Bradford District Community Foundation

Quick Stats

• Charity Number: 1131588
• Annual Income: £350,237 (2023-24)
• Total Grants Since 2017: Over £7 million distributed
• Total Charitable Investments: Over £20 million overseen
• Grant Range: £2,500 (microgrants) - £10,000 (strategic grants)
• Geographic Focus: Bradford District only
• Application Method: Online portal, rolling and fixed deadlines depending on programme

Contact Details

• Website: https://www.givebradford.org.uk
• Email: info@leedscf.org.uk
• Phone: 0113 242 2426
• Address: 51a St. Pauls Street, Leeds (managed by Leeds Community Foundation)
• Grants Team: Contact available through website for eligibility and application support
• Online Eligibility Tool: Available on website before applying

Overview

Bradford District Community Foundation, operating as GiveBradford, was originally established in 2012 but became dormant when funds ran out. Following a legacy gift for the benefit of Bradford communities, the charity was reactivated in 2017 through partnership with Leeds Community Foundation. Since its relaunch, GiveBradford has helped donors distribute over £7 million in grants and overseen more than £20 million worth of charitable investments to benefit communities across the Bradford district. The foundation operates as an independent grant-making charity with its own board of local trustees, while being managed by Leeds Community Foundation which provides governance frameworks and shared resources. The organization's 2024-27 strategy focuses on “building a fairer Bradford for everyone” through flexible and responsive grant-making, informed by knowledge of local needs and strong relationships with partners across the public and social sectors. GiveBradford partners with Pears Foundation for generous contributions to core costs, enabling long-term operations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Bradford Fund Microgrants: £500 - £2,500

• Aimed at small and emerging Bradford-based community organisations
• Eligible organizations must have income under £75,000 in most recent financial year
• Priority given to organizations established in the last 5 years
• Can part-fund or fully-fund activities enabling small organizations to support communities through increased capacity or project work
• Since 2021, 36 grants made totaling almost £83,000
• Rolling application basis through online portal

The Bradford Fund Strategic Grants: £10,000

• Supports community organizations for strategic development over 12 months
• Focus on effective leadership, finance and operations, understanding and demonstrating impact
• Helps organizations become more resilient and build stronger foundations
• Third round awarded to 7 organizations in 2023

Community Partnering Fund

• Supports innovative approaches to delivering sustainable initiatives
• Partnership with Northern Powergrid
• Focus on alleviating fuel poverty and supporting community hubs with crisis planning

Thrive Together Fund

• Partnership with The National Lottery Community Fund
• Brings people together and strengthens communities

Pears Youth Fund

• Partnership with Pears Foundation
• Supports youth organisations in Bradford
• Flexible grants for core costs or project delivery

Bradford 2025 Creative Communities Fund

• Partnership with Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture and Pears Foundation
• Over £370,000 invested in 33 Bradford community organizations

Priority Areas

• Community resilience and organizational capacity building
• Youth development and opportunities
• Community hub support and crisis planning
• Fuel poverty alleviation
• Activities bringing people together and strengthening communities
• Supporting small and emerging grassroots community organizations
• Building stronger organizational infrastructure for long-term sustainability

What They Don't Fund

Ineligible Organizations:

• For-profit organizations
• Statutory organizations or activity (e.g., schools and hospitals)
• Overseas organizations
• Organizations without proper governance structures (minimum 3 unrelated trustees/directors/committee members)

Excluded Activities:

• Activities that might be regarded as discriminatory and/or exclude people without good justification
• Activities that promote a particular political or religious point of view

Structure Requirements:

• Only formally constituted groups with proper governance documents
• Must be incorporated community groups (CIOs, CICs, charitable companies) registered with Charity Commission, Companies House or Mutuals Public Register (FCA)
• Must be limited by guarantee (not shares)
• Registered charities that are not incorporated can also apply

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees (6 trustees total)

• Azim Kidwai - Chair of Trustees; Chief Executive Officer for Mercy Mission UK; social entrepreneur with a decade of experience in Islamic philanthropy
• Steve Hartley - Deputy Chair of Trustees
• Amjid Hussain - Social Entrepreneur Support Manager for UnLtd; manages Solutions for an Ageing Society partners and Lead the Change programme in partnership with Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
• Roohi Collins - Retired partner at DAC Beachcroft (30 years), specialized in professional indemnity, education-related matters and recruitment, training and mentoring of new solicitors
• Sharon Orr - Link trustee between Leeds Community Foundation and Bradford District Community Foundation boards
• Lisa Jakimciw - Joined board in May 2025
• Graham Sweeney - Joined board in May 2025

