Norfolk Community Foundation

Charity Number: 1110817

Annual Expenditure: £6.3M
Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk

Contact Info

Website: www.norfolkfoundation.com

Phone: 01603 623958

Email: grants@norfolkfoundation.com

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £7 million (2024)
  • Total Investment to Date: £50 million
  • Success Rate: 56% (Love Norfolk fund)
  • Decision Time: 4-8 weeks typically
  • Grant Range: £250 - £25,000
  • Geographic Focus: Norfolk, UK

Contact Details

Website: www.norfolkfoundation.com

Phone: 01603 623958

Email: grants@norfolkfoundation.com

General Enquiries: accounts@norfolkfoundation.com

Pre-Application Support: The programmes team offers one-on-one “Time to Talk” consultation sessions to discuss eligibility and application questions before submission.

Overview

Norfolk Community Foundation was founded in 2004 by Bishop Graham James and Sir Richard Jewson, with first grants awarded in October that year. Registered as charity 1110817, the Foundation celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2024, marking £50 million invested in Norfolk's communities. In 2024 alone, they distributed a record £7 million in funding, their highest annual total to date. The Foundation supports over 2,000 small charitable groups working across Norfolk, with their work touching 1 in 4 people in the county. Their mission is “Together, Norfolk shines brighter.” They manage donor funds from individuals, companies, and charitable trusts to provide grants, advice, and support to local voluntary and community organisations. Current CEO Claire Cullens was awarded an MBE in 2024 for her outstanding contributions to the Norfolk community. The Foundation's recent strategic focus includes their Nourishing Norfolk programme, which University of East Anglia evaluation showed delivers £6.54 of social value for every £1 invested.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

For Groups:

  • Transforming Communities Fund: Up to £25,000 - Supports capacity building, growth, and long-term sustainability through transformational change such as collaboration, merger, testing new approaches, or rolling out proven models
  • Love Norfolk: Up to £5,000 - Supports community activities and projects across Norfolk (success rate 56%)
  • Microgrants Fund: Up to £500 - Helps grassroots and emerging community groups (annual income under £25,000) develop governance structures and covers training, insurance, and pilot project costs
  • Subs for Clubs: Up to £1,000 per group (approx. £100 per young person) - Supports Norfolk children and young people (under 18, or under 25 with SEN/disability) to participate in out-of-school activities like sport, arts, and uniformed groups (rolling until funds allocated, £20,000 total available)
  • Community-Based Hardship Support Fund: Various amounts - Provides hardship support through frontline charities
  • Breckland Council Inspiring Communities: Up to £5,000 - For groups in Breckland District
  • Dudgeon Community STEM in Schools Fund: Up to £10,000 - Increases STEM motivation for pupils up to year 13 in Breckland, Great Yarmouth, and North Norfolk
  • Freebridge Community Housing Fund: Up to £5,000 - Benefits Freebridge Housing communities in King's Lynn & West Norfolk and North Norfolk
  • Norfolk Offshore Wind Farms Community Fund: Up to £10,000 - Supports green initiatives in nature, greenspaces, and transport
  • North Pickenham Windfarm Community Fund: £3,000+ - Supports local charities within 5 km radius of North Pickenham windfarm
  • Sheringham Shoal Community Fund: Over £5,000 - Supports new community initiatives in North Norfolk
  • Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk Small Grants Scheme: Revenue grants up to £2,500; capital grants up to £10,000 (max 1/3 of costs)

For Individuals:

  • Various funds ranging from £250 to £500 supporting young people, unpaid family carers, and people facing particular challenges or disadvantages
  • Kiln Cliffs Nurture Fund and other individual grant programmes

Application Methods: Primarily fixed deadlines for specific funds, though some operate on rolling basis (e.g., Subs for Clubs). Online application portal accessed through fund-specific pages.

Priority Areas

  • Building capacity in Norfolk charities
  • Supporting vulnerable people and reducing inequalities
  • Mental health and wellbeing
  • Projects in deprived communities
  • Community activities with wide benefit beyond specific groups
  • Youth development and opportunities
  • Food security and addressing malnutrition
  • Hardship support
  • Environmental/green initiatives (specific funds)
  • STEM education
  • Grassroots and emerging community groups

What They Don't Fund

Ineligible Applicants:

  • Individuals (except for specific individual grant funds)
  • Businesses
  • Local government
  • Public/private health services
  • Schools or other statutory bodies (with limited exceptions)
  • Parish Councils (for most funds)
  • Groups with annual income exceeding £25,000 (for Microgrants Fund)

Excluded Projects:

  • Capital/building projects including kitchen/toilet refurbishments (certain funds)
  • Schools-based projects mainly benefiting students and teachers without wider community benefit
  • Religious activities promoting religious beliefs (faith organisations can apply for inclusive community activities)
  • Operating expenses or capital deficits (certain funds)
  • General equipment, energy bills, or organisational overheads (Subs for Clubs)
  • Activities, trips, camps beyond regular subscription/membership fees (Subs for Clubs)

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership:

CEO: Claire Cullens (Claire Mackintosh) - Awarded MBE in 2024 for outstanding contributions to the Norfolk community. Joined New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership board. Active voice on food insecurity and community support.

