Suffolk Community Foundation

Charity Number: 1109453

Annual Expenditure: £4.6M
Suffolk

Contact Info

Website: www.suffolkcf.org.uk

Phone: 01473 602602

Email: info@suffolkcf.org.uk

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £3.4 million (excluding Sizewell C Community Fund)
  • Success Rate: 69% (862 grants awarded from 1,253 applications in last year)
  • Decision Time: 12 weeks typically
  • Grant Range: £500 - £40,000+ (average £3,830)
  • Geographic Focus: Suffolk county

Contact Details

Website: www.suffolkcf.org.uk

Phone: 01473 602602

Email: info@suffolkcf.org.uk

The grants team welcomes contact at any time before or during the application process for advice and support.

Overview

Founded in 2005, Suffolk Community Foundation is Suffolk's largest independent grant-making charity. Since inception, the Foundation has awarded 10,900 grants totaling £43 million across 3,346 local charities and community groups. With 136 grant-making funds under management, the Foundation distributed approximately £3.4 million in the last year (excluding the Sizewell C Community Fund), processing 1,253 applications and awarding 862 grants. In September 2023, the Foundation launched its new five-year strategy focusing on four priority areas: Health & Wellbeing, Poverty, Inequality & Equity, and Environment & Climate Change. Part of a national network of 47 community foundations, Suffolk Community Foundation connects donors with local causes, taking a partnership approach to helping voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise organizations address community needs across Suffolk.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Suffolk Giving Fund: £2,000 - £5,000

The central fund supporting grassroots and community organizations addressing need within Suffolk. Accepts applications for both core and project costs. Applicants should use this application first unless a named fund better suits their objective. Rolling applications.

Suffolk Futures Fund: Up to £10,000

20th anniversary fund supporting organizations working with young people aged 16-25, particularly those facing challenges with mental health, education, housing, and employment. Currently accepting Expressions of Interest.

Sizewell C Community Fund: No maximum limit

Up to £23 million available to benefit communities closest to and most impacted by Sizewell C development sites in East Suffolk. 12-week decision timeline from round closure date.

Cancer Community Partnership Fund: Amount not specified

Supporting early-stage cancer diagnosis initiatives.

Centenary Fund: Up to £4,000

For Anglican organizations in Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich.

Martineau Care Fund: Up to £1,000

Purchase of daily living equipment for people with illness/disabilities. Open all year round.

Stimulus Fund: Up to £1,000

Promoting tennis in areas of deprivation. Open all year round.

Priority Areas

The Foundation's four strategic priorities are:

  • Health & Wellbeing: Medical equipment, mental health support, services for older people
  • Poverty: Food poverty initiatives, cost-of-living support
  • Inequality & Equity: Support for marginalized groups, women and girls, young people aged 16-25, unpaid carers, digital inclusion
  • Environment & Climate Change: Climate-related community projects

Additional focus areas include:

  • Sport participation initiatives
  • Arts and culture access for those most in need
  • Crime reduction and victim support
  • Digital inclusion to reduce digital poverty

What They Don't Fund

  • Large capital projects
  • Equipment over £5,000
  • Individual needs
  • Political or religious causes
  • Fundraising events
  • Retrospective grants
  • One-off cultural events
  • Refreshment costs

Governance and Leadership

Chair of Trustees: George Vestey DL

George has been chair since November 2019, having served as High Sheriff of Suffolk in 2018. He is CEO of his family food business, Vestey Holdings Ltd.

Quote from George Vestey:

"It is an honour to be a trustee of the Suffolk Community Foundation and one of the most satisfying aspects of the work is convening partnership across all sectors to resolve the most deep-rooted problems in the county. The strategy describes our aspiration to use our unique and unrivalled knowledge of Suffolk's needs to unlock additional funding to drive improvements in these four priority areas."

Chief Executive: Hannah Bloom (appointed February 2025)

Hannah previously served as Director of Philanthropy and Engagement, having joined in March 2024 with over two decades of charity sector experience, most recently as Director of Income Generation at St Elizabeth Hospice.

