Community Foundation For Staffordshire And Shropshire

Charity Number: 1091628

Annual Expenditure: £3.5M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £3.5 million
  • Total Awarded Since 2008: £22 million
  • Decision Time: Notified within 2 working days of panel meeting
  • Grant Range: £500 - £20,000+ (varies by program)
  • Geographic Focus: Staffordshire and Shropshire
  • Fund Management: Over £10 million per annum

Contact Details

Website: https://staffordshire.foundation

Email: office@staffordshire.foundation

Phone: 01785 339540

Programs Email: programmes@staffordshire.foundation

Pre-application Support: Available - the foundation states “We are here to help you” and offers assistance completing applications and guidance on supporting documents.

Overview

The Community Foundation for Staffordshire and Shropshire was established in 2008 as the registered, recognised, and accredited community foundation for both counties. Since inception, it has awarded over £22 million to local charities and community groups, with £3.5 million distributed in the last year alone. The foundation manages over £10 million per annum in fund and philanthropic management, bringing together donations from local businesses, individuals, and national funders to support grassroots community organisations. In 2023, the foundation revitalised over £1 million from trusts and charities at risk of closure. Accredited to UKCF standards and holding ISO certification, the foundation was also recognised as a Living Wage Friendly Funder. Under Chief Executive Steve Adams' leadership since 2015, the foundation has expanded its reach, opening a new Shrewsbury office in 2025 to better serve Shropshire communities, which receive nearly £500,000 annually.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Grant Size Categories:

  • Small Grants: £500 - £1,000
  • Medium Grants: £1,000 - £5,000
  • Community Grants: Up to £9,999
  • Large Grants: £10,000+

Key Grant Schemes Include:

Staffordshire Organisations:

  • Stafford Borough Council Small Grants
  • One Stoke Community Grants (£500 - £20,000)
  • Food Support Fund
  • Hanley at Home Fund
  • VCSE Grants - Supportive Communities & Better Health
  • North Staffordshire Environment Fund
  • TopCashback Sustainability Fund
  • Rural Development Fund
  • Sports Grants

Shropshire Organisations:

  • Godolphin Edwards Fund for Organizations
  • We Love Shropshire (biannual rounds)

Place-Based “We Love” Funds:

  • We Love Burton, Cannock Chase, the Moorlands, Newcastle, Lichfield, South Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Tamworth, Telford & Wrekin, Uttoxeter
  • Stafford Together (endowment fund for Stafford Borough and surrounding villages)

Individual Grants:

  • Youth Opportunities Fund (breaking down barriers for young people)
  • SWEF Enterprise Fund (up to £2,000 for business start-ups, reviewed monthly)
  • Care Leavers Fund
  • Children's Holiday Fund
  • Mental Health Funds
  • Grace Cares Hardship Grants
  • Sports Scholarships
  • Beardsley and Blood Fund
  • Edward Wood Fund

Application Methods: Most schemes operate on a rolling basis with specific cut-off dates for rounds. Online portal available for all Community Grants and Large Grants schemes.

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on:

  • Grassroots community organisations - Priority given to smaller charities that would find it hard to access funds from other sources
  • Community cohesion and social trust
  • Mental health and wellbeing support
  • Youth opportunities and development
  • Environmental sustainability
  • Food security and support
  • Rural community strengthening
  • Sports and physical activity
  • Emergency response and community recovery
  • Enterprise development for young people

What They Don't Fund

Explicit Exclusions:

  • Core costs and staff salaries (general running costs)
  • Statutory organisations including Parish Councils
  • Limited companies
  • National charities/organisations
  • Projects with statutory responsibility
  • Religious projects or projects that promote religion (though religious organisations can apply for non-religious projects)
  • Party political activities where one political party is promoted above another
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Governance and Leadership

Chief Executive

Steve Adams - Joined in 2008 as a grants team member and became Chief Executive in 2015. Previously served as Donor Development and Director of Operations. On the foundation's priorities, Adams states: “Priority tends to be given to smaller charities which would find it hard to access funds from other sources, with a tendency to focus more on the grassroots groups.” In March 2025, announcing the new Shrewsbury office, he said: "We've supported people across the county since 2013, and more regularly since 2016. We're delighted to be able to take that support to the next level."

Board of Trustees

Ashley - Joined the board in 2020, became Chair in November 2023

Charlotte - Chief Executive of Staffordshire Women's Aid since 2023, Chair of the Grants, Impact & Partnerships sub-committee, Vice Chair

Terry - The foundation's first Chief Executive (2008-2011), rejoined as trustee in 2016

Alan - Trustee, managing director of a local chartered accounting company

Additional trustees include Sherrel, Prakash, Judy, and Charlie. The board includes representation from both Staffordshire and Shropshire.

