an essential and significant part of any local community. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is about understanding the impact of business on the wider world and considering how this impact can be used in a positive way.
Employers who actively encourage their employees to get involved in charity work are becoming increasingly popular, highlighted as a key factor in surveys of the best employers. Companies are expected to design and implement systems and procedures to ensure that their CSR policy is communicated and implemented at all levels.
Community foundations ensure your corporate giving makes a lasting impact in the area you care most about
CFN are managing agents for the grants component of the Mars in the Community investment programme. With employee involvement grants are issued in five geographical areas of interest to Mars, focusing on their corporate objectives of active and healthy lifestyles, the environment and pet welfare.
"Mars has been a supporter of our local communities for decades. We recognise the importance of developing relationships with community partners not only to help us on our journey to improve the Mars in the Community programme by sharing expertise, but also build our corporate reputation and engage our associates."
Mars Chocolate UK Ltd, Mars Petcare UK Ltd and Mars Food UK Ltd
London Evening Standard’s Dispossessed Campaign
CFN has worked in partnership with the London Evening Standard in support of the ten local funders delivering the Grassroots Grants programme across London.
The Evening Standard Dispossessed Fund linked to the paper’s previous "Dispossessed’ campaign which raised awareness of and funds for individuals and groups struggling with poverty across the capital.
The campaign reached its target of £1m in only 24 days.
The Dispossessed Fund has passed the £7.2 million mark, beating the original fundraising mark fivefold and is still growing. More than £1.75 million has been donated by individuals and businesses, matched by government through the Grassroots Challenge.
“This is a remarkable milestone in a campaign that is already changing the lives of people for the better and tackling extreme poverty in our capital city. The Government is proud to have matched the generous donations by readers of the Evening Standard, knowing that every penny will go to community-based schemes that give people the means to help themselves and to help others.”
Prime Minister David Cameron
Major corporate donors include many of the City’s biggest banks such as Goldman Sachs, Barclays and Rothschild, while others contributing five and six figure sums include the Westfield Shopping Centre, Lush owners Mark and Mo Constantine, and Top Shop boss, Sir Philip Green.
“This is a remarkable milestone for the Evening Standard, for all of the readers who contributed to the fund. But most of all it's a critical milestone for all of the people who are working in London to help people who are dispossessed and who are now being supported by money directed to them by the Evening Standard.”
Stephen Hammersley, chief executive of Community Foundation Network
Download the London Evening Standard's article (1.5MB)
The Royal London Foundation
Royal London, the UK’s largest mutual life and pensions company, has launched The Royal London Foundation to help people in communities around the UK. Working in partnership with Community Foundation Network, the aim of the foundation is to provide grants to community organisations and charities which could benefit from their support. The Foundation is focusing on three issues: Education, Elderly and Health.
Members of Royal London are able to nominate a voluntary or community group tackling these issues to be considered for a grant of £1,000, £3,000, £5,000 or £10,000. Additionally, each year the ‘Degge and Ridge Award’ - a larger grant of £25,000 - will be awarded. In the Foundation’s first year, the focus for this award is on supporting the elderly.
“We’re very excited to be launching The Royal London Foundation for the benefit of our members and the communities in which they live. It will be a great way for Royal London members to support local causes. A lot of the issues that concern people today can only be addressed by supporting change from within local communities.
Using the expertise of community foundations to help identify beneficiaries and manage funds is one of the best ways to make sure that our financial support can make a real difference at a local level.
“We chose to work with CFN as they were able to offer us flexibility to ensure the Foundation can operate in an efficient and cost effective way, which will truly benefit our members and the causes close to their hearts.”
Stephen Shone, Group Finance Director of Royal London and executive sponsor of the Foundation
Coverage of foundation launch in Investment International and Actuarial Post
Other organisations we have helped
We have considerable experience in managing and delivering community investment programmes on behalf of many blue chip clients and other organisations, including:
- Adobe
- Allianz Insurance plc
- Barclays Wealth
- BAA
- Keepmoat
- Mars
- Rolls-Royce