County Of Gloucestershire Community Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £866,000 - £978,000 (recent years)
• Success Rate: 40-50% of applications supported
• Decision Time: 8-10 weeks (most programmes)
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £10,000 (Main Grants Programme: £1,000-£5,000; High Sheriff Programme: up to £2,500; Poverty Hurts: up to £2,500)
• Geographic Focus: Gloucestershire (including South Gloucestershire for some programmes)

Contact Details

Address: The Manor, Boddington, Cheltenham, GL51 0TJ

Phone: 01242 851 357 / 07557 478855

Email: ceo@gloucestershirecf.org.uk

Website: www.gloucestershirecf.org.uk

Grants Manager: Sarah Sharma - grantsmanager@gloucestershirecf.org.uk, 07444 124390

For pre-application enquiries, the foundation encourages contact before applying to discuss eligibility.

Overview

Established in 1989, the County of Gloucestershire Community Foundation (charity 900239) is one of 47 Community Foundations in the UK, with a vision for Gloucestershire to be “a place where people and communities are empowered to be resilient and strong.” Over the past three years, they awarded £2,200,000 to over 340 community groups and organisations. Most recently (2022-2023), they awarded £978,000 through 320 grants to 200 charities, supporting 140,000 beneficiaries. The foundation achieved an overall A rating in the Foundation Practice Rating 2024, demonstrating excellence in accountability, diversity and transparency. During the 2020 pandemic, they made history by quadrupling their usual output from £300K to £1.2 million annually, delivering over 300 grants and supporting more than 205,000 people—their largest response since founding.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Main Grants Programme: £1,000 - £5,000 (online application, fixed deadlines - three rounds per year, 2026 deadlines to be published)

High Sheriff of Gloucestershire Grants Programme: Up to £2,500 (supports youth activities that deter anti-social behaviour and build confidence; includes South Gloucestershire; three rounds per year, 2026 deadlines to be published)

Poverty Hurts Fund: Up to £2,500 (currently paused until further funds available; supports vulnerable people affected by cost-of-living increases)

All programmes use a two-stage application process: Expression of Interest followed by full application if invited.

Priority Areas

GCF prioritizes supporting people facing disadvantage due to:

• Poverty (including homelessness, food insecurity, fuel poverty)
• Disability
• Health inequalities
• Age (both elderly and young people)
• Ethnicity
• Education levels
• Location (rural isolation)

Priority Projects Include:

• Projects that add value to existing community provision
• Activities enabling people to take up opportunities otherwise unavailable
• Initiatives engaging local volunteers with communities
• Partnerships with other local organisations
• Projects demonstrating imagination and creative fundraising
• Employment, education and training initiatives
• Strengthening families and communities
• Improving access to benefits
• Food provision and hot meals
• Heating and energy cost assistance
• Reducing isolation and loneliness

The foundation will support project costs, organisational running costs, salaries and some smaller capital costs such as equipment. Their preference is for unrestricted funding, and they are open to funding over two years with a maximum of £10,000 per organisation per year.

What They Don't Fund

• Applications from individuals (though can fund organisations that distribute to individuals)
• Organisations with fewer than 3 unrelated trustees or directors
• Organisations with more than 12 months operating costs in reserves
• General appeals
• Statutory organisations or direct replacement of statutory funding
• Political groups or activities promoting political beliefs
• Religious groups promoting religious beliefs
• Projects that take place before an application can be processed
• Activities intended to raise funds for other organisations
• Capital building and renovation projects (panel decision for foreseeable future)

As a general rule, they do not fund local authorities, town councils, housing associations and schools, though may consider applications under particular pre-agreed circumstances when such organisations are best placed to support their local community.

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Governance and Leadership

Board Leadership

Dame Janet Trotter OBE DBE CVO - President

Former Vice-Chancellor of University of Gloucestershire, former chair of Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (2002-2010). Awarded OBE in 1991, DBE in 2001, and served as Lord-Lieutenant of Gloucestershire from 2006-2018.

