Coventry Building Society Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £475,000 - £539,000 (based on 2023-2024 expenditure)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Applications assessed at least 4 times per year (approximately every 3 months)
• Grant Range: £100 - £10,000
• Geographic Focus: Coventry and Warwickshire only
• Registered Charity Number: 1072244

Contact Details

Foundation Address:

Coventry Building Society Charitable Foundation

Coventry House, Binley Business Park

Harry Weston Road

Coventry, CV3 2TQ

Phone: 0800 121 8899

Applications Managed Through:

Heart of England Community Foundation

C/O Stellantis, Pinley House

2 Sunbeam Way

Coventry, West Midlands CV3 1ND

Phone: 024 77800 520

Email: info@heartofenglandcf.co.uk

Website: https://www.heartofenglandcf.co.uk/coventry-building-society-small-grants/

Operating Hours:

• Monday – Thursday: 9:00 – 17:00
• Friday: 9:00 – 16:00

Overview

Founded in 1998, the Coventry Building Society Charitable Foundation is a grant-making charity that supports small charities and community projects across Coventry and Warwickshire. With annual expenditure ranging from £475,000 to £539,000 (2023-2024), the Foundation makes donations exclusively to registered charities and constituted voluntary and community groups based or active within its geographic area. The Foundation's stated purpose is “giving our city and our communities the power to be better off through life,” with particular emphasis on groups aimed at improving quality of life and opportunity among those who are disadvantaged or deprived. All grants are administered through the Heart of England Community Foundation, which was selected for its wealth of experience in the region. In November 2024, Coventry Building Society announced a significant £1.2 million donation to support the city's communities, demonstrating the Foundation's ongoing commitment to local causes.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Grants Programme (Currently Open)

• Amount: Up to £2,000
• Application Method: Rolling basis via online form
• Focus: Better Connections – addressing isolation and vulnerability

Large Grants Programme

• Amount: Up to £10,000
• Status: Applications currently closed, but programme exists
• Focus: Better Connections – addressing isolation and vulnerability

All grants must be spent within one year of award.

Priority Areas

The Foundation supports three strategic themes:

Better Connections (Current Focus)

• Friendship groups and activities combating loneliness
• Projects addressing social isolation
• Community activities for vulnerable individuals
• Support for elderly people facing isolation

Better Futures

• Youth development and social mobility initiatives
• Educational support, particularly literacy and numeracy
• Raising aspirations among young people
• Projects supporting young people facing homelessness

Better Foundations

• Access to housing support
• Debt advice and financial inclusion
• Support for communities affected by disadvantage and deprivation
• Cost of living support initiatives

Recent funded projects include over £415,000 for schools and youth charities, £225,000 to Coventry Citizens Advice, £250,000 to Coventry Youth Hub, support for foodbanks and social supermarkets, and grants to organizations like Mizizi Boys Mentorship and Bedworth Disabled Swimming Club.

What They Don't Fund

• Animal welfare projects (unless they directly benefit people, e.g., disabled riding schemes)
• Political activities
• Religious promotion
• Individual grants
• Medical research
• Sports groups without clear community benefit
• Statutory bodies without demonstrating wider community impact
• Organizations with annual income over £250,000

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Kevin Purvey - Trustee (Appointed 17 June 2022)

Matthew John Mannings - Trustee (Appointed 28 June 2021)

Tina Jones - Trustee (Appointed 08 November 2019)

The trustees receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity, in line with the governing document.

Key Personnel

Anna Cuskin - Corporate Responsibility Manager at Coventry Building Society, who oversees the Foundation's work and partnership with Heart of England Community Foundation.

Anna Cuskin has stated: “We wanted our grants to be available to worthwhile projects in communities across our branch network” and emphasizes that “The grants awarded tend to be relatively small, usually less than £2,000, and are only given to groups with annual incomes of less than £250,000.”

How to Apply to Coventry Building Society Charitable Foundation

How to Apply

Applications for Coventry Building Society grants are managed through the Heart of England Community Foundation.

Small Grants (up to £2,000):

1. Read the Small Grants Fund Factsheet available on the Heart of England Community Foundation website
2. Review the Essential Information page for full eligibility requirements and what documentation you'll need
3. Complete the online application form at: https://www.tfaforms.com/5043198
4. Applications assessed on a rolling basis

Large Grants (up to £10,000):

Currently closed - check Heart of England Community Foundation website for reopening announcements.

Pre-Application Support:

The grants team welcomes contact before applications are submitted. They encourage potential applicants to speak with them about projects before beginning applications. Contact via phone (024 77800 520) or email (info@heartofenglandcf.co.uk).

