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  • Last updated on January 25, 2026

Community Foundation Grants UK: Local Funding for Local Charities

Community foundations are among the most accessible funders for grassroots organisations in the UK. With 47 foundations covering virtually every postcode in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, they distributed nearly £200 million in 2023-24 alone, supporting over 40,000 grants to local projects and organisations.

At the bottom of this guide is the full list of every community foundation by location.

This guide is part of our comprehensive resource on grants for charities UK, focusing on how to access funding from your local community foundation.

What Are Community Foundations?

Community foundations are independent charitable organisations that connect people who want to give with causes that need support in a specific geographic area. They manage funds established by local donors, including individuals, families, businesses, and other organisations, and distribute grants to charities and community groups working in their area.

The community foundation model originated in the United States over a century ago and arrived in the UK in 1975 with the founding of the Swindon Community Trust. The movement grew steadily, with UK Community Foundations (UKCF) established in 1991 to support and coordinate the network. Today, 47 accredited community foundations operate across the UK, collectively managing over £800 million in endowments.

Each community foundation operates independently, with its own board, staff, and funding programmes. However, they share common principles: they’re rooted in their local area, they build endowments for long-term community benefit, and they connect donors with local needs.

Why Community Foundations Matter for Charities

Local Knowledge and Relationships

Community foundations understand their areas deeply. Staff and trustees typically have extensive local networks and knowledge of community needs, assets, and organisations. This means they can assess applications with context that national funders lack.

Your application doesn’t need to explain local circumstances in the same detail required for distant funders. Community foundations already know the communities they serve and the organisations working in them.

This local knowledge also means community foundations can be more flexible and responsive than larger funders. They can respond quickly to emerging needs, support innovative local approaches, and take informed risks on promising organisations.

Accessible for Small Organisations

Community foundations explicitly serve grassroots organisations that larger funders often overlook. Many programmes welcome applications from small community groups, unincorporated associations, and newly established organisations that don’t meet eligibility criteria for national funders.

With average grant sizes around £4,000, community foundation funding is scaled appropriately for smaller organisations. You don’t need to absorb or manage £50,000 grants that might overwhelm your capacity. Community foundations fund at levels that match grassroots reality.

Application processes are typically proportionate to grant sizes. Small grants may require just a page or two of information, not the extensive documentation demanded by larger funders. This accessibility makes community foundations an excellent starting point for organisations new to grant funding.

Multiple Funds and Diverse Priorities

Each community foundation manages multiple funds established by different donors with different priorities. A single foundation might simultaneously operate funds supporting youth work, older people, environmental projects, arts and culture, poverty relief, and many other causes.

This diversity means there may be opportunities for your organisation even if your work doesn’t fit standard funding categories. Many community foundations operate single application processes where your application is considered against all funds you might be eligible for, maximising your chances of finding a match.

More Than Just Money

Community foundations often provide support beyond grants. This might include help with funding applications, connections to other funders and resources, training and development opportunities, and networking with other local organisations.

Building a relationship with your community foundation can open doors to multiple opportunities over time, not just one-off grants.

Types of Funding Available

Small Grants

Most community foundations offer small grants programmes providing amounts typically between £500 and £5,000. These often have simple application processes with quick decisions, making them accessible for grassroots groups and straightforward projects.

Small grants commonly support equipment purchases, one-off events and activities, training and development, volunteer expenses, and pilot projects.

Main Grants Programmes

Larger grants, typically £5,000 to £20,000 or more, may be available through main grants programmes or specific themed funds. These usually involve more detailed applications and longer decision timescales.

Main grants might fund salary costs, project delivery over multiple years, capacity building, and more substantial activities.

Themed and Restricted Funds

Many community foundations manage funds with specific restrictions reflecting donor interests. These might focus on particular geographic areas within the foundation’s region, specific causes or beneficiary groups, certain types of activity or organisation, or memorial funds honouring individuals.

Check your community foundation’s website for current funds and their eligibility criteria. Funds open and close as resources allow, so available programmes change over time.