Henry Robinson - Chair of Trustees

Cotswolds farmer, trustee of three large estates, Deputy Lieutenant for Gloucestershire since 2005, High Sheriff of Gloucestershire 2023-2024. Chairs the Finance & Investment Committee.

Executive Team

Talitha Nelson MBA - CEO

25+ years in senior business roles, co-founded three companies, with background in retail (Karen Millen), hospitality, and luxury interiors. On her role: “I have found my calling, I have found a guilt free job, surrounded by people who really care.” On poverty: "Charities all over Gloucestershire are coming to us for vital funding to help people who need it urgently. It's essential that we raise the funds to help them. We can't let them down; we must ensure that people's basic needs around heating and eating are met in the face of poverty."

Sarah Sharma - Grants Manager

20+ years in charity sector with expertise in prospect research and trust & grant fundraising. On her approach: “Flexibility, accessibility, trust, transparency and kindness are key to the way I like to work.”

Sarah Crispin - Finance Manager

20+ years in charity finance, previously with major bank and construction industry.

Lucy Pollock - Project and Operations Manager

15+ years in charity sector, previously managed international development charity in Zambia.

Talitha Nelson emphasizes collaboration: “The crisis brought people, businesses, funders and charities together to fight a common enemy and serve community needs, and I believe this experience will change the face of the sector from silo thinking to collaboration.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

GCF uses a two-stage application process:

Stage 1: Expression of Interest

Submit an Expression of Interest form anytime before the application deadline. The earlier you contact them, the more time you'll have for Stage 2 if invited. The Grants Manager reviews all expressions of interest.

Stage 2: Full Application

If your application aligns with their priorities, they'll email you a link to the second-stage application form with programme details and deadlines. If they decide to take an application forward, they will arrange an informal virtual meeting or phone call and send a list of discussion areas so you can prepare beforehand.

Required Documents:

• Constitution/governing document
• Recent annual accounts or financial records
• Safeguarding policy (if working with vulnerable groups)
• Bank account evidence (upon approval)

Applications must be submitted online through their website portal.

Decision Timeline

• Smaller grants (up to £2,000): Decision within 2 months
• Larger grants (£2,000-£10,000 or multi-year grants): 3-6 months
• Most programmes: 8-10 weeks depending on application date

Each of their three grants programmes meets three times a year. The foundation is strict with deadlines due to high volume of applications.

Success Rates

The foundation reports supporting 40-50% of applications annually. Due to high demand, they sometimes offer partial grants rather than the full amount requested.

Over 340 community groups received funding over a three-year period, with 320 grants awarded in 2022-2023 alone.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication for unsuccessful applicants is not explicitly stated in public materials. Contact the Grants Manager at grantsmanager@gloucestershirecf.org.uk to discuss eligibility if previously unsuccessful.

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Foundation

The Grants Manager, Sarah Sharma, states: “Flexibility, accessibility, trust, transparency and kindness are key to the way I like to work.” This reflects their approach to working with applicants.

Key Success Factors:

• Early contact: Submit Expression of Interest well before deadlines to allow maximum time for Stage 2 if invited
• Community connection: Demonstrate strong understanding of beneficiary needs and community partnerships
• Clear impact: Show how projects “reflect the concerns and priorities of the target beneficiaries”
• Added value: Explain how your project complements rather than duplicates existing provision
• Volunteer engagement: Highlight how local volunteers will be involved
• Diverse fundraising: Show creative approaches to securing funds from multiple sources
• Realistic budgets: Be specific about costs and demonstrate value for money

Examples of Recently Funded Projects

Priors Park Neighbourhood Project - Received core funding support, particularly during periods of low reserves. Organized community engagement activities including pottery workshops.

Cotswold Friends, Moreton-in-Marsh - Received continued support for work with older people in North Cotswolds.

Allsorts, Stroud - Received Covid emergency funding, praised the “smooth and quick process.”

