Leicestershire, Leicester And Rutland Community Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £612,000 (income year ending March 2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (programmes are oversubscribed)
• Decision Time: Varies by fund; more frequent panels now in operation
• Grant Range: £250 - £50,000 (varies by programme)
• Geographic Focus: Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland

Contact Details

Website: www.llrcommunityfoundation.org.uk

Email: admin@llrcommunityfoundation.org.uk (general), grants@llrcommunityfoundation.org.uk (grant enquiries)

Phone: 0116 262 4916 / 0116 262 4804 (grants team)

Address: 3 Wycliffe Street, Leicester LE1 5LR

Pre-application Support: The grants team is available to answer questions and provide guidance. Contact grants@llrcommunityfoundation.org.uk or call 0116 262 4804.

Overview

Established as a registered charity (1135322) and company (04851054), Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Community Foundation enables individuals, companies, and public bodies to support local charitable causes through named grant-giving funds. The foundation operates as an intermediary, helping donors establish their own charitable funds while providing an accessible and monitored grant-making process primarily to grassroots groups across Leicestershire and Rutland.

With total income of £612,183 for the year ending March 2024 and charitable expenditure of £633,469, the foundation manages multiple donor funds to support local communities. Under the leadership of Chief Executive Katy Green since December 2008, the foundation has distributed over £1 million during crisis periods and continues to prioritize supporting vulnerable, under-represented, and disadvantaged populations. The foundation is a member of the UK Community Foundations network and publishes grant data through the 360Giving transparency initiative.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Making Local Life Better Fund: Up to £3,000 (rolling applications, no deadlines)

• Flagship programme supporting grassroots community, voluntary, and charitable groups
• Focus on isolation, health inequalities, wellbeing, youth opportunities, and community development

Near Neighbours Grants: £250 - £5,000 for 6-month projects

• Supports interfaith and cross-cultural community building
• Seed capital for groups bringing together diverse neighbours

Market Harborough Building Society Community Fund: £2,000 - £5,000

• 8-20 grants available for groups in the Market Harborough area
• Covers equipment, staff costs, training, rent, or volunteer expenses

Lucy Phillips Arts Fund: Grants typically £500 - £1,000

• Supports local artists and cultural organisations
• Has distributed over £4,000 to recipients in Leicester and Leicestershire

William Colton Youth Sports Fund: Grant amounts vary

• Supports inclusive sports activities for young people, including pan-disability groups

Efficiency East Midlands Foundation: £100,000 total programme

• Supports employment pathways and skills development

Police and Crime Commissioner's Grant: Amounts vary

• Supports priorities within the Police and Crime Plan

Specialized Funds: The foundation manages numerous named donor funds with varying criteria, amounts (some reaching up to £50,000), and focus areas

Priority Areas

• Vulnerable Populations: Supporting people who are vulnerable, under-represented, or disadvantaged
• Community Development: Grassroots projects improving local life
• Health and Wellbeing: Addressing health inequalities and mental health needs
• Social Isolation: Tackling loneliness and promoting social connections
• Young People: Creating opportunities for youth development
• Women and Girls: Projects addressing specific needs of women and girls
• Employment: Supporting people into work and skills development
• Environment: Selected programmes support environmental projects
• Arts and Culture: Cultural activities and creative projects
• Faith and Community Cohesion: Interfaith dialogue and cross-cultural understanding

Donor Preferences: Many donors prioritize groups responding to emerging community needs or providing low-cost/free services to people who couldn't otherwise access them. Groups demonstrating strong local impact and reaching marginalized populations are particularly valued.

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not comprehensively published but include:

• Payments into private bank accounts (organizations must have a dedicated organizational account with two unrelated signatories)
• National charities without demonstrated local branches, local bank accounts, and evidence of local fundraising and delivery
• Larger items such as furniture or vehicles are “rarely selected by donors”
• Groups with large free reserves, surplus income, or over £1 million annual income “may be considered lower priority”
• Projects outside Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland (unless specifically allowed by particular funds)

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Governance and Leadership

Chief Executive: Katy Green (since December 2008) works alongside the Board of Trustees to develop strategic direction and ensure effective response to local needs.

Chair: Stuart Dawkins

Vice Chair: Mark Robinson MBA FRICS (joined April 2022)

Other Trustees: Ian McCormack, Dr Vijay Sharma, Justine Flack, Dave Andrews, Jenny Hand

Staff Team:

• Debs McCahon - Grants Manager
• Trust Mazokera - Finance Manager
• Nell Haswell-Hammond - Grants Officer (joined December 2023)
• Rachel Radford - Administrative Officer (joined September 2021)
• Nijah - Grants Officer (joined October 2024)

Staffing: 7 employees, 9 trustees, 5 volunteers. No trustees receive remuneration.

Leadership Perspectives

Katy Green on the Foundation's Mission: “We work with donors, companies and agencies to support local charitable groups running vital services for some of the most marginalised people in our society.” She has expressed being “overwhelmed by the resilience of our local charities, voluntary organisations and community groups.”

On Effective Grant-Making: “The Community Foundation always aims to distribute grants effectively for local philanthropically minded companies and families, and for government and other national agencies.”

