Two Ridings Community Foundation

Charity Number: 1166471

Annual Expenditure: £2.2M
Geographic Focus: North Yorkshire, City Of York, East Riding Of Yorkshire, Kingston Upon Hull City

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £2,200,000 (2023-24)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 6-12 weeks (typically 10 weeks for Small Grants)
  • Grant Range: £200 - £30,000 (varies by programme)
  • Geographic Focus: North & East Yorkshire, York and Hull

Contact Details

Website: www.tworidingscf.org.uk

Phone: 01904 929500

Email: grants@tworidingscf.org.uk (also info@tworidingscf.org.uk)

Pre-application Support: Monthly drop-in sessions available; grants team accessible by phone and email

Overview

Founded in 2000 as York and North Yorkshire Community Foundation, the organization expanded in 2010 to include Hull and East Yorkshire before rebranding as Two Ridings Community Foundation. In 2023-24, the foundation distributed £2.2 million to 477 groups, with an average grant of £4,800. Since inception, it has delivered over £23 million to approximately 7,000+ community organizations. The foundation's mission places “people at the heart of everything we do” as it works to inspire investment, develop relationships, and make grants that transform lives and strengthen communities. Their grants tackle inequality, alleviate poverty, address loneliness, and improve wellbeing across the region. The foundation received the UK Community Foundations' Excellent Quality Standard in 2021 and celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2025.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Grants Fund: £200 - £2,500

  • Supports direct project costs, pilot projects, and development needs
  • Available for up to 24 months
  • Open to organizations with income under £150,000
  • Currently paused until January 5, 2026 while improving grants management system

York Community Fund: £1,000 - £13,500

  • Supports purposeful community action and belonging
  • Deadline: October 20, 2025

Winter Resilience Fund: Up to £2,000

  • Helps vulnerable people during September-March with warm spaces, food, and wellbeing support

Bettys and Taylors Family Fund: Up to £30,000

  • Improves lives of young people through training for entry into food, catering, or hospitality industries
  • Deadline: December 1, 2025

Community First Prime Opportunities Fund: Up to £500

  • Supports projects for children and young people in disadvantaged areas

Organisational Development Fund: Various amounts

  • Supports organizational capacity building and development

Application Methods: Mix of rolling basis and fixed deadlines depending on specific fund. Check individual fund guidance for current availability and deadlines.

Priority Areas

  • Projects supporting the most disadvantaged communities (geographic or demographic)
  • Work addressing needs identified by local people
  • Small and grassroots organizations (priority given to those with income under £500k)
  • Initiatives tackling inequality and poverty
  • Projects addressing loneliness and social isolation
  • Community wellbeing and mental health support
  • Activities benefiting children and young people in disadvantaged areas

What They Don't Fund

Cannot Fund:

  • Private businesses
  • General appeals or sponsorship
  • National organizations (except locally managed branches)
  • Statutory agencies (including parish councils and schools)
  • Organizations with substantial unrestricted funds
  • Previous grant recipients with outstanding reporting
  • Organizations primarily giving funds to other groups/individuals

Generally Cannot Support:

  • Work normally funded from statutory sources
  • Teacher training
  • Commission-based fundraising
  • Religious work without broader community benefit
  • Activities solely benefiting animals
  • Overseas holidays/trips
  • Political campaigning
  • Medical research/equipment/treatment
  • Prize money, loans, deposits, or on-granting
  • Activities that have already taken place
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Governance and Leadership

Leadership Team

Celia McKeon, Chief Executive (joined May 2023)

Previously Chief Executive of Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust with 25 years of voluntary sector expertise and background in conflict resolution.

Key Quote from Celia McKeon:

"Across our region, small grants to extraordinary people enable magic to happen. We are proud to work with our donors and supporters to channel funds directly to the grassroots organisations who are changing people's lives every day."

"For every grant, the stories of individual lives changed, of connections made of opportunities that people wouldn't have otherwise had. That's what we are here to support and nurture and advocate for. So it's in the collective sum of all those individual experiences that I think the real magic lies."

Thomas, Head of Grants

Board of Trustees

Richard Frith, Chair of Trustees

The foundation is backed by a board of 15 trustees with rich experience in community, private and public leadership and advocacy, charity management and investment. Recent trustee appointments (2024-2025) include Antonia Consett, Seb Glazer, Michelle Hayes, Victoria Savile, and Katherine E Blaker, with Dr Franklin Onukwugha and Chris Binns joining in January 2026.

