Localgiving Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Distribution: £7m+ (2024)
• Grant Range: £500 - varies by program
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide (local charities and community groups)
• Platform Members: 4,000+ organizations supported
• Total Distributed: £50m+ since 2009

Contact Details

Website: https://localgiving.org

For Charities: https://localgiving.org/for-charities

Grant Information: https://grants.localgiving.org

Membership Cost: £12.50/month (excl. VAT), first year free if qualifying for grants

Support: Community Circle online meetings (Thursdays, 12-1pm)

Overview

Localgiving Foundation (charity 1132411, founded 2009) operates a unique hybrid model as both a fundraising platform and grant distributor for UK local charities and community groups. With total expenditure of £9.7m and income of £8.8m, the foundation has distributed over £50 million since inception, including £7m+ to members in 2024 alone. The organization strengthens UK communities by safeguarding the sustainability of the local voluntary sector, helping organizations diversify their income through online fundraising. In 2024, they launched an AI Grant Assistant to help charities search and apply to 2,500+ grants. The foundation is owned by a charity and operates as a not-for-profit social enterprise, working alongside local Community Foundations as part of its charitable model.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Partnership Grant Programs (application-based when available)

• Magic Little Grants: £500 grants for small community organizations (funded by People's Postcode Lottery through 2024)
• Target: First-year organizations OR annual income under £250k
• Total distributed: £4.7m to 6,650 groups (2017-2024)
• Application time: 20 minutes
• Decision time: 6 weeks
• Status: Partnership with People's Postcode Lottery ended in 2024; continuing in new phase

Platform-Based Grants (membership required)

• Donations processed as unrestricted grants through partner Foundations
• Deduction: 5% fee from Gift Aid amount
• Transfer time: Approximately 6 weeks to charity bank account
• Unique benefit: Only platform enabling unregistered groups to benefit from Gift Aid

Grant Access Services (for members)

• AI Grant Assistant provides access to 2,500+ grants from other funders
• Support with grant searching and application writing
• Personalized support from experienced fundraisers

Priority Areas

Localgiving focuses on:

• Local charities and community groups throughout the UK
• Small organizations (particularly those with income under £250k)
• First-year/newly established groups
• Grassroots community organizations
• Both registered and unregistered charitable organizations

What They Fund

• Community projects and groups
• Local charitable initiatives
• Organizations seeking to diversify income through online fundraising
• Small charities needing fundraising infrastructure

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees: 5

Employees: 12

Volunteers: 10

The organization is structured as a charity-owned not-for-profit social enterprise, with the Localgiving Foundation serving as the parent charity overseeing the online fundraising platform.

Mission Statement: “To stimulate the growth and funding opportunities for local charities and community groups throughout the UK.”

Leadership quote: "We've always been committed to bringing fundraising innovations to even the smallest of groups."

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Partnership Grant Programs (when available):

• Must meet Localgiving membership eligibility criteria
• Required documents: recent bank statement, signed constitution (for unregistered groups), budget
• Approval takes a few days

• Access application form at https://grants.localgiving.org
• Application time: approximately 20 minutes
• Required: evidence documentation, budget

For Platform Membership and Grant Access:

• Visit https://localgiving.org/for-charities
• £12.50/month (excl. VAT)
• First year free if qualifying for grants
• Gain access to AI Grant Assistant for 2,500+ other grant opportunities

Decision Timeline

Partnership Grants (e.g., Magic Little Grants):

• Application review: A few days for Localgiving membership approval
• Grant decision: 6 weeks from application submission
• Payment timeline: Approximately 6 weeks after award to reach bank account

Donation-Based Grants:

• Processed as grants through partner Foundations
• Typical transfer time: 6 weeks to charity bank account

Success Rates

Magic Little Grants program funded 6,650 groups out of total applications (2017-2024), demonstrating significant reach to grassroots organizations. Specific success rate percentages not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Not specified for partnership grant programs. Platform membership is ongoing with monthly fee (first year free for grant qualifiers).

Application Success Factors

Based on Localgiving's documented approach:

1. Be a local, grassroots organization: The foundation specifically targets local charities and community groups, not national organizations

1. Have clear documentation ready: Recent bank statements, constitutions, and budgets are required - having these prepared speeds the approval process

1. Embrace online fundraising: Localgiving seeks organizations willing to diversify income through digital platforms

1. Smaller organizations prioritized: Magic Little Grants specifically targeted organizations in their first year or with income under £250k

1. Quick, focused applications: The 20-minute application process for Magic Little Grants suggests they value concise, clear information over lengthy applications

1. Utilize their support services: Take advantage of Community Circle meetings and personalized support from experienced fundraisers to strengthen applications

1. Leverage the AI Grant Assistant: Members gain access to tools that help identify matching grants from 2,500+ opportunities

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Hybrid model: Localgiving offers both direct partnership grants (when available) and serves as a platform for accessing other funders' grants - consider membership for broader opportunities beyond their own programs

• Grassroots focus: Ideal for small, local organizations rather than large national charities - align your application to emphasize community-level impact

• Fast-track applications: The 20-minute application design indicates they value efficiency - be concise and have documentation ready

• Unregistered groups welcome: Unique in enabling unregistered groups to access Gift Aid - don't assume charity registration is required

• Long-term partnership approach: With membership at £12.50/month (first year free), they're positioning for ongoing relationships rather than one-off grants

• Technology-forward: The 2024 launch of AI Grant Assistant shows commitment to innovation - organizations comfortable with digital tools will thrive

• Partnership grants may vary: Magic Little Grants partnership with People's Postcode Lottery ended in 2024 but continues in new phase - check website for current partnership programs

References

• Charity Commission Register, LOCALGIVING FOUNDATION (1132411), https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=1132411&subId=0

• Localgiving Foundation, “For charities,” https://localgiving.org/for-charities

• Postcode Trust, “Localgiving,” https://www.postcodetrust.org.uk/partnership-grants/localgiving

• Localgiving, “Localgiving says thank you for an amazing £4.7m of Magic Little Grants,” https://localgiving.org/localgiving-says-thank-you-for-an-amazing-4-7m-of-support-to-grassroots-groups

• Localgiving Help Center, “Magic Little Grants,” https://help.localgiving.org/hc/en-gb/sections/115001123243-Magic-Little-Grants

• Wikipedia, “Localgiving,” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Localgiving

• Localgiving, “How it works: donations,” https://localgiving.org/how-it-works/donations