Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Community Foundation

Quick Stats

• Founded: 2002 (registered charity 2003)
• Endowment Fund: £12.7-15 million
• Annual Giving: £1.9 million (2022)
• Total Distributed: £8.8 million to 3,000+ projects
• Decision Time: 8-10 weeks after deadline
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £10,000 (typically £1,000 - £5,000)
• Success Rate: 15% (Including Communities programme)
• Geographic Focus: Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton, Isle of Wight

Contact Details

Website: www.hiwcf.org.uk

Email: grantsadmin@hiwcf.com / info@hiwcf.com

Phone: 01962 798700 (ask for Grants Team)

For grant application support, contact the Grants Team directly during the application process.

Overview

Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Community Foundation (HIWCF) was established in 2002 and became a registered charity in 2003. Over 20 years, it has built an endowment fund of £12.7-15 million, distributing £8.8 million in grants to over 3,000 community projects. In 2022 alone, HIWCF distributed approximately £1.9 million, with £1.3 million focused on poverty reduction. The foundation is an independent charitable organisation specialising in building funds and awarding grants on behalf of donors to support smaller charities, community groups, and voluntary organisations. HIWCF focuses on six priority areas: helping communities flourish, health and wellbeing, crime and safety, environment, poverty and inequality, and employment and skills. The foundation is presided over by the Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire and overseen by a board of trustees with extensive corporate and charitable sector experience.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Including Communities Fund

• Amount: £1,000 - £10,000 (12-month grants)
• Target: Grassroots organisations with income under £1 million (priority for those under £100,000)
• Application Method: Fixed deadline (typically advertised for at least one month)
• Recent Statistics: High competition with approximately 15% success rate in recent rounds

General Grant Programmes

• Typical Range: £1,000 - £5,000
• Application Method: Annual calendar of themed programmes, rolling throughout year
• Coverage: Staff/volunteer costs, activity costs, small equipment, proportionate core costs

Priority Areas

1. Poverty and Inequality - Work reaching people living hard and challenging lives, facing discrimination or isolation
2. Employment and Skills - Employability programmes (received over £800,000 in 2022, the highest level of funding)
3. Communities Flourishing - Support groups, social action projects, volunteering initiatives that regularly bring community members together
4. Health and Wellbeing - Physical activity, sports, and wellness programmes
5. Environment - Community-based environmental projects
6. Crime and Safety - Support for veterans and community safety initiatives

Key Requirement: Projects must show how the target community helped shape the work through consultation, volunteering, or leadership.

What They Don't Fund

• Organisations that redistribute funding for grant-making to others
• Single religious or ethnic groups promoting their own values (will consider if supporting wider community)
• Political or military groups/activities (though may support veteran support organisations)
• Capital appeals for building projects (e.g., rebuilding community centres, heritage centres, visitor centres, museums, theatres, places of worship)
• One-to-one support work (for Including Communities programme)
• Organisations without proper governance (must have constitution, management committee of 3+ unrelated people, appropriate bank account)

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Governance and Leadership

Presidents

• Lord-Lieutenant Nigel Atkinson - President, former Royal Green Jackets officer
• Lord-Lieutenant Susie Sheldon - President of Isle of Wight Community Fund

Chair of Trustees

• Amelia Riviere - Chair of Trustees (appointed December 2024), former High Sheriff of Hampshire

Leadership Team

• Jacqui Scott - CEO (appointed September 2021), 20+ years in nonprofit fundraising

Leadership Quotes

Jacqui Scott, CEO, on reaching communities: "To reach the 'hardest to reach' groups, HIWCF needs to understand what makes them hard to reach."

On demand: “We have effectively been asked for more than our full year of grant funds available – across all funding programmes – on this one grant programme alone... the sea of demand out there in our communities is overwhelming.”

On employment: “Decent employment can transform lives, households, and whole communities.”

On donor impact: “Donating to HIWCF means you can directly strengthen communities.”

How to Apply to Hampshire And The Isle Of Wight Community Foundation

How to Apply

1. Supporting Documents: Upload electronically or email to grantsadmin@hiwcf.com with reference number
2. Confirmation: Automatic email with PDF copy upon submission

Required Documents (must be up-to-date):

• Constitution or governance document
• Bank details for account with 2+ unrelated signatories
• Evidence of management committee/board of at least 3 unrelated people
• Programme-specific documents (varies by fund)

Assistance Available: Contact 01962 798700 for help with online form completion

Decision Timeline

1. Application Period: Programmes typically advertised for at least 1 month
2. Initial Screening: Checks core criteria and programme criteria; unsuccessful applications notified at this stage
3. Assessment: Conducted by Grants Team or External Assessors (may contact for additional details)
4. Grants Panel: Final decisions made by panel of community funding experts and fund donors
5. Decision Time: 8-10 weeks after deadline
6. Notification: Email with grant offer letter
7. Payment: Typically 2 weeks after approval (can vary)

Success Rates

• Including Communities: Approximately 15% success rate in recent rounds
• Overall: “Can often fund less than half the grant applications” received
• Recent Challenge: Demand has significantly outstripped supply on Including Communities fund

