Milton Keynes Community Foundation Limited

Charity Number: 295107

Annual Expenditure: £0.9M
Geographic Focus: Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £891,000 (grants) + £1.1m (rent subsidies)
  • Decision Time: 2-3 weeks (Small Grants), 8-10 weeks (Community Grants)
  • Grant Range: £300 - £15,000+ (multiple programmes)
  • Geographic Focus: Milton Keynes
  • Experience: Over 35 years, £22m+ awarded since 1986

Contact Details

Website: www.mkcommunityfoundation.co.uk

Email: info@mkcommunityfoundation.co.uk | grants@mkcommunityfoundation.co.uk

Phone: 01908 690276

Philanthropy Team: Available for pre-application advice at above contact details

Overview

Founded in 1986, Milton Keynes Community Foundation is the leading grant-making charity in Milton Keynes, connecting people and resources to projects that create positive change. The Foundation has awarded over £22 million in support through grants and rent subsidies to the local voluntary sector. In 2024, they awarded nearly £891,000 in grants plus over £1.1 million in rent subsidies, supporting more than 100 organisations across Milton Keynes. For the financial year ending March 2024, the Foundation had £1.7 million in charitable expenditure and total income of £5 million. The Foundation operates as an independent charity that raises funds from individuals and companies, then distributes these through various grant programmes supporting initiatives from education and health to arts and poverty relief. Their work is informed by their annual Vital Signs report, which identifies pressing issues facing Milton Keynes communities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Seed Grants: Up to £750

  • Micro grants with a simple, rapid application process
  • Monthly rolling applications

Sapling Grants: Up to £5,000

  • For smaller community projects
  • Application method: Online via website

Small Grants: £300 - £3,000

  • Monthly grant programme
  • Closing date: Usually last Friday of the month
  • Decision timeline: 2-3 weeks from deadline
  • Application method: Online only, rolling basis

Community Grants: Over £3,000 up to £10,000

  • Quarterly grant programme
  • Decision timeline: 8-10 weeks from deadline
  • Applicants strongly encouraged to have at least 20% match funding from another source
  • Applications approved by external Grants Committee (Community Representatives and Trustees)
  • Application method: Online, fixed quarterly deadlines

Oak Grants: Up to £15,000

  • Larger community grants for established projects

Transformation Grants: Over £10,000

  • For projects taking place within a 12-month period addressing new and priority needs

Strategic Partnership Grants: Over £15,000

  • Multi-year and core funding available
  • Delivered over more than one financial year (maximum of three years)

Cost-of-Living Grants:

  • Projects supporting relief of hardship, isolation and settlement caused by the Cost-of-Living crisis
  • Approved by internal panel meeting monthly

Priority Areas

The Foundation funds across 12 Vital Signs thematic areas aligned with UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals:

  • Strong Communities - Building resilient, connected neighbourhoods
  • Disadvantage and Poverty - Emergency food parcels, crisis support (30% of MK children live in poverty)
  • Diversity - Supporting ethnically diverse communities' access to professions
  • Health and Wellbeing - Support for people with disabilities, sight loss services, neonatal support
  • Crime and Safety - Community safety initiatives
  • Housing - Homelessness support, winter survival kits
  • Arts and Heritage - Music and drama activities
  • Local Environment - Environmental sustainability projects
  • Economy - Economic development initiatives
  • Transport - Access and mobility projects
  • Work - New skills and training for young people
  • Education - Outside school hours activities, PTAs/Friends groups (not statutory responsibilities)

Chair Matthew Downton emphasizes: “It is key that we send funding where it is most needed and therefore our priorities include poverty, inclusion, the environment, and sustainability.”

The Foundation particularly welcomes applications from organizations addressing new and emerging needs or working collaboratively, and those responding to issues identified in their Vital Signs report.

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals - Must be part of a not-for-profit group
  • Statutory responsibilities - Particularly for schools/nurseries (they support PTAs/Friends groups for non-statutory activities outside school hours)
  • Retrospective grants - Applications must allow time for the grants process before project start
  • Organizations with outstanding monitoring - If previously funded, end of grant monitoring must be up to date

Full exclusions are detailed in their Grants Policy document available on their website. Common reasons for rejection include applications not meeting eligibility criteria and delivery plans that are not clearly explained or thought through.

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Governance and Leadership

CEO: Ian Revell

Chair of Trustees: Matthew Downton (appointed October 2023)

Previous Chair: Kurshida Mirza BEM

Leadership Perspectives

CEO Ian Revell on the organization's inclusivity: “We welcome our three new Trustees with open arms and with confidence that they will add to the professionalism, talent and diversity of our Board.”