The board oversees GiveBradford's 2024-27 strategy for building a fairer Bradford. No trustees receive any remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity. The foundation also has 4 volunteers supporting operations.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

GiveBradford operates an online grants portal system with a structured 7-step process:

1. Check Eligibility - Use their online eligibility checking tool to determine organizational size, structure and governance requirements
2. View Open Grants - Review open and upcoming grant programmes on their website
3. Create Account - Access grants portal and create or log into account
4. Complete Application - Online form with brief questions (with word counts) about proposed activity and budget
5. Assessment - Trained grants assessor reviews every application; may contact for additional information
6. Panel Review - Applications reviewed by grants panel made up of experts and people with lived experience relevant to the programme; panel decisions delegated by trustees are ratified by the board
7. Decision & Payment - Grant paid within three weeks of assessment and panel review completion

Application Support Available:

• Online eligibility checking tool
• Ability to book calls with grants team for advice on governance and eligibility
• Step-by-step guide explaining every stage of the grants process
• Document explaining funding and budget terms
• Spreadsheet template to help plan budgets
• Voluntary support officers who work with community groups to help them set up and find funding
• Grants notifications system to stay updated with funding opportunities

Decision Timeline

Payments are made within three weeks of the assessment and panel review process being completed. Specific timelines may vary by programme - applicants should check individual grant programme pages for details.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants were not found in publicly available information. The foundation acknowledges receiving more applications than they can fund. Organizations seeking information about reapplying should contact the grants team directly, as policies may vary by specific grant programme.

Application Success Factors

Recent Funded Organizations (Examples from Strategic Grants 2023):

• Bangladeshi Youth Organisation
• Get Out More CIC
• LADS West Yorkshire CIC
• Manningham Project Ltd
• Margaret Carey Foundation
• SHAPE-UK LTD
• The Hive Silsden CIO
• Demand on Community

Past Microgrant Awards Include:

• Training for organization staff
• Time for policy development
• Employability programmes
• Marketing consultation
• Testing new activity

Assessment Criteria:

Applications are reviewed by trained grants assessors against specific checks, then evaluated by expert panels with lived experience. The foundation values:

• Strong governance and organizational structure
• Clear demonstration of community need
• Alignment with programme-specific themes and criteria
• Robust budgeting and financial planning
• Organizations that serve the Bradford district
• Smaller and emerging organizations that may struggle to access larger grant programmes

Strategic Approach:

GiveBradford's 2024-27 strategy emphasizes building a fairer Bradford by uniting leaders, community organizations and donors to strengthen communities. Their focus on nurturing strong relationships, connecting resources and understanding communities means funding is distributed fairly to where it's most needed.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic Restriction is Strict: Only organizations operating in the Bradford district are eligible - this is a hyperlocal funder
• Size Matters for Microgrants: Organizations with income under £75,000 are prioritized for microgrants, with preference for groups established in last 5 years
• Strong Governance is Essential: Formal governance structures with at least 3 unrelated trustees/directors, proper constitutions, and appropriate bank accounts are mandatory
• Use the Eligibility Tool First: Save time by using their online eligibility checker before starting an application
• Support is Available: Don't hesitate to book a call with their grants team for advice - they want to help organizations succeed
• Different Programs, Different Criteria: Each grant programme has its own themes and requirements - carefully review specific programme pages
• Quick Payment Turnaround: Three-week payment timeline after decision shows commitment to getting funds to organizations efficiently
• Strategic Development Focus: The Bradford Fund programs emphasize building organizational resilience and capacity, not just project delivery

References

1. GiveBradford Homepage -
2. Charity Commission Register - Bradford District Community Foundation - Financial data for year ending March 31, 2024
3. GiveBradford - Applying for a Grant - Application process details
4. GiveBradford - Grants Process Explained - Step-by-step process
5. GiveBradford - The Bradford Fund Microgrants - Microgrant programme details
6. GiveBradford - The Bradford Fund Strategic Grants 2023 - Strategic grants information
7. GiveBradford - New Trustees Join Board - Board composition
8. GiveBradford - Resources and Governance - Governance documents and policies
9. Leeds Community Foundation - GiveBradford Celebrates One Year On - History and partnership details
10. GiveBradford - Grants Support and Resources - Support services available