Founding Leadership: Bishop Graham James (founder) and Sir Richard Jewson (co-founder); Kate Kingdon (first Director/CEO)

Board of Trustees:

  • Ed Savoury - Vice Chair of Board of Trustees, Chairs the Good For Good Strategic Board
  • Tom - Finance Director
  • Pete - Marketing/communications experience
  • George - Trustee
  • Catherine - Partner at Mills & Reeve
  • Jessica - Insight Manager for Impact at BBC Children in Need

Organisational Values:

  • Passionate: “We go the extra mile to tackle the areas of need within our local communities”
  • Dynamic: “We work at pace and champion innovative and creative solutions”
  • Collaborative: “We partner to achieve more”
  • Trusting: “We recognise that communities know what they need to thrive”
  • Responsible: “We act with diligence and integrity”

Leadership Quotes:

Claire Cullens on community action: “We need to accept that system change is required, but we must also realise we can act now and use our imaginations to overcome these challenges as communities”

Claire Cullens on the Foundation's approach: “Rather than pointing fingers, I argue that the energy generated by these stories is better spent on helping those who for years have already been tackling this challenge and finding imaginative solutions to these problems”

On partnership with Norfolk County Council: “The funding Norfolk County Council is making available for communities via the Norfolk Community Foundation is critical and much welcomed. Working with our vital frontline charities this funding will enable us to offer support in two key areas...We are delighted to see our partnership continue and expand at a time when coming together has never been more important”

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Identify the appropriate fund on their website (www.norfolkfoundation.com/funding-support/)
  2. Check eligibility - Each fund has specific criteria and geographic requirements
  3. Pre-application support - Contact programmes team (01603 623958 or grants@norfolkfoundation.com) or book a one-on-one “Time to Talk” consultation session
  4. Online application - Select 'apply online' at bottom of fund webpage to access online application form
  5. Alternative support - Contact them if unable to apply online
  6. Submit application with supporting documents before the deadline

Decision Timeline

  • Typical timeframe: Up to 6 weeks from submission to outcome notification
  • Panel meetings: Fund panels meet to discuss applications; panels include donors/fundholders and invited participants
  • Notification: Offer letters sent to successful applicants as soon as panel decides
  • Payment: Funds transferred within one week of notification via bank transfer
  • Feedback: Unsuccessful applicants notified with feedback

Specific Fund Timelines (examples):

  • Love Norfolk: Application deadline mid-September, decisions confirmed by end of November (multiple panel meetings throughout November)
  • Community-Based Hardship Support Fund: Deadline end of May, decisions by end of June

Success Rates

Love Norfolk: 56% success rate (most recent round) - though this varies by round and fund

The Foundation notes that most grants are oversubscribed, making clear demonstration of need and impact crucial. They supported over 110 projects through Love Norfolk in 2024 alone.

As a signatory to the Funder Commitment on application processes, they commit to transparency including publishing success rates.

Reapplication Policy

  • Unsuccessful applicants: Welcome to reapply and will receive feedback to strengthen future applications
  • Successful applicants: For some funds (e.g., Kiln Cliffs Nurture Fund), must wait 3 years before reapplying
  • Support available: Programmes team available to discuss unsuccessful applications and next steps

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Funder:

The Foundation offers a video guide with their top 10 tips for making great applications. Key advice includes:

  1. Demonstrate need: “Make sure you can demonstrate that your project is needed”
  1. Focus on impact: “Focus on the benefit grants will bring to local people and the difference they will make in your community – not just what you will spend the grant on”
  1. Clear vision: Applications with clear vision and strong impact demonstration have better chance of success, especially as most grants are oversubscribed
  1. Check eligibility first: “If you are unsure whether your group is eligible, contact them for advice before you begin an application”
  1. Seek pre-application support: Use the programmes team and one-on-one consultation sessions

Priority Factors:

  • Projects working within deprived communities
  • Supporting vulnerable people
  • Reducing inequalities
  • Mental health and wellbeing focus
  • Community-led solutions with local involvement

Recent Funded Projects Examples:

  • Enabling charities to re-purpose space for new training programmes
  • Introducing digital channels to increase response rates for social welfare advice
  • Establishing dedicated training premises for charities
  • Supporting over 110 projects through Love Norfolk across Norfolk
  • Food hubs reaching over 40,000 people through Nourishing Norfolk

Language and Terminology:

The Foundation emphasizes:

  • “Building stronger communities”
  • “Community-led” and “grassroots” solutions
  • “Transformational change” for capacity building
  • “Collaboration” and “partnership”
  • “Social value” and measurable impact
  • “Imaginative solutions”

What Makes Applications Stand Out:

  • Strong evidence of community need
  • Clear, measurable outcomes and impact
  • Community consultation and involvement
  • Collaboration with other organisations
  • Innovation in addressing problems
  • Focus on underlying causes, not just symptoms
  • Sustainability and long-term thinking
  • Volunteer participation and citizen involvement

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Geographic specificity is crucial - Ensure your project clearly benefits Norfolk communities and check fund-specific geographic requirements (some funds are district-specific)
  1. Impact over inputs - Focus applications on community benefit and difference made rather than what you'll spend money on; quantifiable impact is valued (e.g., Nourishing Norfolk's £6.54 social value per £1 invested)
  1. Use pre-application support - Take advantage of one-on-one “Time to Talk” sessions with programmes team; they actively encourage contact before applications
  1. Oversubscribed funds demand excellence - With 56% success rate on Love Norfolk and most funds oversubscribed, clear demonstration of need and strong impact evidence are non-negotiable
  1. Collaboration is valued - Projects promoting coordination, cooperation, and resource-sharing among organisations align with Foundation values
  1. Deprivation focus - Projects in deprived areas or supporting vulnerable people receive priority consideration, particularly mental health and wellbeing initiatives
  1. Match the right fund - With 12+ different grant programmes ranging from £250 to £25,000, research which fund best matches your project size, location, and purpose; don't default to largest fund if smaller one is more appropriate
  1. Embrace feedback and reapply - Foundation provides feedback to unsuccessful applicants and welcomes reapplications with strengthened proposals

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References