Community Foundation For Leeds

Charity Number: 1096892

Annual Expenditure: £4.0M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: ??3-5 million
  • Total Distributed: ??60+ million (since 2002)
  • Decision Time: 10-12 weeks
  • Grant Range: ??500 - ??50,000
  • Average Grant: ??8,400
  • Geographic Focus: Leeds and wider region (primarily Leeds, also Bradford)

Contact Details

Website: www.leedscf.org.uk

Email: info@leedscf.org.uk | grants@leedscf.org.uk

Phone: 0113 242 2426

Pre-application support: Book a call with the team for advice on governance and eligibility at leedscf.org.uk

Overview

Founded in 2002, Leeds Community Foundation is the region's leading independent funder, distributing grants of between ??3-5 million annually. Over 20 years, the Foundation has helped donors invest more than ??65 million to benefit communities across Leeds and the wider region, distributing more than 8,000 grants to local charities and voluntary and community groups. The Foundation's mission is “A fairer Leeds for everyone,” achieved by unlocking giving and investing in communities through grant making, collaboration and leadership. In 2024, the Foundation reached a significant milestone by awarding their 350th grant through The Leeds Fund, their flagship programme established in 2016, having invested ??2.8 million and supported 23,300 people through this programme alone. The Foundation prioritises diversity, equity and inclusion at its heart, actively working to tackle entrenched inequity in communities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Leeds Fund - Strategic Grants: ??50,000 (multi-year, over at least 2 years) - Fully flexible funding supporting both ongoing service delivery and organisational development for longer-term sustainability. Fixed deadlines (e.g., June 30, 2025 deadline with October 2025 decisions).

The Leeds Fund - Micro Grants: Up to ??500 - Small grants awarded to individual people and unincorporated groups for grassroots initiatives and creative ideas. Rolling basis.

Flint Family Fund: Grants for pre-natal, post-natal and early years development support.

Jimbo's Fund: ??1,000 - ??20,000 per year (fixed at 3 years duration) - Established in 2008 to support people facing hardship. Has distributed nearly ??18.5 million, reaching more than 43,000 people.

Leeds Digital Inclusion Fund: Up to ??5,000 for test and learn activity; up to ??10,000 for expansion of existing activity - Tackles digital inequality by helping people access skills, support and equipment to be active online.

Various other named funds available - check the Foundation's open grants page for current opportunities.

Priority Areas

The Foundation actively welcomes applications from, or benefitting:

  • Priority populations: LGBTQIA+ people, racially minoritised people, and d/Deaf or disabled people
  • Thematic priorities: Nature and the environment, mental health, and children and young people living in the five highest Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) areas
  • Cross-cutting themes: Loneliness, employability and organisational resilience

What They Don't Fund

  • For-profit organisations
  • Overseas organisations
  • Statutory organisations
  • Organisations with access to other significant funding sources, including those with substantial fundraising teams
  • Organisations in poor financial health or those that have had a previous grant not managed satisfactorily
  • Applications which cannot demonstrate clear need or demand
  • Applications which offer poor value for money
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Governance and Leadership

Chief Executive: Steph Taylor (appointed 2025, previously Deputy CEO at Leeds Community Foundation and Director of GiveBradford). Taylor stated: "I look forward to doing justice to LCF's mission by working collaboratively, equitably and with ambition."

Chair of Trustees: Cleveland Henry - Group Delivery & Deployment Director of EMIS Health with over 20 years' experience in senior technology positions. Henry emphasized: “The next stages for the Foundation are imperative, building on our successful track history and being ready to face the opportunities and challenges ahead of us.”

