Essex Community Foundation

Charity Number: 1052061

Annual Expenditure: £4.6M
Essex

Contact Info

Website: www.essexcommunityfoundation.org.uk

Phone: 01245 355947

Email: hello@essexcf.org.uk

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £3.7-4.5 million
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: 2 months
  • Grant Range: £500 - £30,000 (typically £3,500-£7,000)
  • Geographic Focus: Essex, Southend, and Thurrock, UK

Contact Details

Website: www.essexcommunityfoundation.org.uk

Email: hello@essexcf.org.uk

Grants Team: grants@essexcf.org.uk

Phone: 01245 355947

The friendly grants team is available to help with questions or to discuss ideas before applying.

Overview

Essex Community Foundation is an independent charitable trust founded in 1996, registered with the UK Charity Commission (charity number 1052061). With an endowed fund of nearly £50 million, the Foundation has awarded over £60 million across more than 10,000 grants to community-based voluntary organizations in Essex, Southend, and Thurrock since its inception. Led by Chief Executive Caroline Taylor since 2016, ECF currently manages over 200 individually named funds, working with individuals, families, businesses, charitable trusts, and public agencies to match local needs with local resources. In 2024, the Foundation launched its 2030 Strategy focused on three pillars: Sustainability (increased core and multi-year funding), Recognition (championing the voluntary sector as a key delivery partner), and Investment (unlocking innovation and systemic change). The Foundation distributes £3.7-4.5 million annually, with around 400 people involved in grantmaking decisions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Essex Community Foundation manages over 200 named funds with varying criteria, amounts, and purposes. Key programs include:

  • The Essex Fund: Up to £5,000 for core costs, project expenses, or capital items (rolling basis, online application)
  • Small Grants: £500-£2,500 for grassroots projects (rolling basis)
  • Multi-Year Grants: Up to £30,000 over three years for established organizations (application windows vary)
  • Braintree District and Eastlight Community Fund: Supports local community projects
  • Proceeds of Crime Matched Funding Scheme: £75,000 annually from Essex Police (unique UK scheme established 2014)
  • Stour Valley Environment Fund: Environmental enhancement projects in Stour Valley, Essex and Suffolk

Application Method: Rolling basis throughout the year via online portal at essexcommunityfoundation.org.uk. The grants team matches applications to appropriate funds from their portfolio.

Average Grant: £3,500-£7,000, though applicants are encouraged to apply for what they genuinely need.

Priority Areas

Based on ECF's 2030 Strategy and current funding themes, priority areas include:

  1. Young People: Activities, arts, culture, heritage projects, and youth development
  2. Unpaid Carers: Support services and respite for unpaid carers
  3. Cost of Living Crisis: Food banks, baby banks, essential needs support
  4. Environment: Environmental enhancement, climate action, education, and engagement
  5. Community Resources: Facilities and activities that strengthen community connections
  6. Loneliness and Social Isolation: Programs combating isolation, particularly for vulnerable groups
  7. Mental Health and Wellbeing: Counseling, support services, and mental health initiatives
  8. Skills and Employment: Training for disadvantaged groups, including domestic abuse survivors
  9. Poverty Alleviation: Support for families and children living in deprivation
  10. Refugee and Migrant Support: Integration and essential support services

Geographic Focus: Particularly interested in supporting smaller organizations working in areas of deprivation where there is a lack of facilities.

What They Don't Fund

  • Statutory organizations: Schools or councils in the discharge of their statutory obligations (though PTAs set up as charities may apply)
  • Retrospective funding: Activities that have already taken place
  • Organizations without proper governance structure (minimum three unrelated committee members required)

Governance and Leadership

Chief Executive

Caroline Taylor – Chief Executive since January 2016, having worked at ECF since 2004. Responsible for day-to-day management, growth, and development of the Foundation. Holds a master's degree in Philanthropy, Social Investment and Grantmaking from Cass Business School and a bachelor's degree in Communications. Also serves as a Trustee of Friends Provident Foundation.

Senior Staff

Andy – Grants and Policy Director. Over 25 years' experience in charitable, public, and private sectors delivering mental health services, community engagement, and service improvement. Responsible for grantmaking, public policy, and working with voluntary sector partners.

Catherine – Finance and Operations Director. Leads on finances, investments, financial reporting, compliance, and HR functions. Services the Finance & Investment and Audit & Risk Committees.

Perry – Philanthropy and Partnerships Director. Introduces the Foundation's work to individuals, companies, and professional advisers. Previously headed Corporate Fundraising team at Lord's Taverners for five years.

Caroline (Grants Manager) – Holds a master's degree in Philanthropy, Social Investment and Grantmaking from Cass Business School.

Zoe – Grants Officer. Delivers all aspects of grantmaking, advises potential applicants, and assesses applications.

