Co-operative Community Investment Foundation

Charity Number: 1093028

Annual Expenditure: £3.4M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £3.4 million (2022)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Varies by program (typically 2-3 months)
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £200,000
  • Geographic Focus: UK-wide (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland)

Contact Details

Website: www.coopfoundation.org.uk

Email: foundation@coop.co.uk (general enquiries, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm)

Email: applyfoundation@coop.co.uk (applications)

Phone: 0161 692 1877

Overview

The Co-operative Community Investment Foundation, operating as Co-op Foundation, is a registered charity in England and Wales (1093028) and Scotland (SC048102). The foundation describes itself as "the Co-op's charity, helping communities work together to make things better“ and is the leading charity tackling youth loneliness in the UK. In 2022, the foundation awarded £3.4 million to 69 partners across the UK. The foundation launched its five-year strategy ”Building Communities of the Future Together“ in October 2022, with a distinctive approach centered on co-operative values of democracy, self-help, and self-responsibility. The foundation emphasizes unrestricted, flexible funding and involves people from funded communities in decision-making, addressing traditional power imbalances in grant-making. CEO Nick Crofts stated: ”Co-operation has been at the heart of this right from the start – it was and is the glue that holds our ways of working together."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Future Communities Fund: £30,000 - £150,000 per year for up to five years (unrestricted funding)

  • Supports organizations working on youth activism, shared power, and diversity, equity and inclusion
  • Decisions made by the Future Communities Collective (seven young people) alongside young trustees
  • Fixed application windows (e.g., May-June 2025)

Young Gamechangers Fund: Up to £20,000

  • £4.5 million fund created in partnership with Co-op and #iwill Fund
  • Grants directly to young people aged 10-25 or youth-led groups
  • Includes access to peer support networks, training and mentoring
  • Funded by Co-op Live (minimum £1 million annually from 2024)

Carbon Innovation Fund: £75,000 - £200,000

  • Three-year, £3.5 million fund to reduce reliance on soy-based feed and synthetic fertilizers
  • Partnership with Co-op, funded through compostable carrier bag sales

Co-op Local Community Fund: £1,000 - £3,000

  • Public voting grant program where Co-op members vote on local projects
  • Rolling applications typically open annually
  • Funded by 2p per pound spent by members on Co-op branded products

Priority Areas

The foundation's strategic priorities focus on:

  • Youth loneliness: Tackling isolation through the national 'Belong' network
  • Safer communities: Supporting projects that build community safety
  • Healthier communities: Mental wellbeing and food access initiatives
  • Equitable, inclusive, and diverse communities: Supporting marginalized groups experiencing barriers due to race, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or socioeconomic status
  • Sustainable communities: Environmental initiatives, particularly peatland protection
  • Youth activism and shared power: Youth-led organizations and social action

Themes for Local Community Fund include: enabling food access, improving mental wellbeing, and offering young people opportunities to develop skills.

What They Don't Fund

The foundation takes an inclusive approach, stating that “the size, background or leadership of an organisation should not be a barrier to accessing funding.” However, they prioritize:

  • Organizations with income under £250,000 (for Future Communities Fund)
  • Organizations working with marginalized communities
  • Youth-led or youth-focused initiatives

Eligible organizations include registered charities, voluntary groups, Scout/Guide/Woodcraft folk groups, CASCs, excepted charities (churches/chapels), co-operative societies, credit unions, community benefit societies, CICs, and other not-for-profit organizations.

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

  • Ruth Marvel OBE - Chair
  • George Imafidon MBE - Vice Chair
  • Jane Waters - Treasurer
  • Sharon Jones - Former Head of Funding at National Lottery Community Fund with over 15 years' grant-making experience
  • Hope Levy-Shepherd - Co-founder of Black British City Group and solicitor at Linklaters LLP
  • Mahalia Flasz - Young Trustee
  • Adele Balmforth
  • Jaiden Corfield

Leadership Team

  • Nick Crofts - Chief Executive
  • Louise Snelders - Head of Funding & Partnerships
  • Asimina Vergou - Head of Learning & Impact

Key Leadership Quotes

Nick Crofts, CEO: "I am super excited to become CEO of the Co-op Foundation. As the Co-op's charity, the Foundation has built an extraordinary platform, helping people, changing lives and making things better in communities."

On co-operation and strategy: “Co-operation has been at the heart of this right from the start – it was and is the glue that holds our ways of working together. This remains the golden thread that runs through every word of our strategy today.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation uses a two-stage application system to avoid wasting applicants' time on funds for which they may not be eligible. They provide clear, plain English guidance for all open funds.

