Matthew Bowcock Chair, Community Foundation Network
Community foundations are charities located across the UK dedicated to strengthening local communities, creating opportunities and tackling issues of disadvantage and exclusion.
Community foundations target grants that make a genuine difference to the lives of local people. They manage funds donated by individuals and organisations, building endowment and acting as the vital link between donors and local needs, connecting people with causes, and enabling clients to achieve far more than they could ever by themselves.
Community foundations provide professional and personalised philanthropic advice and grant portfolio development for each client.
The network has grown rapidly over recent years. More than 95% of the population live in the area of benefit of a community foundation. It is one of the largest independent funders of community organisations in the UK (making grants of around £70 million a year).
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Features of a community foundation
Record year for local charitable giving reveals blitz spirit in the teeth of the recession
Over £33 million in grants has been given to over 13,000 charities and voluntary organisations in the first full year of the Government’s Grassroots Grants scheme
CFN declares the Beacon Prize process officially open. With awards in seven categories, and an overall prize of £30,000, this year’s ‘Nobel prize for philanthropy’ promises to be the most far-reaching yet
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Dame Stephanie Shirley, the Government Ambassador for Philanthropy, has praised Community Foundation Network’s “outstanding work” and the “breakthrough ideas” incorporated into its Manifesto for Philanthropy.