Quote from Hannah Bloom:

“The Foundation is well-placed to develop philanthropic giving in the county, support donors in their grant-making and work with charities to help meet their most urgent needs. As the largest independent grant-maker in Suffolk, we must also be a voice for the voluntary sector as it faces increased demand, rising costs and reducing resources.”

Director of Grants & Impact: Danielle Waller

Brings over two decades of experience in the voluntary and charity sectors, with expertise in strategy development, operational oversight, and strategic partnerships.

Board Members include Jordan Holder (Head of Talent & Development at East of England Co-operative, chairs Suffolk Giving Fund), Louise (Partner at Birketts Private Client Advisory), Helen (Chair of Sizewell C Community Fund Awards Panel, Chair of East Suffolk & North Essex NHS Foundation Trust), and trustees Jonathan Agar, Sue Gull, William Kendall DL, Jane Millar, Neil Walmsley, Terry Ward, Sarah Zins, Anna Hughes, and Gareth Wilson.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through online forms on the Suffolk Community Foundation website. Applicants should:

  1. Read the grant guidelines thoroughly
  2. Contact the grants team for advice before or during the application (encouraged)
  3. Submit application through the online portal
  4. The Foundation may submit your application to multiple funds to maximize funding opportunities

Decision Timeline

  • Typical decision time: 12 weeks from submission
  • Donors play an active role in decision-making through grants panel meetings or family discussions
  • Final decisions are taken by the relevant donor panel
  • Notification: Offer emails sent to successful applicants; all unsuccessful applicants also notified by email

Success Rates

Based on last year's data:

  • Applications received: 1,253
  • Grants awarded: 862
  • Success rate: Approximately 69%

Reapplication Policy

Organizations may receive only one grant per fund per year. Information about reapplication timelines for unsuccessful applicants is not specified in public guidelines; contact the Foundation directly for guidance on specific circumstances.

Application Success Factors

Foundation's Approach

The Foundation describes itself as being “more like a partner” rather than a typical large funder. They emphasize that “unlike many large funders who make it hard to get grants without employing a professional bid writer, Suffolk Community Foundation is more like a partner.”

Key Application Advice

  • Be clear and concise: Use plain language throughout your application
  • Be specific about goals and impact: Demonstrate measurable community impact
  • Contact the team: The grants team welcomes calls and emails for advice before and during applications
  • Prepare documentation: Ensure all required policies and governance documents are ready
  • Show sustainability: Demonstrate organizational sustainability potential
  • Align with priorities: Clearly connect your work to the Foundation's four strategic priority areas

Required Documentation

  • Governing document
  • At least 3 unconnected governing body members
  • Organizational bank account
  • Annual accounts
  • Equality policy
  • Comprehensive safeguarding policy

Foundation Support

The Foundation, in partnership with Community Action Suffolk, can help advise on structures and governance needed to build sustainable organizations that achieve funding success. The grants team visits many groups to understand their impact firsthand.

What Makes Applications Stand Out

  • Grassroots and community organizations are prioritized
  • Applications addressing multiple priority areas
  • Clear demonstration of meeting urgent community needs
  • Evidence of sustainable organizational practices
  • Alignment with donor fund priorities (if applying to named funds)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Partnership approach: Suffolk Community Foundation actively encourages pre-application contact and positions itself as a collaborative partner, not just a funder. Take advantage of this by calling or emailing the grants team for guidance.
  • Strong success rate: With a 69% success rate, this is a very accessible funder compared to many larger grant-makers, particularly for grassroots organizations.
  • Multiple funding opportunities: With 136 different funds, your application may be considered for multiple funding sources simultaneously, increasing your chances of success.
  • Strategic alignment: Applications that clearly connect to one or more of the four priority areas (Health & Wellbeing, Poverty, Inequality & Equity, Environment & Climate Change) will be strongest.
  • Documentation readiness: Ensure all governance requirements are met before applying, including safeguarding and equality policies, as these are mandatory.
  • Reasonable timeframe: The 12-week decision timeline is relatively quick, making this suitable for organizations with moderately urgent funding needs.
  • Donor involvement: Remember that donors participate actively in decisions, so frame applications in terms of tangible community impact that will resonate with philanthropically-minded individuals and organizations.

Similar Funders

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References