Deputy Chairs:

  • Carl - Director of Operations at FareShare UK
  • Dee - Director of External Relations at Leeds Beckett University

Trustees include:

  • Ruth Bromley FCA - Associate Director at BDO and Diversity & Inclusion Team Leader
  • Sharon Orr - Community Affairs Manager at Vanquis Banking Group
  • Tony Cooke - Chief Officer of Health Partnerships in Leeds
  • Will Clarke - Leads policy and programmes on inclusive growth at Greater Manchester Combined Authority
  • Emily Jones - Lead Youth Worker at The Youth Association in Wakefield

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are completed through an online form with brief questions (with word counts) about your proposed activity and budget. Before applying, applicants should:

  • Check the Foundation's guidance on use of generative AI in applications and reporting
  • Review example applications for activity and core cost funding
  • Ensure eligibility requirements are met

Required Documents:

  • List of trustees/committee members/directors and CEO/equivalent
  • Financial accounts (or income and expenditure report for new organisations)
  • Governing document
  • Three quotes for capital expenditure items of ??500 or more (if applicable)
  • Safeguarding policies and procedures

Organisational Eligibility:

  • Incorporated not-for-profit organisations (e.g. CIO, CIC limited by guarantee, charitable companies) registered with the Charity Commission, Companies House or FCA Mutuals Public Register
  • Registered charities that aren't incorporated (cannot use grants for PAYE staff, only freelancers)
  • Small unincorporated and unregistered organisations if annual income is less than ??10,000 and the grant wouldn't push income above ??10,000 in the current financial year
  • All organisations must have a minimum of three unrelated trustees/committee members/directors, with none registered as Persons with Significant Control

Decision Timeline

  • Application assessment: 8-10 weeks after deadline - panels meet to review applications
  • Decision notification: 10-12 weeks after deadline - applicants receive email with outcome
  • Grant payment: Within three weeks of signing the funding agreement and providing necessary documentation (if successful)

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, the Foundation notes they have limited funding and cannot fund every application. For example, the Leeds Digital Inclusion Fund expected to fund 8-16 applications from a larger pool. In 2024, organisations awarded grants were able to leverage an additional ??4.8 million in funding thanks to their Leeds Community Foundation grants, demonstrating significant impact multiplier effects.

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applicants receive personalised feedback from the panel. Specific reapplication policies are not publicly detailed - contact the grants team for guidance on reapplying after an unsuccessful application.

Application Success Factors

Assessment Criteria: A trained grants assessor reviews every application against:

  • Whether governance documents are correct for organisation's size and structure
  • Whether finance documents are prepared appropriately
  • Whether work meets programme priorities
  • Whether organisation has capacity to deliver the activity
  • Whether organisation has experience in delivering similar activities (though not always essential)

Foundation's Advice: The Foundation has “put together support and resources to help with writing applications and reports, as well as improving governance, for the best chance of success.” They emphasize that the application is “your opportunity to tell them why your activity is a great fit for the grant.”

Example Funded Projects:

  • Burmantofts Community Friends: ??10,000 from Leeds Digital Inclusion Fund to set up 'Breakfast n Browsers', a weekly digital caf?? offering group training in digital skills for 95 older people
  • Leeds Civic Trust Community Fund recipients: 6 organisations awarded funding for projects on 'Celebration of place' theme, including Music House Leeds, RETAS LEEDS, Skippko Arts Team, The Conservation Volunteers, The Retreat to Rebirth Project, and The Tetley
  • The Leeds Fund: 94% of Strategic Grant recipients said the funding made them more sustainable

Important Considerations:

  • Assessors may contact you for more information to support your application
  • The Foundation offers grant support calls - book in advance for guidance
  • Read guidance documents and example applications before starting
  • Ensure your work aligns with priority populations and themes for stronger applications
  • Demonstrate clear need, capacity to deliver, and value for money

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Priority alignment is crucial: Applications from or benefitting LGBTQIA+, racially minoritised, and d/Deaf or disabled people are actively welcomed, as are initiatives focusing on nature/environment, mental health, and children/young people in high deprivation areas
  • Governance and structure matter: Your organisation's size and structure determine funding levels; ensure documents are compliant before applying
  • Use support resources: The Foundation actively encourages applicants to access their support resources, example applications, and book calls with the team - take advantage of this
  • Plan for longer timelines: With 10-12 weeks to decision and panels meeting 8-10 weeks after deadlines, build this into your planning
  • Flexibility is valued: The Leeds Fund offers fully flexible funding, and 94% of Strategic Grant recipients reported becoming more sustainable
  • Leverage effect: Successful applicants in 2024 leveraged an additional ??4.8 million in funding using their LCF grants - demonstrate how their support will unlock further resources
  • Demonstrate sustainability impact: Strategic Grants particularly value how funding will contribute to long-term organisational resilience

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