Emergency and Hardship Funding

Community foundations often hold funds for emergency support, both for organisations facing crisis and sometimes for individuals in hardship. During the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent cost-of-living crisis, community foundations distributed significant emergency funding rapidly to support local organisations and communities.

How to Apply

Check Eligibility First

Before starting an application, check that your organisation and proposed activity are eligible for the fund you’re targeting. Common eligibility requirements include geographic location (must be based in or benefit the foundation’s area), organisation type (requirements vary by fund), income thresholds (some funds target smaller organisations), and activity type (must fall within the fund’s charitable purposes).

If unsure about eligibility, contact the community foundation directly. Staff are usually happy to discuss whether your organisation might be suitable before you invest time in an application.

Application Processes

Most community foundations use online application systems, though some accept paper applications. Many operate single applications considered against multiple funds, rather than requiring separate applications for each potential fund.

Information typically requested includes your organisation’s background and governance, description of the project or activity you’re seeking funding for, who will benefit and how, budget and funding request, and how you’ll know whether the project has succeeded.

Application forms are usually shorter and simpler than national funders. Focus on being clear and specific rather than lengthy. Community foundation staff read many applications and appreciate concise, honest proposals.

Decision Timescales

Small grants may be decided within weeks. Larger grants typically go to panel meetings, which might meet monthly or quarterly depending on the foundation. Some foundations provide indicative timescales on their websites.

If you have time-sensitive needs, mention this in your application. Community foundations can sometimes expedite decisions for urgent requests.

Tips for Success

Be Local and Specific

Community foundations fund local work. Clearly demonstrate your connection to the area, the specific local need you’re addressing, and how local people will benefit. Generic applications that could apply anywhere are less compelling than proposals rooted in local context.

Show Community Connection

Demonstrate that your organisation is connected to and trusted by the community you serve. Evidence of local support, community involvement in your work, and relationships with other local organisations strengthens applications.

Be Realistic

Ask for what you need and can realistically use. Inflated requests waste everyone’s time, while underselling your needs doesn’t help either. Be honest about your organisation’s capacity and what the funding will achieve.

Build Relationships

Community foundations value ongoing relationships with organisations in their area. Even if unsuccessful initially, maintaining contact, providing updates on your work, and engaging with foundation events and communications positions you well for future applications.

 

Finding Your Community Foundation

Below is the full list of all 46 community foundations in the UK below, by region, so you can find yours straight away:

East Midlands

  1. Milton Keynes Community Foundation – Milton Keynes, MK9 3HP
    https://www.mkcommunityfoundation.co.uk/

  2. Forever Notts (Community Foundation for Nottinghamshire) – Southwell Road, Nottinghamshire, NG21 0HJ
    https://www.forevernotts.com/

  3. Northamptonshire Community Foundation – Northampton, NN1 1UD
    http://www.ncf.uk.com/

  4. Leicestershire and Rutland Community Foundation – Leicester, LE1 5LR
    https://www.llrcommunityfoundation.org.uk/

  5. Foundation Derbyshire – Belper, Derbyshire, DE56 1SW
    https://www.foundationderbyshire.org/

East of England

  1. Lincolnshire Community Foundation – Sleaford, NG34 7TW
    https://www.lincolnshirecf.co.uk/

  2. Suffolk Community Foundation – Ipswich, IP9 2BB
    https://suffolkcf.org.uk/

  3. Norfolk Community Foundation – Norwich, NR3 1TN
    https://www.norfolkfoundation.com/

  4. Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation – Bedford, MK45 4HS
    https://www.blcf.org.uk/

  5. Hertfordshire Community Foundation – Hatfield, AL10 0RN
    https://www.hertscf.org.uk/

  6. Essex Community Foundation – Chelmsford, CM2 0QT
    https://www.essexcommunityfoundation.org.uk/

  7. Cambridgeshire Community Foundation – Cambridge, CB5 8TG
    https://www.cambscf.org.uk/

London

  1. The London Community Foundation – London SE1 3GN
    https://londoncf.org.uk/

  2. East End Community Foundation – London E14 9YQ
    https://www.eastendcf.org/

North East

  1. Point North (formerly County Durham Community Foundation) – Durham, DH7 8XL
    https://pointnorth.org.uk/

  2. Community Foundation North East (formerly Tyne & Wear & Northumberland) – Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 1DD
    https://www.communityfoundation.org.uk/