Chair Matthew Downton on his appointment: “I am excited and honoured to take on the role of Chair of Trustees at Milton Keynes Community Foundation. I am looking forward to working with my fellow trustees and the fantastic team led by CEO Ian Revell.” On priorities: “It is key that we send funding where it is most needed and therefore our priorities include poverty, inclusion, the environment, and sustainability.”

Former Chair Kurshida Mirza BEM on her tenure: “My aim has been to lead by example and this has permeated in the positive changes we have made.”

The Foundation is governed by an external Grants Committee made up of Community Representatives and Trustees who approve grant applications.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

All applications are submitted via online application forms only, available at www.mkcommunityfoundation.co.uk/grants/apply-for-a-grant/

Started applications can be saved and returned to later - click the save button and a link will be emailed to access it again.

Application Schedules:

  • Small Grants: Monthly (closes last Friday of month)
  • Community Grants: Quarterly deadlines
  • Cost-of-Living Grants: Monthly panel meetings
  • Other programmes: Check website for specific deadlines

Organizations cannot have two applications in the same grant round simultaneously.

Decision Timeline

Small Grants (£300-£3,000): 2-3 weeks from deadline

Community Grants (£3,000-£10,000): 8-10 weeks from deadline

Cost-of-Living Grants: Monthly approval cycle

Seed Grants (up to £750): Rapid decision process

Applications are approved by external Grants Committee. Once approved and conditions met, payment typically arrives within approximately 7 days of submitting grant acceptance form and bank details.

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages not publicly disclosed. The Foundation supported more than 100 organisations in 2024 with nearly £891,000 in grants.

Common reasons for unsuccessful applications:

  • Application did not meet criteria or eligibility requirements
  • Delivery plan not thought through or clearly explained

Reapplication Policy

For Previously Successful Applicants:

  • No time limit on reapplying
  • End of grant monitoring must be up to date before submitting new application
  • If first grant received, monitoring information on outcomes required before reapplying
  • If funded within last 12 months, no need to re-submit supporting documents

For Unsuccessful Applicants: Specific waiting period not stated publicly - contact the Foundation for guidance.

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Funder

The Foundation emphasizes applicants should:

  1. Read the Grants Policy thoroughly - Understand what they're able to fund, their criteria, and exclusions before applying
  1. Have strong organizational foundations - “You should have a management committee, a constitution (set of rules) and a bank account as a minimum for funding”
  1. Demonstrate match funding - For Community Grants, “applicants are strongly encouraged to have at least 20% of project funding from another source”
  1. Clearly explain delivery plans - Unclear or poorly thought-through delivery plans are a common reason for rejection
  1. Meet eligibility requirements - Applications not meeting criteria are the most common reason for rejection
  1. Allow adequate time - “The Foundation does not award retrospective grants – be sure to allow plenty of time to go through the grants process”
  1. Align with Vital Signs priorities - “Applications are also welcomed that respond to issues in their Vital Signs report”
  1. Focus on impact - “The foundation looks to support projects that are impact-focused and promote equality, diversity and inclusion”
  1. Be creative - They value creative approaches to community challenges
  1. Contact them for support - The Philanthropy Team is available at 01908 690276 or grants@mkcommunityfoundation.co.uk for pre-application advice

Recent Funded Projects Examples

  • Neonatal bags for parents with babies in special care
  • Winter survival kits and emergency accommodation for 68 homeless people
  • Vision impairment support services
  • Cost-of-living crisis relief projects
  • Skills and training for teenagers
  • Sports club equipment
  • Social clubs for older people
  • Support for children with disabilities and their families

Application Improvements

The Foundation has responded to community feedback by:

  • Creating simpler applications for smaller grants (Seed Grants programme)
  • Providing faster decision-making timelines
  • Increasing transparency in decision-making processes

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Geographic specificity is essential - Projects must serve people within the Milton Keynes boundary; this is a fundamental eligibility requirement
  1. Match funding strengthens applications - While not always required, demonstrating 20%+ funding from other sources significantly supports Community Grant applications
  1. Use Vital Signs language - Reference the Foundation's annual Vital Signs report and align your project with their 12 thematic areas and identified community needs
  1. Demonstrate clear planning - Poorly explained delivery plans are a top rejection reason; be thorough, specific, and realistic about implementation
  1. Choose the right programme - With four grant tiers (Seed, Sapling, Community, Oak) plus specialist programmes, select the most appropriate funding stream for your project size and scope
  1. Time your application strategically - Small Grants have monthly deadlines with 2-3 week decisions; Community Grants are quarterly with 8-10 week decisions - plan accordingly
  1. Seek pre-application advice - The Foundation explicitly offers support through their Philanthropy Team; use this resource to strengthen applications, especially for larger grants

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