The Neighbourly Foundation

Charity Number: 1189514

Annual Expenditure: £5.8M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £5,820,000 (2024)
  • Total Distributed to Date: £33+ million
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not specified; payments processed within 3 working days after approval
  • Grant Range: £400 - £1,500+ (varies by program)
  • Geographic Focus: UK and Ireland (nationwide)
  • Charities Supported: 11,000+

Contact Details

Address: Engine Shed, Station Approach, Bristol, BS1 6QH

Phone: 01174220866

Email: foundation@neighbourly.com

Website: https://hub.neighbourly.com/neighbourly-foundation

Platform Registration: Charities must register on the Neighbourly platform to access grant opportunities

Overview

The Neighbourly Foundation (charity number 1189514) was established on 31 March 2020 to advance general charitable purposes by granting funds to other charitable organisations and projects. The Foundation operates as an independent charity working in close collaboration with Neighbourly, the award-winning community impact platform. Since inception, the Foundation has distributed over £33 million in grants and donations to more than 11,000 local charities and community groups across the UK and Ireland. In the financial year ending 31 March 2024, the Foundation had total income of £5.82 million and distributed £5.41 million in charitable grants. The Foundation operates through partnership with hundreds of businesses including M&S, Aldi, Lidl, Sainsbury's, B&Q, and Samsung, facilitating corporate giving programs that direct funds to grassroots community organisations. The Foundation's mission centers on the belief that “small actions can lead to big changes” in building happier, healthier neighbourhoods.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Neighbourly Foundation administers multiple grant programs, primarily funded through corporate partnerships:

  • Warm Communities Fund: £400 micro-grants to tackle food and fuel poverty. Each grant can provide approximately 230 meals to struggling families, contribute to energy bills for community centres, provide warm clothing and blankets, or help restock food banks.
  • M&S Partnership Grants: £1 million distributed across 1,000 charities and community groups through the M&S partnership (approximately £1,000 per grant).
  • Corporate Partner Programs: Variable amounts depending on the specific program (typically £500 minimum to ensure meaningful impact while keeping administrative costs proportionate).
  • Application Method: Rolling basis through the Neighbourly platform. Charities register on the platform and receive email notifications when suitable grant opportunities become available.

Priority Areas

The Foundation focuses on local initiatives addressing immediate community needs:

  • Food banks and food poverty relief
  • Youth clubs and services for young people
  • Parks and green spaces maintenance
  • Mental health support groups
  • Elderly care services
  • Warm spaces and fuel poverty relief
  • Emergency support for vulnerable communities
  • Projects supporting people on low incomes

Key Characteristics:

  • Projects that use resources efficiently
  • Initiatives addressing unique community needs
  • Programs building resilient neighbourhoods
  • Work empowering local leaders and volunteers
  • Needs-led, grassroots community support

What They Don't Fund

The Foundation operates as a grant distribution platform for corporate partners, so funding is program-specific. General limitations include:

  • The Foundation does not appear to fund large infrastructure projects
  • Focus is on small, local grassroots organisations rather than national charities
  • Grants are distributed through specific corporate partnership programs rather than general unrestricted applications
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees (appointed 31 March 2020)

  • Steven Edward Butterworth (Chair) - CEO of Neighbourly, included in the Meaningful Business 100 list for 2020
  • Christopher Hugh Kelly - Director
  • Howard Henry Russell - Director
  • Nicholas Smailes - Technology Consultant

The Foundation has 4 trustees and 4 volunteers, with no paid employees earning over £60,000 and no trustee remuneration. All income is directed toward charitable activities, with 93% of expenditure going directly to grants (£5.41m of £5.82m income in 2024).

Leadership Quotes

Steve Butterworth (CEO, Neighbourly and Foundation Chair) on meaningful leadership:

"For me, meaningful leadership is not about one single person fighting for what they believe in, it's about bringing together multiple voices and people with experience at all levels who are passionate about making a difference."

On local community impact:

“Recovery and rebuilding needs to begin in communities, and be driven by the knowledge of people who are living and working there.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Register on Neighbourly Platform: Create a page for your charity or community group at www.neighbourly.com. The platform is entirely free for good causes.
  1. Verification: Complete the verification process. Your organisation will receive either a blue verification tick (registered charities) or green verification tick (non-profits and community groups).
  1. Complete Profile: Provide detailed information about your organisation, needs, and activities. More detail increases matching with relevant programs.
  1. Receive Notifications: Email alerts notify you when suitable grant opportunities become available for your organisation.
  1. Submit Application: Apply through simple online forms explaining how funding will be used. Track application status through your dashboard.
  1. Provide Documentation: If successful, submit bank details and supporting documentation for verification.

Decision Timeline

  • Application Review: Timeline not publicly specified (varies by program)
  • Payment Processing: 2-4 weeks after approval (most grants paid within 3 working days after final approval)
  • Notification: Email notifications at each stage of the process

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, the Foundation's 2020 Community Fund distributed £1.2 million across over 3,100 local causes, indicating relatively high accessibility during emergency response periods.

Reapplication Policy

Not specified in available materials. Given the rolling nature of programs and multiple corporate partnerships, organisations can apply to different programs as they become available.

Application Success Factors

Platform-Based Approach

The Neighbourly Foundation operates differently from traditional grant-makers. Success depends on:

  1. Platform Registration: Must be registered and verified on the Neighbourly platform to access any opportunities.
  1. Local Focus: Strong preference for organisations serving specific local communities rather than national reach.
  1. Responsiveness: Grant opportunities are time-limited; organisations must respond promptly to notifications.
  1. Corporate Alignment: Different programs have different priorities based on corporate partner values and focus areas.

Project Characteristics That Perform Well

Based on the Foundation's impact data:

  • Emergency and Essential Services: 61% of previous Community Fund recipients used grants to purchase food for emergency parcels
  • Practical Support: 40% purchased basic essentials (toiletries, care packages)
  • Combating Isolation: 69% of funded causes provided comfort to isolated people
  • Mental Health: 68% supported people with mental health needs

Standing Out

  • Detailed Profiles: Complete, comprehensive Neighbourly profiles increase matching with appropriate programs
  • Demonstrated Local Impact: Clear evidence of serving local community needs
  • Resource Efficiency: Projects demonstrating efficient use of limited resources
  • Collaborative Approach: Alignment with the Foundation's philosophy that “small actions can lead to big changes”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Register First: You cannot apply without being on the Neighbourly platform - registration is the essential first step and takes time for verification.
  • Multiple Opportunities: The Foundation administers numerous corporate programs throughout the year; missing one opportunity doesn't preclude future applications.
  • Smaller is Better: The Foundation explicitly focuses on small, grassroots organisations - being small is an advantage, not a disadvantage.
  • Corporate Partnership Model: Understand that funding comes through corporate partners with specific priorities; tailor responses to align with individual program goals.
  • Local Matters Most: Emphasise your local community connections, knowledge of local needs, and grassroots delivery model.
  • Quick Turnaround: Programs can be time-limited or first-come-first-served; when notified of a relevant opportunity, respond promptly.
  • 100% to Charity: The Foundation emphasises that 100% of donated money goes directly to charitable organisations, with minimal administrative overhead - this efficiency is central to their model.

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