• Robert Bartella
• Matthew Bowcock
• Mike Clare, Dreams plc
• Joyce Cooper
• Jimi Heselden
• Douglas Kellett

Robert Bartella

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When Robert Bartella asked his solicitor to set up a family charitable trust, he had not heard about community foundations.  Fortunately his solicitors had, and suggested that the fund be set up within his local foundation, Essex Community Foundation.  It was clear to his solicitor that the foundation was better placed to identify local charities which would attract the support of Robert and his family.

A meeting was arranged with the Foundation's Chief Executive who discussed how the fund would operate as the family's own charitable trust. The community foundation undertakes all the administration and identifies and assesses all requests, before the family decide on how the funding should be distributed.  The Bartella Charitable Fund was established as a donor advised fund within Essex Community Foundation without any costs or delays and with the potential for the fund to grow over time.

The Bartella family, who own the Heritage Leisure Group in Chelmsford, were keen that the fund would support local young children so the grants team at the foundation are constantly attracting applications that they know will appeal to Robert and his family.

In addition to the annual contribution from the family, they hold a fund raising ball each year to raise more funds which are distributed in the short term.  In this way, the Bartella family are taking advantage of the flexibility that community foundations offer their donors. They can choose to endow funds for the long term and distribute annual income, or arrange a flow-through revenue fund which is distributed in the short term; alternatively, as with the Bartella family, a mixture of both.

If you would like to discuss setting up your own family charitable fund, contact your local community foundation who would be delighted to discuss your interests with you. 
 

Matthew Bowcock

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"After selling my business in 2000, my wife and I set up a charitable foundation. Our initial giving was not particularly satisfying, not through want of good causes to support, but because it was passive, reactive giving. Then we set up a fund at a community foundation, which opened my eyes to a number of things.

"First, a range of different projects were brought to us and I began to understand a lot more about my local community. For instance, we've funded a project at our local sailing club which sent instructors on a training course to coach them how to teach disabled kids. We've also funded the purchase of computers in the local community centre. These are wonderful projects which were right on our doorstep that I wasn't even aware of.

"I've also come to meet some extraordinary people in the community, people with enormous tenacity and commitment to the cause. One of the key strengths of community foundations is connecting the 'do-ers' with the donors. They are able to open the eyes of donors to opportunities where they can have an effect and trigger their involvement in projects and they can also help to make the distribution of wealth through philanthropy be effective, just and directed to where the need is."

Dreams plc

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"The Dreams Charitable Fund is managed by Buckinghamshire Community Foundation as part of the Named Fund Programme. I decided to manage my CSR in this way for a number of reasons. CSR can suck up management time but working with Buckinghamshire Community Foundation takes all the pressure off us.  They are able to vet and assess applications using their experience and local knowledge, deliver the money to the neediest places; they manage the PR and provide us with regular feedback and tangible results of our giving.

"I see the Corporate Social Responsibility of my company as the caring thing to do.  It improves the community where my office is based and where many of my staff live.  Our CSR is successful and it impresses both our suppliers and our customers who see us as a responsible business. Indeed, come contracts depend on CSR.  My staff members have bought into it, they find it fulfilling and it is tax deductible!

"There was a personal reason I chose to start our fund with the Foundation: it is because I was born in Bucks, educated in Bucks and set up my business in Bucks and I think the county is great.  I still live here and I think that is is important to put something back into the community that gave me my business, my staff and my education!"

Mike Clare, Chairman of Dreams Plc

Joyce Cooper

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The Needham Cooper Charitable Trust fund was set up at Quartet Community Foundation in 1999 by Joyce Cooper. Joyce had set up a charitable trust with her husband, Bill Needham Cooper, shortly before he died in 1988 and had always channelled some of the trust's income through the community foundation to support a range of smaller, local projects that she would not be able to find out about on her own.

Then in 1999, around the time of her 90th birthday, she decided to reduce the day-to-day administration of her trust and set up the fund within the community foundation. The fund is a working partnership, with the community foundation suggesting projects that might be of interest to Joyce and providing advice and all the associated administration. Joyce has a clear vision about where the money from her fund should be spent – older people who are living in isolation and poverty are high on her list of priorities.

Working with the foundation allows Joyce to retain hands-on decision making about grants to be made from her fund. The arrangement has been an ideal way for her to support local organisations: 'It is perfect. I feel that it has consolidated the close personal relationship that we had built up with local groups over time. I am delighted that the local charities we've been able to support over the years will still be helped in years to come.'

Jimi Heselden

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Leeds entrepreneur, Jimi Heselden, has set up a £10 million fund with the Leeds Community Foundation to be called the Hesco Bastion Fund, after his company. Jimi has always supported a wide range of charities including hospitals, hospices and groups working with children and young people. Having had a particularly profitable year, he decided to set up the Fund so he can continue to make grants in the future. The foundation is now working with Jimi to support groups in which he is interested, as well as finding new projects to consider .

Douglas Kellett

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Douglas Kellett was a businessman who died in 1987. He owned much of the land upon which Washington New Town is built. Mr Kellett left his estate in trust to his wife during her lifetime and thereafter to charity. Following the death of his wife Gwen in 1996, the Kellett Fund was established at the Community Foundation serving Tyne & Wear and Northumberland to benefit older people. The £5 million legacy is one of the largest single donations to a UK community foundation. It is now worth £7 million and has awarded grants of over £3.4 million.

More information

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• Finding UK community foundations Find out more about your local community foundation
• Quality Accreditation How community foundations demonstrate quality and accountability
• Community Foundation Network (CFN) The role of the national association
• Frequently asked questions about community foundations and CFN
• Looking for funding? Essential information for community groups
• History Landmarks in the development of UK community foundations
• Links to information on the wider community foundation movement and philanthropy, and press coverage of community foundations