Northamptonshire Community Foundation

Charity Number: 1094646

Annual Expenditure: £3.5M
Northamptonshire

Contact Info

Website: www.ncf.uk.com

Phone: 01604 230033 (grants team)

Email: enquiries@ncf.uk.com

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £1+ million
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Maximum 8 weeks from application deadline
  • Grant Range: £500 - £50,000 (varies by fund)
  • Geographic Focus: Northamptonshire

Contact Details

  • Website: www.ncf.uk.com
  • Phone: 01604 230033 (grants team)
  • Email: enquiries@ncf.uk.com
  • Address: 18 Albion Place, Northampton, NN1 1UD
  • Pre-application support: Available - the grants team can provide advice and review draft applications if submitted at least one week before deadline

Overview

Founded in the early 2000s, Northamptonshire Community Foundation (registered charity 1094646) is the leading independent grant-making charity in the county, awarding grants of over £1 million annually to the local voluntary and community sector. The Foundation promotes and manages philanthropy by connecting donors with local causes and managing multiple endowment and community benefit funds. Under CEO Rachel McGrath, who has been with the organization for 18 years, NCF focuses on supporting disadvantaged communities across Northamptonshire, tackling issues including child poverty, unemployment, homelessness, domestic violence, social isolation, and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. The Foundation is committed to transparency, publishing grant data through the 360Giving initiative and hosting annual awards to celebrate outstanding community work.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

NCF manages multiple grant streams with varying award amounts and application processes:

  • Northamptonshire Creative Climate Action Fund: Up to £50,000 - supports creative projects building awareness around climate change (panel decision)
  • Northamptonshire Young People's Fund: Up to £10,000 - for diversionary activities, therapeutic services, careers support, and youth-led initiatives targeting vulnerable young people including care leavers, those experiencing abuse, mental health issues, school exclusions, or from disadvantaged backgrounds (panel decision)
  • Rural Community Needs Fund: Up to £5,000 - addresses needs in rural communities (population under 10,000) including community transport, fuel poverty, building refurbishment, health services access, and activities for young and older people (panel decision)
  • St Giles Charitable Trust: Up to £5,000 - targeted activity addressing poverty in Northampton (panel decision)
  • Northamptonshire Queens Institute Fund: Up to £5,000 - one-off grants for health and wellbeing projects (panel decision)
  • Constance Travis Community Endowment Fund: £3,500 - £10,000 - for established community projects (panel decision)
  • Margaret Giffen Community Fund: Up to £3,000 - tackles disadvantage and poverty in Corby, Kettering and North Northamptonshire (panel decision)
  • The Compton Fund: £500 - £3,000 - supports arts, culture and heritage projects across Northamptonshire (panel decision)
  • SWEF Enterprise Fund: Up to £500 (individuals aged 18-30 launching businesses) or up to £2,000 (new businesses within first two years) (rolling basis)

Most funds operate on a panel decision basis with applicants never more than 8 weeks away from a closing date (subject to funds available). Some funds are awarded on a rolling basis.

Priority Areas

NCF prioritizes funding for:

  • Poverty and disadvantage: Projects tackling financial hardship, unemployment, homelessness, and the cost-of-living crisis
  • Health and wellbeing: Activities improving physical and mental health
  • Children and young people: Support for vulnerable youth, education, and youth services
  • Rural communities: Addressing isolation and service access challenges
  • Arts, culture and heritage: Creative and cultural projects that benefit communities
  • Climate action: Creative approaches to climate change awareness
  • Disability support: Projects supporting people living with disabilities
  • Crime and safety: Initiatives addressing crime and creating safer communities

The Foundation particularly welcomes proposals from organizations working with Global Majority communities, the LGBTQ+ community, women, children, people living with disabilities, older people, people who are homeless, low income communities, and those who are amongst the most vulnerable.

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals: NCF does not fund individuals
  • Social enterprises with PSC: Organizations with persons with significant control (PSC) are not eligible
  • Projects outside Northamptonshire: Geographic restriction to the county
  • Organizations without proper governance: Groups must have constitutions with dissolution clauses and community bank accounts with minimum two signatories

Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel

  • Rachel McGrath, CEO: Appointed in May 2022 after 18 years with the organization, first as grants director then as deputy CEO. Rachel is a well-respected columnist for local newspapers and campaigns on issues including food poverty.
  • Jenni Houghton, Head of Finance and Operations (also Deputy CEO)
  • Dean Jones, Head of Giving and Development
  • Katie Vickers, Donor Relationships Officer
  • Hazel Munn, Marketing and Communications Manager
  • Board of Trustees: The Foundation has a board of trustees who serve without remuneration

Leadership Insights

Rachel McGrath on the Foundation's mission: “I am absolutely delighted to take on this new role and, alongside our amazing team, I will continue to champion philanthropy and the incredible voluntary groups and charities in Northamptonshire. Community Foundations are utterly unique – connecting those who want to give with local communities and residents most in need. This means we can address community needs now whilst also preparing to support generations to come for community needs we cannot yet foresee with sustainable future funding.”

