Can you apply?

The Community Foundation’s primary purpose is to encourage and support locally based and grassroots community activity. This tends to mean that we are particularly interested  in seeing applications from and funding smaller voluntary and, community-based and locally controlled groups that manage themselves, encourage active participation from volunteers, and usually have minimal cash reserves and limited access to funding support.

In general, our grants are for such smaller, locally run community or voluntary groups who seek to improve the circumstances in economically/socially excluded areas in East and North East London facing disadvantage. For our current open funds, these areas should lie within the boroughs of Barking & Dagenham, Hackney, Havering, Newham, Redbridge, Waltham Forest. 

Our support generally falls under the broad heading of social welfare and, of particular interest are small, local voluntary and community groups that can demonstrate an enthusiasm and determination to meet immediate and emerging needs and which have captured the imagination and commitment of local communities.

In general priority is given to projects that:

  • Are run by local volunteers who wish to improve the circumstances of individuals and communities in economically/socially excluded and/or deprived areas of that geographical area
  • Are unlikely to have access to a professional fundraiser and experience difficulty in attracting funding from other sources
  • Encourage involvement of local residents in improving, designing, identifying and implementing community activities
  • Promote voluntary participation and social inclusion as well as community involvement and self-help
  • Meet an emerging or immediate need and serve to build the community’s awareness
  • Do not duplicate an existing provision or service. If the project resembles an existing provision, the applicant will be asked to explain why their services are needed in addition to existing provisions or clarify how they are different.

In general, who and what cannot be funded:

  • Organisations trading for profit or intending to redistribute grant awards
  • Where the primary purpose of request is to promote religious or political beliefs
  • Retrospective Grants – (projects/activities that have already taken place)
  • Projects that fall within statutory sector responsibility
  • Sponsorship or fundraising events
  • Contributions to larger/major appeals - where the application sum would not cover at least 75% of the total project cost
  • Holidays and social outings - except in cases of specific disablement or proven benefit to a community or group of people
  • Local branches of national charities unless locally managed, financially autonomous and not beneficiaries of national marketing or promotion
  • More than one application at a time for the same project.

Other funding opportunities

There are other funding opportunities available for such groups and organisations – local Councils for Voluntary Services can provide advice and their details can be found on this website on Quick Links.

Related Links