  • Future Communities Fund: Fixed application windows (e.g., May 15 - June 12, 2025 at midday)
  • Local Community Fund: Rolling basis, typically annual application rounds
  • Young Gamechangers Fund: Check website for current availability
  • Carbon Innovation Fund: Closed rounds, check website for future opportunities

Applications can be submitted through their website, with specific portals for each program. Contact applyfoundation@coop.co.uk for application-related queries.

Decision Timeline

  • Future Communities Fund: Decisions announced approximately 6 months after application deadline (e.g., December announcement for June applications in previous rounds)
  • General timeline: Typically 2-3 months from submission to decision
  • The foundation publishes timelines when announcing a fund and works “at a pace that works for applicants”

Success Rates

The foundation does not publish specific success rates. However, they:

  • Keep funds “as targeted as possible to reduce high volumes”
  • Are “open about chances of success when launching a fund”
  • Published on their website that 13 organizations were funded from the Future Communities Fund (first round), representing £1.4-1.5 million

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly detailed. The foundation provides “detailed feedback wherever possible” and publishes reasons for rejection. Contact foundation@coop.co.uk for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

What the Foundation Values

Co-operative approach: The foundation draws on co-operative values of democracy, self-help, and self-responsibility. They emphasize how funding empowers people and trust partners to decide how to use funds.

Unrestricted funding philosophy: As stated on their website: “We provide flexible and unrestricted funding to people working to build fairer, more co-operative communities imagined by young people.”

Inclusive access: "Organisation size, background or leadership shouldn't be barriers to funding. We proactively encourage applications from small and traditionally less funded groups facing systemic barriers."

Recent Funding Examples

  • 21 Together (Maidstone): £150,000 over five years for Down's syndrome support
  • Girls into Coding (London/nationwide): £75,000 over five years to bridge gender gap in STEM
  • Youth Work Unit Yorkshire and Humber: £60,000 over five years for youth worker networks
  • Friends of Romano Lav (Glasgow): £97,500 over five years for Roma youth-led organization
  • The Gina Project (Birmingham): £132,842 over five years for survivors of sexual abuse
  • Nurturing Foundations (Manchester): £150,000 over five years for young people from global majority backgrounds
  • Refugee Action: £250,000 unrestricted funding
  • Depaul UK: £300,000 grant (with Astra Foundation)

Language and Terminology

The foundation frequently uses terms like:

  • “Co-operation” and “co-operative communities”
  • “Shared power” and “youth activism”
  • “Unrestricted funding”
  • “Diversity, equity and inclusion”
  • “Marginalized communities”
  • “Youth loneliness” and “Belong network”
  • “Building fairer communities”

Tips for Standing Out

  1. Demonstrate co-operative values: Show how your organization practices democracy, self-help, and community participation
  2. Youth involvement: Evidence of young people's involvement in leadership or decision-making strengthens applications
  3. Focus on marginalized groups: Prioritize demonstrating work with communities facing systemic barriers
  4. Emphasize organizational development: The foundation funds organizations, not just projects, particularly for longer-term grants
  5. Be authentic: The foundation accepts that "even when things don't go to plan, this represents a learning opportunity rather than 'failure'"
  6. Small is beautiful: Organizations with turnovers under £250,000 are actively encouraged to apply

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Unrestricted funding is central: The foundation strongly emphasizes flexible, unrestricted funding that gives organizations power to decide how to use funds. Frame applications around organizational capacity, not just project activities.
  • Co-operation is the golden thread: Applications should demonstrate co-operative values and how communities are involved in decision-making. This is a non-negotiable aspect of their identity.
  • Youth-led and youth-focused: Youth involvement significantly strengthens applications. The foundation is the leading UK charity tackling youth loneliness and prioritizes youth activism.
  • Longer-term relationships: The foundation invests in organizations over longer timeframes (up to 5 years). Emphasize sustainability and long-term community impact.
  • Accessible and trusting approach: They use plain English, two-stage applications, and state that "organisation size, background or leadership shouldn't be barriers." Don't be intimidated if you're a small or newer organization.
  • Multiple funding routes: Consider the Local Community Fund (member voting) as an alternative entry point if other funds seem competitive. Building relationships through smaller grants can lead to larger opportunities.
  • Timing matters: Fixed deadlines for major funds mean preparation is essential. Monitor their website and sign up for updates to avoid missing application windows.

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