Leeds Building Society Charitable Foundation

Charity Number: 1074429

Annual Expenditure: £0.3M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Income: ??407,000 (2024)
  • Annual Giving: ??340,000-??390,000
  • Success Rate: Approximately 10-15% (46 grants from estimated 300+ applications)
  • Decision Time: 8 weeks after quarterly trustee meeting
  • Grant Range: ??250 - ??100,000
  • Geographic Focus: Small grants nationwide; Large grants Yorkshire/North East only

Contact Details

Website: www.leedsbuildingsociety.co.uk/foundation

Email: foundation@leedsbuildingsociety.co.uk

Phone: 0113 225 2000

General Enquiries: 03300 081 604

The Foundation is happy to provide support at every step of the application process. If you're unsure how to proceed with your application, contact them via email.

Overview

The Leeds Building Society Charitable Foundation was established in 1999 and has since donated over ??2 million to more than 3,000 local projects and good causes across the UK. In July 2022, the Foundation underwent a strategic refocus, shifting from supporting people who were disadvantaged or in vulnerable circumstances to specifically supporting those in need of a safe and secure home. In 2023, the Foundation awarded ??339,486 in grants to 46 charities. The Foundation is funded by Leeds Building Society and through member donations via the “Your Interest in Theirs” scheme, which has raised over ??1 million since 2012. The Foundation operates independently with a board of eight volunteer trustees who review applications quarterly, ensuring focused and strategic grant-making aligned with housing and homelessness support.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Grants Programme: ??250 - ??1,000

  • Available to UK registered charities nationwide
  • Charity turnover must be less than ??1 million
  • Only funds capital expenditure (purchase of items to directly help those in need)
  • Does not contribute to running costs
  • Rolling application process with quarterly trustee meetings
  • Decisions within 8 weeks of quarterly meeting

Large Grants Programme: ??25,000 - ??100,000

  • Available only to charities based in Yorkshire and/or North East England
  • Charity turnover must be ??5 million or less
  • Can be awarded as one-year grant or split across two to three years
  • Funds core costs, project costs, and/or capital costs
  • Two-stage application process: first submit 300-word expression of interest by email
  • Four funding rounds per year

Priority Areas

Projects must support those in need of a safe and secure home and meet one or more of these criteria themes:

  1. Financial Stress - Supporting individuals facing housing-related financial difficulties
  2. Security and Refuge - Providing safe accommodation and refuge services
  3. Quality and Suitability of Housing - Improving housing standards and appropriateness
  4. Health and Wellbeing Support for Those Experiencing Homelessness - Wraparound support services

Preferred Approaches:

  • Housing First approaches
  • Relationship-based approaches
  • Strength-based practice
  • Trauma-informed care
  • Psychologically-informed environments

What They Don't Fund

  • Religious, military, or political projects
  • Overseas charities
  • Individual sponsorships
  • Animal welfare organizations
  • Medical research
  • Retrospective funding (costs already incurred)
  • Running costs for small grants
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Governance and Leadership

The Foundation is run independently by a board of eight trustees who serve on a voluntary basis without remuneration. The trustees review applications every three months at quarterly meetings. The Foundation operates as a company limited by guarantee (Company Number: 03724612) and is registered with the Charity Commission (Charity Number: 1074429).

While specific trustee names are not publicly prominent in Foundation communications, the independent governance structure ensures objective decision-making focused solely on the Foundation's charitable mission to support those in need of safe and secure housing.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Small Grants:

  • Apply online via the Foundation's website application form
  • Applications accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year
  • Submit complete application including details of capital items needed

Large Grants:

  • Two-stage process
  • Stage One: Email a 300-word expression of interest to foundation@leedsbuildingsociety.co.uk describing your organisation and funding request
  • Stage Two: If shortlisted, invited to submit full application

Decision Timeline

  • Trustees meet quarterly (four times per year) to review applications
  • Successful applicants notified within 8 weeks after the trustee meeting date
  • Unsuccessful applicants also notified but no feedback provided on unsuccessful applications
  • Grant recipients must complete an annual impact form to report on how funds were used

Success Rates

In 2023, the Foundation supported 46 charities with total grants of ??339,486. Based on the Foundation's income of approximately ??407,000 and the competitive nature of the programme, estimated success rates are around 10-15%. With quarterly meetings and limited funds, competition for grants is significant, particularly for large grants.

Reapplication Policy

The Foundation does not provide specific information about reapplication policies or waiting periods for unsuccessful applicants. Organisations considering reapplication should contact foundation@leedsbuildingsociety.co.uk for guidance. Since applications are reviewed quarterly, there are multiple opportunities throughout the year to apply or reapply.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Core Mission:

The 2022 strategic shift to housing and homelessness focus is critical. Applications must clearly demonstrate how they support people in need of a safe and secure home through one or more of the four criteria themes.

Preferred Methodologies:

The Foundation explicitly welcomes applications from organisations using Housing First and/or relationship-based approaches. Demonstrating evidence of strength-based practice, trauma-informed care, and psychologically-informed environments significantly strengthens applications.

Small Grants - Capital Focus:

For small grants, clearly specify capital items needed and how they will directly help beneficiaries. Avoid requesting running costs or staff expenses as these are explicitly excluded for small grants.

Geographic Considerations:

For large grants, organisations must be based in Yorkshire or North East England. Small grant applicants can be based anywhere in the UK.

Financial Thresholds:

Ensure your organisation meets turnover requirements: under ??1 million for small grants, under ??5 million for large grants.

Pre-Application Support:

The Foundation encourages applicants to seek support throughout the application process. Use the email contact to clarify questions before submitting.

Impact Reporting:

Be prepared to complete annual impact forms if successful. Applications should include clear plans for measuring and reporting impact.

Examples of Supported Work:

Historically, the Foundation has supported homelessness services, community centres for young and elderly people, skills training for young people with special needs, transport provision for physically disabled people, and recreational/educational opportunities for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Current grants focus specifically on housing-related interventions.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Strategic alignment is essential: Since July 2022 refocus, all grants must clearly address housing security and homelessness - demonstrate explicit connection to safe and secure housing needs
  • Capital vs. core costs distinction: Small grants fund only capital expenditure; large grants can fund core, project, or capital costs - structure your request accordingly
  • Geographic restrictions for large grants: Large grants (??25,000-??100,000) are only for Yorkshire and North East organisations; nationwide charities can only apply if based in these regions
  • Housing First approaches are favoured: Explicitly mention if you use Housing First, relationship-based approaches, trauma-informed care, or psychologically-informed environments
  • Two-stage process for large grants saves time: Start with a 300-word expression of interest before investing time in a full application
  • Quarterly cycles mean timing matters: With only four funding rounds annually and 8-week notification periods, plan application timing carefully to align with project needs
  • No feedback on rejections: Since feedback isn't provided on unsuccessful applications, ensure first submission is as strong as possible or contact foundation@leedsbuildingsociety.co.uk for pre-application guidance

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