Camden Giving

Charity Number: 1174463

Annual Expenditure: £1.5M
Camden

Contact Info

Website:www.camdengiving.org.uk

Phone:020 7872 5340

Email:grants@camdengiving.org.uk

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £1,000,000+ (target)
  • Total Awarded: £7.9 million (since 2017)
  • Decision Time: 2 weeks (rolling basis)
  • Grant Range: £500 - £100,000
  • Geographic Focus: London Borough of Camden
  • Total Grants: 1,057 grants awarded
  • Participatory Model: 382 community resident panellists involved

Contact Details

Website: www.camdengiving.org.uk

Email: grants@camdengiving.org.uk / admin@camdengiving.org.uk

Phone: 020 7872 5340

Social Media: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn

Charity Number: 1174463

Pre-application support: Strongly advised to contact before applying. Monthly drop-in sessions available. Walkthrough videos on YouTube.

Overview

Camden Giving is an independent charity established in 2017 as a participatory funder working to end local poverty and inequality in Camden, one of London's most unequal boroughs with a 7-year life expectancy gap and 43% child poverty rate. Since inception, Camden Giving has awarded £7.9 million through 1,057 grants, working with 382 community resident panellists who have lived experience of the issues being addressed. Their pioneering approach has been described as “one of the most exciting participatory grantmakers in Europe.” The organization operates on core principles of participation, accessible funding, breaking down divides between sectors, and racial justice. They aim to train and pay 50 new community panellists annually and distribute at least £1 million in funding each year.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

We Make Camden Kit (Open - Rolling Basis)

  • Seed Grant: Up to £2,000 for first-time applicants trying new ideas
  • Growth Grant: Up to £5,000 for previous seed grant recipients
  • Open to Camden citizens, small organizations (under £250k income), and schools
  • Panel reviews applications every two weeks
  • Decisions made by 12-person panel of Camden residents

Equality Fund (Periodically Open)

  • £30,000 per organization (unrestricted funding over two years)
  • Addresses inequalities faced by young people, families, women, people of colour, disabled people, and care leavers
  • Applications currently closed

Additional Specialized Funds (Availability Varies)

  • Youth Futures Fund: Addressing long-term inequality for young people
  • KX Fund: Up to £10,000 for communities affected by Kings Cross development
  • HS2 Camden Fund: Up to £100,000 for communities affected by HS2
  • Inclusive Grants: Up to £20,000 to make activities welcoming to disabled people
  • Communities Together Fund: Up to £1,500 for activities bringing different communities together

Priority Areas

Camden Giving focuses on four core missions:

  1. Diversity and Representative Leadership: Supporting under-represented voices
  2. Youth Opportunities: Creating pathways for young people (especially 16-25 year olds)
  3. Food Access: Addressing food poverty and insecurity
  4. Community and Neighborhood Strengthening: Building social cohesion and connection

Target communities include: young people and families, women, people of colour, disabled people, and care leavers who are disproportionately impacted by poverty, isolation, and hate in Camden.

What They Don't Fund

Based on eligibility criteria, Camden Giving does not fund:

  • Organizations or projects outside the London Borough of Camden
  • Individuals not delivering charitable activities
  • Organizations with annual income over £250,000 (for We Make Camden Kit)
  • School projects within normal curriculum (must be student-led or extra-curricular)
  • Repeat applications for the same project to the same fund

Governance and Leadership

Natasha Friend, Director

Joined April 2017 with background in corporate responsibility. Part of Participatory Grantmaking Community of Practice. On the participatory approach: "Our grantmakers don't wake up in the morning and go: 'I hope that the social good sector runs really healthily.' They wake up in the morning and say: 'I hope my neighbour has got enough food and I hope my kid feels safe on the way home.'"

Danielle Green, Assistant Director

Manages Operational Strategy and PGM consultancy. Experience in cross-sector initiatives.