Staff and Volunteers

A passionate team of 11-12 staff rooted in the region, supported by nearly 100 dedicated volunteers who ensure panels and assessments are fair, equitable, and connected to local issues.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Research: Review available funds on the website and read guidance notes carefully
  2. Check Eligibility: Ensure your organization meets general eligibility plus specific fund criteria
  3. Prepare Documentation: Gather governing document, bank details, and supporting documents
  4. Submit Application: Follow the “Learn more and apply” link for your chosen fund
  5. Attach Documents: Include all supporting documentation (do NOT staple if posting)

Important: Applications are only considered complete when all supporting documentation is received.

Decision Timeline

  • Typical timeframe: 6-12 weeks from submission of complete application
  • Small Grants Fund: Aim to provide decision within 10 weeks after all documentation received
  • Notification method: Email containing decision and, if successful, grant offer details with acceptance form

Decisions made by Grants Committee or external panels depending on the scheme.

Success Rates

Success rates not publicly disclosed. In 2023-24, the foundation awarded 477 grants from £2.2 million total funding. The foundation notes that unsuccessful applications do not reflect a lack of value but rather that "other applications more closely met the panel's priorities."

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication waiting periods not publicly stated. The foundation has no appeals process for grant decisions, but applicants can make a complaint using the foundation's complaints policy if dissatisfied with the process. Organizations can only hold one active Small Grants Fund award at a time. Contact the grants team directly for guidance on reapplying after an unsuccessful application.

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Funder

Provide Clear Information:

  • Clear explanation of project need, benefits, and outcomes
  • Detailed budget breakdown linked to project narrative
  • Demonstrate community engagement
  • Be specific about project timelines and delivery plan

Before Applying:

  • Read guidance notes carefully, even if you've applied before (they update regularly)
  • Ensure all supporting documents are ready
  • Check you meet both general eligibility AND specific fund criteria
  • Consider attending a monthly drop-in session

Common Reasons for Rejection:

  • Not meeting grant criteria
  • Incomplete application
  • Missing supporting documents
  • Unclear project benefits
  • Unrealistic delivery plan
  • Poor previous grant reporting

Recent Funded Projects

The Big Communitea (Selby District): Provides call service support ranging from virtual conversations to mental health first aid for people in serious mental health crises. Funding allowed them to take on more call operators and secure a physical base on Abbey Walk in Selby.

Humber Community Advice Service (H-CAS): Asylum applications support and refugee status assistance for asylum seekers and refugees in Hull.

Language and Terminology

The foundation values:

  • Transformative: Enable thriving, equitable and connected communities
  • Trustworthy: Integrity, transparency and competence
  • Compassionate: Care, empathy and respect
  • Connected: Relationships and local community insights
  • Generous: Sharing resources and collaborative working

Use language that demonstrates local community connection, addresses identified needs, and shows realistic outcomes for disadvantaged groups.

Tips for Standing Out

  1. Demonstrate you're rooted in the local community and understand local needs
  2. Show how local people have identified the need you're addressing
  3. Emphasize work with disadvantaged communities (geographic or demographic)
  4. Provide realistic, achievable outcomes with clear project plans
  5. Show limited alternative funding options
  6. Demonstrate strong community involvement in project design and delivery
  7. Keep organizational income under £500k (they prioritize smaller organizations)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Size matters: Priority given to small and grassroots organizations (typically income under £500k). Average grant is £4,800.
  • Local connection is critical: Must be based in and serve North/East Yorkshire, York, or Hull. Local insights valued highly.
  • Disadvantage is the focus: Clear priority for work with the most disadvantaged communities, either geographically or demographically.
  • Complete applications only: Ensure ALL supporting documentation is submitted. Incomplete applications won't be assessed.
  • Read fund-specific guidance: Each fund has different criteria, amounts, and deadlines. General eligibility is just the starting point.
  • Engage before applying: Monthly drop-in sessions and accessible grants team can help you determine fit before investing time in a full application.
  • Community-led is valued: Show that local people have identified the need and are involved in the solution.

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References