A place-based approach

Over time community foundations have developed an expert understanding of the issues in their area and how best to deliver funding to tackle them

How do community foundations work?

By encouraging local philanthropy: community foundations actively attract local donors committed to funding local Voluntary and Community Sector Organisations (VCSOs) and deepen this commitment connecting them to and involving them with the funding process

Group smiling at cameraEmmaus Dover, supported by the Kent Community Foundation

By undertaking need analyses: community foundations use a combination of localised data and active consultation with VCSOs to have a robust understanding of community need

By strengthening the local voluntary and community sector: many community foundations either fund infrastructure support to the sector or have staff devoted to these roles, enabling VCSOs to develop leadership and access institutional funding

By convening community resources: community foundations regularly bring together local VCSOs who tackle similar areas of need to share insights and best practice, encourage collaboration, and provide the essential space these groups need for peer support.

Our network

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For community foundations, no place or neighbourhood is “forgotten” or “left behind”. Their understanding of need isn’t shaped by stereotypes, preconceptions, or assumptions about a locality, rather it is shaped by decades of listening, learning, and living in the places that they operate.

Woman holding a cake smiling at camera next to a food mixerThe Wren Bakcery, supported by Leeds Community Foundation

Working for UKCF

Make a difference and become part of the UKCF team. Learn more

Disaster Response

Community foundations are there for communities in times of disaster. Learn more

Sharing our data

We are publishing our data on 360Giving in our commitment to sharing transparent data. Learn more