Board of Trustees

The Board includes members with diverse expertise:

  • Tim – Partner at Birkett Long LLP, specializes in not-for-profit organizations and charities
  • David – 30+ years in financial services across Europe, US, and Asia
  • Soumya (Mya) – Young Trustee, recent Mathematics graduate from Warwick University, quantitative trader
  • Atul – Experienced COO/CFO, chartered accountant with 30-year career in investment management
  • Ben – Portfolio Manager at Cazenove Capital, specializes in charity investments

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Check Eligibility: Complete the online eligibility quiz or contact the grants team
  2. Complete Application: Short online form at www.essexcommunityfoundation.org.uk/applying-for-support
  3. Matching Process: The grants team reviews your application and matches it to appropriate funds from their portfolio of 200+ funds
  4. Additional Information: The team may request further information or clarification
  5. Decision: Panel reviews application (most funds involve grant committees, some conduct site visits)
  6. Notification: Applicants notified via email
  7. Reporting: Successful grantees must submit a final report on grant impact

Pre-Application Support: Strongly encouraged. Contact grants@essexcf.org.uk or call 01245 355947 to discuss your idea before applying.

Decision Timeline

  • Standard Timeline: 2 months from application submission to decision
  • Processing: Rolling basis throughout the year
  • Applications are matched to appropriate funds, which may have different decision cycles
  • Grant committees meet at scheduled intervals; timing depends on which fund(s) you're matched to

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly available. However, the Foundation:

  • Awards over 10,000 grants since 1996
  • Distributes £3.7-4.5 million annually across hundreds of organizations
  • Manages 200+ funds with varying criteria
  • Works with approximately 400 decision-makers in the grantmaking process

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policy not explicitly stated but applications accepted on rolling basis. Organizations are encouraged to contact the grants team to discuss future applications.

Application Success Factors

Specific Advice from Essex Community Foundation

From the Foundation's guidance: “The panel are particularly interested in supporting smaller voluntary organisations and projects that are working in areas of deprivation where there is a lack of facilities.”

Application Tips:

  • Contact the grants team before applying – they're described as “friendly” and available to help
  • Be clear about genuine need – “applicants are encouraged to apply for what they need”
  • Demonstrate work in areas of high deprivation where possible
  • Show how your work addresses current priorities (cost of living, young people, carers, environment, community connection)
  • Provide evidence of community need and your organization's ability to address it
  • Ensure governance is sound (minimum three unrelated committee members)

Recently Funded Projects (Examples)

Poverty and Essential Needs:

  • Harwich Hive: Baby and hygiene bank in area where 24% of children live in poverty
  • Southend Foodbank: Supporting families in area where 20.6% of children live in poverty
  • South Essex Community Hub: Supported 5,058 people, 63% from high deprivation areas

Skills and Employment:

  • Abberton Rural Training: Women-only rural skills training for domestic abuse survivors to build confidence and employability

Mental Health:

  • BCCS: One-to-one counselling for children and families in schools across Essex (funded counsellor salary)

Refugee Support:

  • Barnardo's: Support for 420 Afghan refugee family members in temporary accommodation, providing technology, educational resources, clothing, and essentials

Environmental Education:

  • Daws Hall Trust: Centre for Environmental Education hosting 1,700+ children annually at nature reserve

Health and Nutrition:

  • BDA Let's Get Cooking: School and community-based cooking clubs across Essex

Disability Support:

  • Barrow Farm Riding for the Disabled: Riding and carriage driving for 120 disabled children and adults weekly (project coordinator salary)

Language and Terminology

Essex Community Foundation uses accessible, community-focused language:

  • “Strong, generous communities”
  • “Enhance the quality of local life”
  • “Inspire philanthropy”
  • “Matching people, ideas, resources and needs”
  • “Making a lasting difference”
  • “Tackling local issues”

Focus on community benefit, local impact, addressing deprivation, and collaboration.

Standing Out

  • Demonstrate local knowledge: Show deep understanding of Essex communities and specific challenges
  • Work in deprived areas: Prioritize support for underserved communities
  • Multi-year thinking: The Foundation is moving toward core and multi-year funding – demonstrate sustainability
  • Partnership approach: Show willingness to collaborate with other organizations
  • Evidence of impact: Be prepared to report on outcomes
  • Core costs welcome: The Foundation explicitly supports core/operating costs, not just projects
  • Smaller organizations encouraged: Don't be discouraged if you're a small grassroots group

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Pre-application contact is encouraged – The grants team actively wants to help you find the right fund. Use this resource to strengthen your application and ensure good fit.
  1. Rolling applications with flexible matching – No deadline pressure, but be aware decisions typically take 2 months. Your application may be matched to multiple funds.
  1. Deprivation and small organizations prioritized – If you're a smaller grassroots organization working in areas of high deprivation, you're in the sweet spot for ECF funding.
  1. Core costs are fundable – Unlike many funders, ECF explicitly supports core and operating costs, not just projects. Don't hesitate to apply for salaries, rent, and running costs.
  1. 2030 Strategy emphasizes sustainability – Multi-year and core funding are strategic priorities. Frame your work in terms of long-term community impact and organizational sustainability.
  1. Diverse funding portfolio – With 200+ funds managed, there are many potential matches. Don't self-reject – let the grants team find the right fund(s) for your work.
  1. Community priorities align with current crises – Applications addressing cost of living, young people's opportunities, unpaid carers, mental health, and environmental issues are well-aligned with current strategy.

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References