Point North Community Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £7 million+ (2023/24)
• Total Distributed Since 1995: £70.8 million+
• Decision Time: 6-12 weeks (varies by programme)
• Grant Range: £500 - £7,000 (main programmes)
• Geographic Focus: County Durham, Tees Valley, and wider North East England
• Number of Grants (2016-2024): 3,748

Contact Details

• Website: www.pointnorth.org.uk
• Email: info@pointnorth.org.uk
• Phone: 0191 378 6340
• Grants Team Support: Available to assist with applications

Overview

Point North, formerly County Durham Community Foundation, was established in 1995 by Sir Paul Nicholson and David Grant, inspired by the US community foundation model. Celebrating over 30 years of operation, the organization has distributed more than £70.8 million to local projects tackling poverty and creating opportunity. In the 2023/24 financial year alone, they awarded over £7 million in grants—more than double their pre-pandemic average—supporting nearly one million people. The foundation rebranded to Point North in 2024 to reflect its expanded geographic reach beyond County Durham to the Tees Valley and wider North East. Their mission remains focused on fighting poverty and enriching lives through well-targeted grants that make a genuine difference. Point North is the accredited community foundation for Tees Valley and is part of the Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR) Flexible Funder commitment, promoting open and trusting grant-making practices.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Grants Programme (up to £7,000)

• Focus: Sustaining health and wellbeing and reducing inequalities
• Can fund: Core/running costs, essential maintenance, salaries/part salaries, capital items
• Decision time: 8 weeks
• Application: Online portal, rolling basis

Change Today Fund (amount varies)

• Focus: Urgent projects alleviating poverty—food, warmth, and safety
• Evolution of the Poverty Hurts Appeal (raised over £1 million)
• Geographic reach: County Durham, Tees Valley, and wider North East
• Decision time: 6 weeks (Durham Relief in Need)

Youth Opportunities Fund (varies)

• Supporting talented young people to achieve their potential
• SWEF Business Grant: up to £2,000 for ages 18-30 from low-income households
• SWEF Enterprise & Business Start Up Fund: up to £500 for early-stage businesses

Welcome Spaces (up to £3,000)

• Free, warm, and welcoming spaces in County Durham
• Funded through UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Durham County Council
• Total funding pot: £330,000
• Decision time: 3 weeks

Other Programmes

• Durham Education Fund
• Opportunities For Life
• North East Economic Inactivity Trailblazer VCSE Small Grant Programme

Priority Areas

Point North structures their grants around five UN Sustainable Development Goals to measure impact:

• Fighting poverty: Projects addressing urgent needs including food and fuel poverty
• Health and wellbeing: Sustaining physical and mental health in communities
• Reducing inequalities: Supporting disadvantaged groups and areas
• Community support: Grassroots charities and community groups
• Youth development: Helping young people achieve their potential

What They Don't Fund

General exclusions (based on Welcome Spaces criteria and general guidelines):

• Activities primarily about proselytization or supporting worship activities (faith organizations may apply for projects open to the whole community with wider social benefits)
• Boiler replacement, insulation, or other building improvements (in some programmes)
• Applications from organizations with high unrestricted reserves available
• Projects that don't demonstrate community benefit
• Projects without evidence of need

Applications may be rejected if:

• Fund is over-subscribed and other applications are stronger or more closely meet criteria
• Essential information or documentation is missing
• Applicant cannot demonstrate ability to deliver the project
• Value for money isn't clear or adequate
• Management committee isn't sufficiently representative of the community

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Governance and Leadership

Chief Executive

Michelle Cooper MBE has served as Chief Executive since 2018. She received an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours for outstanding contribution to the community effort during the pandemic.

Michelle Cooper on the organization's mission:

“It has been a labour of love by many local people to make the Foundation such an important part of the North East.”

On the Point North rebrand:

“The fresh, modern look and feel, combined with the strategic development of our new name, Point North, has enabled us to expand our reach beyond County Durham and make a greater difference in the lives of those facing poverty.”

On her MBE:

“It is the privilege of my life to have been part of a response far greater than any one person... Everything we do is about teamwork and I really feel that I must accept this on behalf of the groups and individuals we are able to fund through County Durham Community Foundation, and our generous supporters.”

Board of Trustees

A diverse group of professionals from business and voluntary sectors. Recent appointments (2025) include:

• Judith Hartley MBE: Non-Executive Director for NEL Fund Managers Limited and Northstar Ventures UK; Chair of Alumni Advisory Board at Durham University's Hazan Venture Lab
• Sarah Thorpe: Regional Manager for UKSE, responsible for investment and property matters in the North of England
• Alison Dunn: CEO of Citizens Advice Gateshead, podcast host of 'This is the North', and Chair of Trustees for VONNE
• Tim Mallon: Trustee
• Stephen: Tax adviser and senior partner for Deloitte in Newcastle
• Emma: Finance Director at Northstar Ventures
• Gillian: Partner in employment law at Ward Hadaway

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

• Method: Online application forms available on the Point North website (pointnorth.org.uk/grants)
• Support available: Grants team can assist applicants throughout the process
• Pre-application: Read full guidelines before starting application
• Eligibility check: Each fund has detailed guidelines with specific criteria

Who Can Apply

• Registered charities
• Social enterprises (CICs, companies limited by guarantee generating more than 50% income through trading)
• Organizations with charitable aims (don't need to be registered charities)
• Groups must typically have:
• Management committee/governance body with at least four independent and unrelated members
• Bank/building society account in the group's name with minimum of two unrelated signatories
• Appropriate governing documents (constitution, Memorandum and Articles of Association)

Decision Timeline

• Community Grants Programme: 8 weeks
• Welcome Spaces: 3 weeks
• Durham Relief in Need: 6 weeks
• Most programmes: Within 12 weeks
• Exact timeline will be made clear at application stage

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed. However:

• Organization awarded 3,748 grants between April 2016 and March 2024
• £7 million+ distributed in 2023/24 (more than double pre-pandemic average)
• Demand has increased significantly since 2020 as more people slip into poverty

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applicants will receive an email notification. Specific reapplication waiting periods are not detailed on the website, but applicants are encouraged to contact the Grants team for guidance on reapplying.