On the Foundation's approach: “I have a real passion for harnessing the power of generosity which can and does build better places and lives. The Foundation will continue to provide a rewarding journey for our donors, by bringing them together with causes they deeply care about whilst also helping resource the Voluntary Sector to support urgent local community needs right here, right now.”

Rachel has pledged continued commitment to addressing financial hardship, poverty, and the cost-of-living crisis.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Find the right fund: Review available grants at www.ncf.uk.com/grants/grants-available to identify the most suitable fund for your project
  1. Read guidance thoroughly: Download and review guidance notes, reference forms, and supporting documents checklists from the relevant fund's page before starting your application
  1. Seek pre-application support: Contact the grants team on 01604 230033 for advice during the application process. For draft application feedback, submit your application link to the grants team at least one week before the deadline.
  • Up-to-date constitution signed by 3 management committee members with dissolution clause
  • Recent bank statement (community account with minimum 2 signatories)
  • Reference form from someone independent and knowledgeable about your project
  • Appropriate safeguarding policies (if working with children or vulnerable adults)
  • For groups under 1 year old: last two bank statements
  1. Complete online application: Provide detailed information and accurate cost breakdowns
  1. Submit by deadline: Most funds have regular deadlines with applicants never more than 8 weeks from a closing date

Decision Timeline

  • Application to decision: Maximum 8 weeks from closing date for most panel-decided funds
  • Notification method: Not specified in available sources
  • Rolling basis funds: Decisions made on ongoing basis for certain programs

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed by NCF. However, the Foundation awards over £1 million annually across multiple funds to support the Northamptonshire voluntary sector.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly disclosed. Contact the grants team at 01604 230033 or enquiries@ncf.uk.com for guidance on reapplying.

Application Success Factors

Funder's Direct Advice

  • Read guidance thoroughly: "It's strongly recommended to fully read through the fund's guidance before filling out the application form, as this can help avoid mistakes that delay an application"
  • Provide detail: Applications should provide “as much detail as possible” with “an accurate breakdown of costs”
  • Seek pre-submission support: The Foundation encourages applicants to contact the grants team for advice and to submit draft applications for feedback (at least one week before deadline)
  • Understand fund requirements: Each fund has specific criteria - ensure your project aligns before applying

Recent Funded Projects

Successful applications have included:

  • KidsAid Foundation (Northampton): Using creative therapies to support children who experienced trauma - received funding that enabled 70 therapy sessions for 14 children and young people
  • Northampton Saints Foundation: Engage programme getting 37 students back into mainstream education following exclusion (Excellence in Education Award winner)
  • Re:Store Northampton: Allotment project training and equipping 16 vulnerable adults to grow their own vegetables (Happy and Healthy Communities Award winner)
  • Off the Streets: Anti-knife crime workshops reducing knife crime in Northamptonshire
  • Hope for Families: Supporting families through courses building parents' confidence

Key Alignment Factors

  • Target beneficiaries: Projects supporting Global Majority communities, LGBTQ+ community, women, children, people with disabilities, older people, homeless individuals, low income communities, and the most vulnerable stand out
  • Addressing strategic priorities: Applications tackling poverty, financial hardship, health and wellbeing, youth support, or rural isolation align with NCF's core mission
  • Evidence of need: Demonstrate genuine community need and how your project addresses it
  • Local impact: Clear focus on benefiting Northamptonshire residents
  • Organizational readiness: Proper governance structures, financial management, and safeguarding policies demonstrate credibility

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

  • Applying without proper governance documents (constitution with dissolution clause)
  • Insufficient cost breakdown or vague budget information
  • Not reading fund-specific guidance before applying
  • Missing the opportunity for pre-application support
  • Applying to the wrong fund for your project type or beneficiary group

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Leverage pre-application support: NCF actively encourages contact with their grants team and offers draft application review - use this service to strengthen your application
  • Match to the right fund: With multiple funds available, carefully select the one that best fits your project's purpose, scale, and target beneficiaries
  • Demonstrate alignment with vulnerable groups: Applications supporting NCF's priority communities (LGBTQ+, Global Majority, people with disabilities, homeless, low income) are particularly welcome
  • Prepare governance documents early: Ensure your constitution includes a dissolution clause and is signed by 3 committee members; have recent bank statements ready showing 2+ signatories
  • Be detailed and specific: NCF values thorough applications with accurate cost breakdowns - avoid vague descriptions
  • Regular deadlines work in your favor: With most applicants never more than 8 weeks from a closing date, you can apply when your project is ready rather than waiting months for annual rounds
  • Show local impact: NCF's mission is to address urgent local community needs “right here, right now” - emphasize immediate, tangible benefits to Northamptonshire residents

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

References