Reapplication Policy

• Cannot make multiple applications to the same grant programme simultaneously
• Can hold an existing HIWCF grant and apply for additional grants from different programmes
• Can apply to multiple different grant programmes at the same time
• Must submit Grant Feedback and Learning Form from previous grants before new grants approved
• Need full set of supporting documents with each application (requirements vary by programme)
• No specified waiting period mentioned for reapplying after unsuccessful application

Application Success Factors

What HIWCF Looks For in Strong Applications

1. Clear Needs Explanation: Demonstrate why the people targeted by your project need support (your “chosen community”)
2. Activity Plan Alignment: Clear plan relating directly to grant programme criteria
3. Impact Demonstration: Clear explanation of how activities will create positive changes
4. Community-Shaped Design: Activities shaped by the target community through consultation, volunteering, or leadership
5. Realistic Budget: Clear, detailed budget showing exactly how grant will be used
6. Appropriate Reserves: Level of unrestricted reserves appropriate for your organisation size

Practical Tips from HIWCF

• Create an organisational folder with up-to-date documents frequently requested by funders
• Attend HIWCF webinars for specific grant programmes
• Contact Grants Team with questions during application process
• Review FAQs from previous applicants
• Respond promptly if assessors contact you for additional information
• Prepare referee contact if requested
• Ensure previous grant monitoring forms are submitted

Organisations They Fund

Example: The Nature Nurture Project - Andover Trees United received funding for work with young carers at Harmony Woods, connecting young people with nature through outdoor activities.

Language and Terminology

• “Grassroots organisations” - smaller community groups
• “Chosen community” - target beneficiaries
• “Flourishing communities” - thriving, connected communities
• “Hard and challenging lives” - people experiencing poverty, discrimination, or isolation
• Focus on “transformation,” “strengthening communities,” and “community togetherness”

Red Flags to Avoid

• Applications without community involvement in design
• Unclear or inflated budgets
• Missing or outdated supporting documents
• Organisations with unsubmitted monitoring forms from previous grants
• Work that doesn't align with priority areas
• Projects promoting single group values rather than supporting wider community

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Competition is Intense: With only 15% success rates and demand significantly outstripping supply, applications must be exceptionally strong and clearly aligned with priorities.

1. Community Co-Design is Critical: You must demonstrate that your target community helped shape the work - this is non-negotiable for most programmes. Include specific examples of consultation, volunteering, or community leadership.

1. Focus on Poverty and Employment: The foundation prioritised poverty reduction (£1.3m of £1.9m in 2022) and employment programmes (£800k+). Frame your work in these contexts where relevant.

1. Target Grassroots Organisations: Priority given to smaller organisations (under £1m income, especially under £100k). Emphasise your grassroots nature and local connections.

1. Budget Clarity is Essential: With limited funds and high demand, panels scrutinise budgets carefully. Be realistic, detailed, and show exactly how each pound creates impact.

1. Build Relationships: Contact the Grants Team early, attend webinars, and maintain dialogue. HIWCF values open communication and wants to understand organisations they don't yet know.

1. Complete All Reporting: Previous grant recipients must submit monitoring forms before new grants are approved. Demonstrate you're a reliable partner.

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Isle Of Wight Foundation
• Greenham Trust Ltd
• Hays Travel Foundation
• Heathrow Community Trust
• Farnham Lions Club (cio)
• Oxfordshire Community Foundation
• The Shanly Foundation
• The Eight Foundation
• The Serco Foundation
• The Colyer-fergusson Charitable Trust

References

1. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation website - Homepage and About Us. Available at: https://hiwcf.org.uk/ []

1. HIWCF - Grants Information. Available at: https://hiwcf.org.uk/grants/ []

1. HIWCF - Frequently Asked Questions. Available at: https://hiwcf.org.uk/faqs/ []

1. HIWCF - Application Guidance. Available at: https://www.hiwcf.org.uk/grants/application-guidance/ []

1. HIWCF - Our People (Leadership and Trustees). Available at: https://hiwcf.org.uk/our-people/ []

1. HIWCF - Including Communities Programme. Available at: https://hiwcf.org.uk/including-communities-2025/ []

1. On the Wight (2022) “Community Foundation injects £1.9 million to boost Hampshire and Isle of Wight Communities.” Available at: https://onthewight.com/community-foundation-injects-1-9-million-to-boost-hampshire-and-isle-of-wight-communities/ []

1. Action Hampshire (2024) “HIWCF - Including Communities Fund.” Available at: https://actionhampshire.org.uk/deadline-2024-10-01-hiwcf-including-communities-fund/ []

1. Portsmouth News (2024) "Hampshire & Isle of Wight non-profits face critical funding shortfall as demand for grants outstrips supply by 88%." Available at: https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/community/hampshire-isle-of-wight-non-profits-face-critical-funding-shortfall-as-demand-for-grants-outstrips-supply-by-88-5344023 []

1. Charity Commission - HAMPSHIRE AND THE ISLE OF WIGHT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION. Charity Number: 1100417. Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/4003801 []

1. HIWCF CEO Blog posts and media coverage featuring quotes from Jacqui Scott regarding funding priorities and strategy (2021-2024)