Debs McCahon, Grants Manager on Process Improvements: “By making our processes more responsive, we want to make it easier for these vital groups to access the funding they need, when they need it.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Eligibility Requirements:

• Not-for-profit organisation or social enterprise working in Leicester, Leicestershire, and/or Rutland
• At least 3 independent, unrelated trustees/directors (no single member holding over 50% control)
• Written constitution outlining management, charitable aims, community benefits, and dissolution terms
• Dedicated organizational bank account requiring minimum two unrelated signatories
• Established groups need audited accounts; new organizations must provide forecast financials
• Safeguarding and equal opportunities policies required

Application Method: Rolling basis for most programmes (no fixed deadlines for Making Local Life Better)

• Online applications through the foundation's website
• Each fund has specific application forms and guidance
• Applications are reviewed and matched to available donor funds

Process Improvements: The foundation has recently streamlined its flagship Making Local Life Better programme with no application deadlines, more frequent grant panels, and clearer criteria to reduce ineligible submissions.

Decision Timeline

• Panel Frequency: More frequent grant panels now operate for faster funding decisions
• Notification: Outcomes are emailed to applicants, including feedback from panel members or donors for unsuccessful applications
• Payment: Within 3 weeks of signed Grant Agreement being returned (if successful)
• Timeline Varies: Different funds have different panel schedules; check specific fund pages for details

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed. The foundation notes that “many of the programmes are oversubscribed, so an unsuccessful application could simply be due to lack of available funding” rather than application quality.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation distributed over £1 million within eight months, with grants ranging from £500-£10,000, demonstrating their capacity for rapid deployment during crises.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies after unsuccessful applications are not explicitly stated on the foundation's website. Applicants should contact the grants team at grants@llrcommunityfoundation.org.uk for guidance on reapplying.

Application Success Factors

What the Foundation Values

Local, Grassroots Focus: Prioritizes locally run and managed organizations with deep community connections. The foundation celebrates supporting the “unsung, unseen” charitable groups crucial to the social fabric.

Demonstrating Need: Applications must provide sufficient proof of need. Common reasons for rejection include “insufficient proof of need” and “lack of value for money.”

Financial Sustainability: Groups should demonstrate responsible financial management. Organizations with excessive reserves (beyond 3-6 months of core operating costs) may be lower priority.

Inclusion and Accessibility: The foundation values organizations actively promoting inclusion and removing participation barriers.

Responding to Emerging Needs: Donors are particularly keen on groups addressing current and emerging community needs.

Low/No Cost Services: Groups providing services at low or no cost to people who couldn't otherwise access them are highly valued.

Direct Advice from the Foundation

From Their Website: "The Foundation has money available and donors want them to give it away - they don't intend to make the process difficult and are approachable through different channels."

Training and Support: The foundation runs training days to help make applications stronger, points out common mistakes, and is building a “bank of buddies” where successful applicants help new applicants.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

• Insufficient evidence of need
• Poor value for money
• Lack of required governance documents (constitution, bank account details, policies)
• Applications from national charities without demonstrated local presence

Example Funded Projects

• Blaby District Spartans: Inclusive football club for players with pan-disability received funding from the William Colton Youth Sports Fund
• Rutland Community Ventures: Grant for weekly Lunchtime Creative Workshops led by professional creatives
• Baxter Hall Charity: Funding to make the hall more accessible for disabled users
• Women and Girls Projects: Five Leicestershire projects received £10,000 each for women and girls' work
• Getting Help in Neighbourhood Mental Health Programme: 28 local groups received grants ranging from £5,000 to £50,000 (nearly £800,000 total in round one)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Apply to the Right Fund: The foundation manages multiple donor funds with different criteria. Match your project to the most appropriate fund and demonstrate clear alignment with donor interests.

• Demonstrate Local Impact: Show deep community connections, local delivery, and evidence of addressing specific Leicester, Leicestershire, or Rutland needs. National organizations must prove genuine local presence.

• Be Transparent About Finances: Ensure reserves are reasonable (3-6 months operating costs), provide clear budgets, and demonstrate value for money. Organizations with income over £1 million face lower priority.

• Prove Need Effectively: Use data, testimonials, and evidence to demonstrate genuine community need. This is a common reason for rejection when missing.

• Engage with Support: Don't hesitate to contact the grants team for guidance. They offer training, pre-application support, and genuinely want to help organizations access funding.

• Focus on Vulnerable Groups: Applications serving vulnerable, under-represented, or disadvantaged populations align closely with the foundation's mission and donor preferences.

• Emphasize Emerging Needs: Projects responding to current challenges or providing services that would otherwise be unavailable to beneficiaries are particularly attractive to donors.

References

• Leicestershire and Rutland Community Foundation Official Website: www.llrcommunityfoundation.org.uk
• Charity Commission Register, Charity Number 1135322: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/4050048
• Companies House, Company Number 04851054: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/04851054
• "Update from the Community Foundation's CEO, Katy Green": https://www.llrcommunityfoundation.org.uk/message-from-the-community-foundations-ceo-katy-green/
• “Making Local Life Better, reopens”: https://www.llrcommunityfoundation.org.uk/making-local-life-better-reopens/
• “The Grants Process”: https://www.llrcommunityfoundation.org.uk/our-grants/the-process/
• “The Team”: https://www.llrcommunityfoundation.org.uk/about-us/the-team/
• 360Giving GrantNav Data: https://grantnav.threesixtygiving.org/org/360G-LLRFoundation
• Various programme-specific pages and news articles from www.llrcommunityfoundation.org.uk