Application Success Factors

What Point North Values

1. Clear demonstration of need: Show evidence that there is a genuine community need for your project
2. Community benefit: Projects must demonstrate clear benefits to the local community
3. Value for money: Applications must show how funds will be used efficiently
4. Capacity to deliver: Organizations must demonstrate they have the ability to deliver the project
5. Alignment with SDGs: Projects that align with Point North's five UN Sustainable Development Goals
6. Fighting poverty focus: Projects addressing poverty or enriching lives in County Durham, Tees Valley, and the wider North East

Organizational Requirements

• Appropriate governance structure with representative management committee
• Organizations with lower expenditure (typically less than £500,000 per year for core/running costs applications)
• Appropriate reserves policy (applications rejected if high unrestricted reserves available)

Application Quality Factors

Applications may be unsuccessful if:

• Fund is over-subscribed and other applications are judged stronger
• Essential information or documentation is missing
• Unable to demonstrate ability to deliver
• Unable to show community benefit
• Unable to show project need
• Value for money isn't clear or adequate

Transparency and Data

Point North publishes grant data using the 360Giving Data Standard, allowing full transparency about:

• Who received funding
• How much they were awarded
• What the funding was for

This data is available through 360Giving GrantNav (grantnav.threesixtygiving.org/org/GB-CHC-1047625)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Geographic focus is essential: Your project must serve communities in County Durham, Tees Valley, or the wider North East. The foundation has recently expanded beyond County Durham, so regional projects are increasingly welcome.

1. Poverty alleviation is central: Point North's mission is explicitly to “fight poverty and enrich lives.” Frame your application around how your project addresses poverty, inequality, or urgent community needs.

1. Multiple funding streams available: Don't just apply to one programme—Point North operates several different funds with varying amounts and criteria. The Community Grants Programme (up to £7,000) is the main fund, but specialized funds like Youth Opportunities and Welcome Spaces may be better fits.

1. Fast decision times: With decisions in 3-12 weeks depending on the programme, Point North offers quicker turnaround than many funders. The Welcome Spaces fund is particularly fast at 3 weeks.

1. Support is available: The Grants team actively supports applicants. Don't hesitate to contact them for guidance before or during your application—this demonstrates commitment and helps ensure your application meets requirements.

1. Organizational readiness matters: Ensure you have proper governance in place (minimum 4 unrelated committee members, appropriate bank account with 2 signatories, governing documents) before applying. Applications are rejected if governance is inadequate.

1. Demonstrate clear need and capacity: Simply having a good idea isn't enough. You must provide evidence of community need AND demonstrate your organization's capacity to deliver. Include data, community consultation, and track record information.

References

1. Point North official website - Home page. https://pointnorth.org.uk/
2. Point North - Community Grants Programme. https://pointnorth.org.uk/grants/community-grants-programme/
3. Charity Commission - Point North Community Foundation, Charity No. 1047625. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/1047625
4. Point North - About. https://pointnorth.org.uk/about/
5. 360Giving GrantNav - Point North. https://grantnav.threesixtygiving.org/org/GB-CHC-1047625
6. Point North - Grant Making Approach. https://pointnorth.org.uk/policies/grant-making/
7. Point North - FAQs. https://pointnorth.org.uk/about/faqs/
8. Point North - Trustees & Patrons. https://pointnorth.org.uk/about/trustees-patrons/
9. Point North - Meet Our Four New Trustees. https://pointnorth.org.uk/meet-our-four-new-trustees/
10. Point North - Our New Chief Executive, Michelle Cooper. https://pointnorth.org.uk/new-ceo-announced/
11. Point North - MBE For Our Chief Executive Michelle. https://pointnorth.org.uk/mbe-for-michelle/
12. Business Durham - Point North celebrates 30 years and announces strategic growth to strengthen community investment across the North East. https://www.businessdurham.co.uk/post/point-north-celebrates-30-years-and-announces-strategic-growth-to-strengthen-community-investment-ac
13. Point North - Welcome Spaces. https://pointnorth.org.uk/grants/welcome-spaces-2024/
14. Point North - Youth Opportunities Fund. https://pointnorth.org.uk/grants/youth-opportunities-fund-2/
15. Point North - SWEF Business Grant. https://pointnorth.org.uk/grants/swef-business-grant/
16. Point North - Durham Relief In Need. https://pointnorth.org.uk/grants/durham-relief-in-need/
17. Point North - Funding Update: Community Grants. https://pointnorth.org.uk/update-community-grants-programme/
18. Point North - Our Impact. https://pointnorth.org.uk/about/our-impact/
19. Point North - Grant Guidelines. https://pointnorth.org.uk/policies/grant-guidelines/
20. Cool Blue Creative - Point North: Expanding reach beyond County Durham. https://www.coolblue.co.uk/project/point-north