Senior Team:

  • Daniel Jourdan (Head of Grant Programmes): 14 years working with Camden youth, previously a grant recipient
  • Muhammod Shofi (Head of Partnerships): Long-time Camden resident and former youth worker
  • Yasmin Farah (Head of Data and Community Knowledge): Born and raised in Camden, former Future Changemakers Fund panelist
  • Grace King (Partnerships Manager): Experience in fundraising and corporate partnerships
  • Yodit Tesfamariam (Communications & Fundraising Manager): Camden local with PR background
  • Tahir Ahmed (Governance Officer): Born and raised in Camden, law degree, previously worked for Camden Council

On Traditional Fundraising: Natasha Friend emphasizes that "All the things we've learnt about fundraising need to be unlearned a little bit if we become more participatory.“ She advises applicants to ”Really evidence that what they're doing is good for the people that they're working with, not good for what funders want to hear."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Contact First: Strongly advised to get in touch before applying by emailing grants@camdengiving.org.uk or booking an appointment
  2. Resources Available: Monthly drop-in sessions and walkthrough videos on YouTube
  3. Submit Application: Fill out online application form on website
  4. Panel Review: Applications reviewed every two weeks by community panel (breaks for Christmas and Ramadan)
  5. Decision: Panel decides on funding
  6. Requirements Check: If approved, Camden Giving verifies insurance, safeguarding training, and DBS checks as needed
  7. Award: Grant money awarded and project can begin

Decision Timeline

  • Panel Review Cycle: Every 2 weeks
  • From Submission to Decision: Approximately 2 weeks (when panel is active)
  • Example: One round saw over 70 applications with decisions and £156,000 awarded to 29 organizations within 10 days
  • Notification: Direct communication after panel decision

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages not publicly disclosed, but:

  • In recent example: 29 organizations funded from over 70 applications (approximately 41% success rate for that round)
  • 70-80% of funded projects are led by racialised groups due to participatory decision-making
  • Panel demographics: 73% from racially diverse backgrounds, 52% aged 16-25, 13% disabled

Reapplication Policy

We Make Camden Kit:

  • Can apply for seed grant once per project
  • If unsuccessful, can discuss with staff and reapply with revised application
  • After successful seed grant, eligible to apply for growth grant
  • Cannot reapply for the same project to the same fund

General Approach:

  • Encourages dialogue even if funding isn't available immediately: "Even if you don't think we can fund your work right now, please meet us for a coffee or come to a drop-in, we are quickly developing our grants and we'd love to hear about your ideas"

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Funder

Natasha Friend's guidance emphasizes a fundamental shift from traditional grantmaking:

  • "Really evidence that what they're doing is good for the people that they're working with, not good for what funders want to hear"
  • Focus on genuine community impact rather than “performing for funders”
  • Demonstrate understanding of lived experience in your community

What Panellists Look For

Decision-makers are Camden residents with lived experience who prioritize:

  • Direct benefit to people experiencing inequality
  • Authentic connection to community needs
  • Projects addressing root causes, not just symptoms
  • Grassroots, community-led approaches
  • Work that builds long-term change

Who Gets Funded

  • Organizations and projects led by people with lived experience of the issues
  • Groups facing historical barriers to funding access
  • Grassroots community initiatives
  • Projects demonstrating genuine community need and support
  • Work addressing Camden Giving's four core missions

Standing Out

  • Pre-application engagement: Use drop-in sessions and contact staff before applying
  • Community voice: Show how beneficiaries were involved in project design
  • Lived experience: Highlight leadership from people directly affected by the issue
  • Local impact: Demonstrate deep understanding of specific Camden communities
  • Participatory approach: Show how you'll involve beneficiaries in delivery and decision-making
  • Authentic language: Use plain language and avoid charity sector jargon
  • Concrete outcomes: Focus on tangible benefits to people, not abstract goals