Required Documentation

Applications must include:

• Written constitution, articles, or set of rules
• Bank statement from the last 3 months
• List of management committee members
• Recent financial accounts
• Equal opportunities policy
• Safeguarding policy
• Quotes for capital items over £300

Decision Timeline

• Applications are assessed at least four times per year (approximately quarterly)
• Small grants are notified on a rolling basis with quicker decision times
• Specific timelines vary by assessment cycle
• All applicants are notified of decisions

Reapplication Policy

Organizations cannot apply to the same programme within 12 months of receiving a previous grant. New organizations are limited to a maximum of two applications to Heart of England Community Foundation funds.

Application Success Factors

Key Alignment Factors:

1. Geographic Focus: Must be based in or actively working in Coventry or Warwickshire - this is non-negotiable. Priority given to projects in Coventry itself.

1. Income Threshold: Only organizations with annual income under £250,000 are eligible. This ensures grants reach smaller, grassroots organizations.

1. Community Themes: Projects must clearly address Better Connections (particularly isolation and vulnerability), Better Futures (youth and education), or Better Foundations (housing and financial inclusion).

1. Disadvantage and Deprivation: The Foundation prioritizes “groups or activities aimed at improving the quality of life and opportunity among those who are disadvantaged or deprived, the consequence of which may lead to social exclusion.”

Application Writing Tips:

Heart of England Community Foundation emphasizes: “Make your application as easy to read as possible - the people who are assessing your application may not have a lot of time or much knowledge of the work you do so being clear is key.”

• Provide detailed cost breakdowns, especially for capital items
• Demonstrate clear charitable purposes and defined social benefit
• Show how the project benefits the wider community, not just members
• For salary, equipment, or volunteer costs, ensure they are clearly budgeted and only used for the project
• Be specific about outcomes and how you'll measure impact
• Evidence the need in your community with data where possible

Organization Requirements:

• Must have been running for at least 1 year
• Maximum organizational income of £500,000 for general Heart of England grants (but £250,000 cap applies specifically for Coventry Building Society grants)
• Must have appropriate governance policies in place (safeguarding, equal opportunities)

Recent Funding Examples:

Successful 2024 grants included:

• Mizizi Boys Mentorship (Community Interest Company) - sport and leadership training for boys
• Bedworth Disabled Swimming Club - £1,000 for free weekly swimming sessions
• Primary and secondary schools for literacy and numeracy support
• Foodbanks and social supermarkets
• Age UK and support for elderly people
• Citizens Advice and Central England Law Centre for debt support

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Start with geographic eligibility: If you're not based in or working in Coventry or Warwickshire, you're not eligible - don't waste time applying.

• Small is beautiful: This funder specifically targets smaller organizations (under £250,000 income) with relatively small grants. If you're a large organization, look elsewhere.

• Isolation and vulnerability are current priorities: With the focus on “Better Connections,” projects addressing loneliness, isolation, and vulnerability in the community are most likely to succeed.

• Contact before applying: The grants team actively encourages pre-application contact and offers support. Take advantage of this - it could save you time and improve your application.

• Clarity wins: Keep your application simple and clear. Assessors may not know your sector well and have limited time to review applications.

• One-year timeframe: All grants must be spent within a year, so ensure your project timeline aligns with this requirement.

• Be patient but persistent: With quarterly assessments and rolling applications for small grants, you may wait several months for a decision. Plan your project timelines accordingly.

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Alan Edward Higgs Charity
• Heart Of England Community Foundation
• Stratford-upon-avon Town Trust
• The Saintbury Trust
• College Estate Endowment
• The Noel Sweeney Foundation
• The James Frederick And Ethel Anne Measures Charity
• The W P H Charitable Trust
• William Adlington Cadbury Charitable Trust
• The Eveson Trust

References

• Charity Commission Register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1072244
• Heart of England Community Foundation - Coventry Building Society Grants: https://www.heartofenglandcf.co.uk/coventry-building-society-small-grants/
• Heart of England Community Foundation - About Coventry Building Society: https://www.heartofenglandcf.org/the-coventry-building-society/
• Heart of England Community Foundation - Essential Information: https://www.heartofenglandcf.co.uk/essential-information/
• Heart of England Community Foundation - Contact Us: https://www.heartofenglandcf.co.uk/contact-us/
• The Coventry Observer: "Coventry Building Society donates £1.2million to support city's communities" November 2024: https://coventryobserver.co.uk/news/coventry-building-society-donates-1-2million-to-support-citys-communities/
• Charity Commission - Trustees: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/3955482/trustees
• Companies House - Company Information: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/03662832