Language and Terminology

The foundation uses terms that emphasize:

• “Empowerment” and “resilience”
• “Community-led” initiatives
• “Disadvantage” and “inequality” rather than charity language
• “Partnerships” and “collaboration”
• “Added value” to existing services
• “Fulfilling lives” as the goal

Common Reasons for Rejection

Based on eligibility criteria, applications likely fail when:

• Organization has fewer than 3 trustees
• Reserves exceed 12 months operating costs
• Request is for capital building/renovation projects
• Project doesn't clearly benefit disadvantaged communities
• Beneficiaries are outside Gloucestershire
• Application requests funding for activities already started or completed

Tips for Standing Out

1. Be specific about impact: Don't just describe activities; explain how they address specific disadvantages
2. Emphasize partnerships: Show you're working collaboratively with other local organizations
3. Demonstrate community voice: Evidence that beneficiaries have shaped the project design
4. Show sustainability thinking: Even for one-off projects, demonstrate how benefits will continue
5. Address multiple priorities: Where possible, show how your work tackles intersecting disadvantages (e.g., poverty + isolation + age)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• High competition, but reasonable odds: With 40-50% success rate, applications are competitive but achievable with strong alignment. The foundation awards partial grants when demand is high, so be prepared to deliver on reduced budgets.

• Two-stage process reduces wasted effort: The Expression of Interest stage allows the Grants Manager to filter early, so you won't invest time on a full application unless there's genuine potential. Submit expressions early to maximize time for Stage 2.

• People over process: The foundation values personal relationships and offers informal meetings to discuss applications. Take advantage of this accessibility—their approach emphasizes “flexibility, trust, transparency and kindness.”

• Geographic focus is strict: Must be based and working in Gloucestershire. Don't apply if your beneficiaries are outside the county, though South Gloucestershire is eligible for some programmes.

• Think beyond capital projects: The panel has decided not to fund building/renovation projects for the foreseeable future. Focus applications on running costs, salaries, equipment, and project delivery.

• Demonstrate disadvantage clearly: The foundation focuses on people facing poverty, disability, health inequalities, age-related challenges, ethnicity, education barriers, or location isolation. Be explicit about which disadvantages your beneficiaries face and how your project addresses them.

• Small grants with big ambitions: Grants are relatively modest (£1,000-£5,000 typically), but the foundation values projects that “make a big difference”—emphasize impact per pound and community leverage of resources.

References

1. County of Gloucestershire Community Foundation website, www.gloucestershirecf.org.uk
2. “Main Grants Programme,” Gloucestershire Community Foundation, https://gloucestershirecf.org.uk/grant/main-grants-programme/
3. “Meet the Team,” Gloucestershire Community Foundation, https://gloucestershirecf.org.uk/meet-the-team/
4. “Our Impact,” Gloucestershire Community Foundation, https://gloucestershirecf.org.uk/our-impact/
5. “Poverty Hurts Fund,” Gloucestershire Community Foundation, https://gloucestershirecf.org.uk/grant/poverty-hurts-fund/
6. “High Sheriff of Gloucestershire Grants Programme,” Gloucestershire Community Foundation, https://gloucestershirecf.org.uk/grant/high-sheriff-of-gloucestershire-grants-programme/
7. Charity Commission Register, “County of Gloucestershire Community Foundation (900239),” https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=900239
8. “Leading a community foundation through a pandemic, Talitha Nelson CEO GCF,” Purposely Podcast, https://www.purposelypodcast.com/post/leading-a-community-foundation-through-a-pandemic-talitha-nelson-ceo-gcf
9. “Gloucestershire Community Foundation Keep up the fight against poverty,” Punchline Gloucester, https://www.punchline-gloucester.com/articles/aanews/gloucestershire-community-foundation-keep-up-the-fight-against-poverty
10. “Meet the Funder - Gloucestershire Community Foundation,” Get Grants, https://www.getgrants.org.uk/meet-the-funder-gloucestershire-community-foundation/
11. “Foundation Practice Rating 2024 report,” UK Community Foundations, https://www.ukcommunityfoundations.org/news/foundation-practice-rating-2024-report
12. Gloucestershire Community Foundation LinkedIn profile, https://uk.linkedin.com/company/gloucestershire-community-foundation