Examples of Funded Work

  • Equality Fund: 10 organizations received £30,000 each (unrestricted, two years) to address inequalities
  • Communities Together Fund: 54 projects bringing together 14,000 residents celebrating diversity
  • Projects led by Camden residents trying new ideas in their communities
  • Youth-led initiatives addressing safety and opportunities
  • Food access and community strengthening projects

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Pre-application contact is essential: This funder genuinely wants to discuss your idea before you apply. Use drop-in sessions and email staff to refine your approach.
  1. Lived experience matters most: Your application will be read by people with direct experience of the issues you're addressing. Authenticity and community connection trump polished charity language.
  1. Unlearn traditional fundraising: Don't write what you think a funder wants to hear. Focus on demonstrating genuine impact for the people you work with, using their voices and evidence.
  1. Speed is a strength: Two-week decision cycles mean you'll know quickly, and the fast turnaround reflects the community-led, responsive approach.
  1. Build relationships for the long-term: Even if your specific project doesn't fit current programs, Camden Giving wants to know about your work as they're “quickly developing” their grants.
  1. Start small, grow bigger: The seed-to-growth grant model allows you to test ideas with £2,000 before applying for up to £5,000, reducing risk for both parties.
  1. Participatory approach gives you advantages if you're grassroots: 70-80% of funded projects are led by racialised groups. The decision-making model favors organizations that might struggle with traditional funders.

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

References

  1. Camden Giving Official Website - https://www.camdengiving.org.uk (Accessed: 2025-10-13)
  2. Camden Giving - What We Do - https://www.camdengiving.org.uk/what-we-do (Accessed: 2025-10-13)
  3. Camden Giving - Our Grants - https://www.camdengiving.org.uk/our-grants (Accessed: 2025-10-13)
  4. Camden Giving - We Make Camden Kit - https://www.camdengiving.org.uk/we-make-camden-kit (Accessed: 2025-10-13)
  5. Camden Giving - Meet the Team - https://www.camdengiving.org.uk/meet-the-team (Accessed: 2025-10-13)
  6. Camden Giving - Participatory Grantmaking - https://www.camdengiving.org.uk/participatory-grantmaking (Accessed: 2025-10-13)
  7. Camden Giving - Apply For Funding - https://www.camdengiving.org.uk/apply-for-funding (Accessed: 2025-10-13)
  8. Charity Commission - CAMDEN GIVING (1174463) - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=1174463 (Accessed: 2025-10-13)
  9. 360Giving GrantNav - Camden Giving - https://grantnav.threesixtygiving.org/org/GB-CHC-1174463 (Accessed: 2025-10-13)
  10. Third Sector - "Charities must unlearn practice of 'performing for funders', grantmaker chief says" - https://www.thirdsector.co.uk/charities-unlearn-practice-performing-funders-grantmaker-chief-says/fundraising/article/1926930 (Accessed: 2025-10-13)
  11. London Funders - "Q&A with Camden Giving: Legacy, local decision-making and solidarity" - https://londonfunders.org.uk/latest/news/qa-camden-giving-legacy-local-decision-making-and-solidarity (Accessed: 2025-10-13)
  12. London Funders - "'Disrupting the System' - Camden Giving's approach to participatory grantmaking" - https://londonfunders.org.uk/latest/news/disrupting-system-camden-givings-approach-participatory-grantmaking (Accessed: 2025-10-13)
  13. London's Giving - Camden - https://londonsgiving.org.uk/giving-my-borough/camden (Accessed: 2025-10-13)
  14. London's Giving - "New grants awarded through Camden Giving's Equality Fund" - https://londonsgiving.org.uk/news/new-grants-awarded-through-camden-givings-equality-fund (Accessed: 2025-10-13)
  15. Funders Collaborative Hub - “Camden Giving – Shifting Power Through Participatory Grantmaking” - https://www.funderscollaborativehub.org.uk/collaborations/camden-giving---shifting-power-through-participatory-grantmaking (Accessed: 2025-10-13)