Senior Staff

Adam - Head of Operations (since October 2019), formerly Finance & Projects Manager, leads on operations, finances, investments, and HR

Joseph - Experienced business manager specialising in business strategy and planning

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Online Portal: All Community Grants and Large Grants schemes offer an online application facility accessible via computer, tablet, or mobile phone. The system allows applicants to:

  • Save progress and return later
  • Attach supporting documents digitally
  • Receive email confirmation with a copy of the completed application

Access the portal via the specific grant scheme's webpage at staffordshire.foundation/grants/

Rolling Rounds: Grant schemes are usually open all year but operate in rounds with specific cut-off dates for each scheme.

Application Limits: An organisation may only have 2 open grants at any time, and only one from any one scheme.

Required Supporting Documents

Documents vary by scheme but generally include:

  • Copy of governing document (constitution or Memorandum and Articles of Association)
  • Most recent accounts (audited or independently examined)
  • Recent bank statement (within last three months)
  • Child Protection Policy (if working with children)
  • Vulnerable Adults Policy (if working with vulnerable adults)
  • Quotes for capital items or services costing more than £500

Important: Applications can be placed on 'hold' for up to three months while waiting for supporting documents. After three months, the application will be cancelled and must be resubmitted.

Documents can be emailed to programmes@staffordshire.foundation

Decision Timeline

Panel Review: Applications are reviewed by grant panels

Notification: Within 2 working days of the panel meeting, applicants are notified of the outcome

Monthly Reviews: Some schemes like SWEF Enterprise Fund review applications monthly

Biannual Rounds: Place-based funds like We Love Shropshire consider applications twice per year

Payment Process

If successful, applicants receive terms and conditions which must be signed and returned before grant payment can be made.

Success Rates

Specific success rate data not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants not detailed in available materials. Contact the foundation directly for guidance.

Application Success Factors

Foundation's Direct Advice

The foundation emphasises: “We are here to help you” - They actively encourage applicants to seek pre-application advice and assistance completing applications.

Key Guidance:

  • "To give your application the best chance of being approved by the panel, ensure that you read the criteria for the specific grant scheme you're applying to"
  • “It is important to carefully read the aims and criteria of a scheme, as well as general grant guidance, before submitting your application”
  • Contact the team if having difficulty completing forms - they can see your progress and highlight areas needing attention

Recent Funded Projects

Staffordshire Examples:

  • Action Parkside - £1,000 for constructing a pathway from the Parkside Estate to a bus stop on Stone Road
  • Cerebral Palsy Mid Staffordshire - £1,000 for coffee mornings enabling members to meet, relax, and chat
  • The Hive - Funding for Music Tech for Girls project connecting young women with music technology
  • Staffordshire Regiment Museum - Grant for 'Project Brew Up' to construct refreshment facilities with educational exhibition

Shropshire Examples:

  • Park Lane Centre (Telford) - £7,000+ for wellbeing packs supporting 2,180 local families
  • Shrewsbury Food Hub - £10,000+ to support work across local communities
  • Derwen College - £1,000 to convert classroom into charity shop providing work experience for young people with learning disabilities

Strategic Alignment

  • Grassroots focus - The foundation explicitly prioritises smaller, grassroots organisations over larger national charities
  • Local impact - Demonstrate clear benefit to Staffordshire or Shropshire communities
  • Sustainable projects - The foundation uses endowment models to provide ongoing funding
  • Collaborative approach - Works with local authorities, SMEs, national charities, and other Community Foundations

Language and Terminology

The foundation emphasises:

  • “Supporting our communities”
  • “Making giving quick, easy and cost effective”
  • “Transforming lives”
  • “Grassroots groups”
  • “Community cohesion”
  • “Breaking down barriers”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Prioritise grassroots credentials - The foundation explicitly favours smaller organisations that struggle to access other funding sources. Emphasise your organisation's local, community-based nature.
  1. Use pre-application support - The foundation actively encourages contact before applying. Take advantage of this - call 01785 339540 or email to discuss your project and get guidance on the best scheme to apply to.
  1. Read specific scheme criteria carefully - With multiple grant programmes available, each has distinct criteria and priorities. Don't apply generically - tailor your application to the specific scheme's aims.
  1. Prepare documentation in advance - Have your governing documents, recent accounts, bank statements, and safeguarding policies ready. Missing documents will put your application on hold or result in cancellation after three months.
  1. Apply to place-based funds when eligible - If your project serves a specific geographic area with a “We Love” fund, this may offer a more targeted route with potentially higher success rates.
  1. Demonstrate local impact clearly - Show how your project benefits specific communities within Staffordshire or Shropshire. Use local data and evidence where possible.
  1. Consider multiple funding routes - The foundation administers grants from various sources. One rejected application doesn't preclude success with another scheme. However, remember the two-application limit.

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References