North West

  1. Forever Manchester – Manchester, M2 4JF
    https://forevermanchester.com/

  2. Cumbria Community Foundation – Cockermouth, CA13 0PN
    https://www.cumbriafoundation.org/

  3. Community Foundation for Merseyside – Liverpool, L1 3DN
    https://cfmerseyside.org.uk/

  4. Community Foundation for Lancashire – Liverpool, L1 3DN
    https://lancsfoundation.org.uk/

  5. Cheshire Community Foundation – Warrington, WA4 3AE
    https://www.cheshirecommunityfoundation.org.uk/

South East

  1. Sussex Community Foundation – Lewes, BN7 1RL
    https://sussexgiving.org.uk/

  2. Oxfordshire Community Foundation – Oxford, OX1 1HD
    https://oxfordshire.org/

  3. Kent Community Foundation – Ashford, TN25 6SX
    https://www.kentcf.org.uk/

  4. Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Community Foundation – Basingstoke RG21 4AF
    https://www.hiwcf.com/

  5. Community Foundation for Surrey – Woking, GU21 6HJ
    https://www.cfsurrey.org.uk/

  6. Heart of Bucks Community Foundation – Aylesbury, HP22 5QT
    https://heartofbucks.org/

  7. Berkshire Community Foundation – Reading, RG2 6GP
    https://www.berkshirecf.org/

South West

  1. Somerset Community Foundation – Shepton Mallet, BA4 6QN
    https://www.somersetcf.org.uk/

  2. Quartet Community Foundation – Bristol, BS1 4GB
    https://quartetcf.org.uk/

  3. Gloucestershire Community Foundation – Cheltenham, GL51 0TJ
    https://www.gloucestershirecf.org.uk/

  4. Dorset Community Foundation – Poole, BH15 1DF
    https://www.dorsetcommunityfoundation.org/

  5. Devon Community Foundation – Tiverton, EX16 5LL
    https://devoncf.com/

  6. Cornwall Community Foundation – Bodmin, PL31 2RQ
    https://www.cornwallcommunityfoundation.com/

  7. Wiltshire Community Foundation – Devizes, SN10 1JT
    https://www.wiltshirecf.org.uk/

Wales

  1. Community Foundation Wales – Cardiff, CF24 0BL
    https://communityfoundationwales.org.uk/

West Midlands

  1. Worcestershire Community Foundation – Worcester, WR1 1EE
    https://www.worcscf.org.uk/

  2. Herefordshire Community Foundation – Hereford, HR4 9HP
    https://www.herefordshirecf.org/

  3. Heart of England Community Foundation – Coventry, CV3 1ND
    https://www.heartofenglandcf.co.uk/

  4. Community Foundation for Staffordshire – Stafford, ST18 0LQ
    https://staffordshire.foundation/

  5. Community Foundation for Shropshire – Telford, TF7 4QN
    http://www.shropshire.foundation/

Yorkshire & Humber

  1. Two Ridings Community Foundation – York, YO30 4XT
    https://www.tworidingscf.org.uk/

  2. South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation – Sheffield, S35 3HY
    https://www.sycf.org.uk/

  3. One Community Foundation (Kirklees) – Huddersfield, HD1 1J
    https://www.one-community.org.uk/

  4. Leeds Community Foundation (includes Bradford) – Leeds, LS1 4AP
    https://www.leedscf.org.uk/

  5. Community Foundation for Calderdale – Halifax, HX1 2HX
    https://www.cffc.co.uk/

 

For Larger Organisations

While community foundations particularly serve smaller organisations, established charities can also benefit. You might access funding for specific local projects, connect with local donor networks, or partner with community foundations on initiatives benefiting their area.

Some community foundations also offer donor-advised fund services, endowment management, and other philanthropic services that might benefit your organisation’s own fundraising.

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