Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation

Charity Number: 1069082

Annual Expenditure: £0.3M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: ??319,008 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Up to 3 months (quarterly review)
  • Grant Range: ??250 - ??2,500 (Small Change Big Difference Fund)
  • Geographic Focus: UK-wide, with priority for high deprivation areas

Contact Details

Website: www.ybs.co.uk/charitablefoundation

Email: community@ybs.co.uk

Phone: 0345 1200 100

Nomination Required: Applications must be submitted by Yorkshire Building Society members or colleagues, not directly by charities.

Overview

The Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation was established in 1998 as an independent registered charity (Charity No. 1069082) serving as a channel for charitable giving by Yorkshire Building Society. Since 1999, the Foundation has donated over ??10 million to charities and good causes across the UK. With annual giving of ??319,008 in 2023, the Foundation operates through two main funding streams: the Small Change Big Difference Fund (??250-??2,500 grants) and the Building Bradford Skills Fund (??1 million allocated 2025-2028). The Foundation focuses on alleviating poverty and improving health/saving lives, with a particular emphasis on providing urgent support to those experiencing financial hardship. It is governed by five trustees, comprising two Yorkshire Building Society colleagues and three independent trustees.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Change Big Difference Fund: ??250 - ??2,500

  • Rolling quarterly deadlines (31 March, 30 June, 30 September, 31 December)
  • Unrestricted grants that can be used for project or core costs, including staff salaries, wages, rent, and operational expenses
  • Funded by member donations through the SCBD scheme (members donate annual pence of interest, up to 99p per year)
  • Must be nominated by a Yorkshire Building Society member or colleague

Building Bradford Skills Fund: Major grants up to ??370,000

  • ??1 million total fund allocated 2025-2028
  • Focus on employability skills, training, and services in Bradford District
  • Recent recipients include Bradford Central Foodbank, The Cellar Trust, Lower Grange Community Association, and Smart Works
  • Fixed application periods (most recent closed September 2024)

Priority Areas

The Foundation prioritises charities that:

  • Provide urgent support or relief to those experiencing financial hardship
  • Are based in the top 20% of deprived areas in the UK
  • Have annual income turnover of less than ??100,000
  • Support marginalised groups: women and girls, minority ethnic groups, LGBTQ+, and those who are socially isolated

Specific funding themes include:

  • Debt advice or financial support services
  • Food banks, energy banks, and baby banks providing essential living supplies
  • Support for rough sleepers and individuals without secure homes
  • Crisis support for survivors of abuse
  • Community centres based in areas of high deprivation
  • Employability skills and training (Bradford District focus)

What They Don't Fund

  • Organisations that have received a Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation donation during the last two years
  • Charities not registered with the Charity Commission, Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, or Scottish Charity Regulator
  • Organisations with overdue annual returns
  • Projects that do not align with alleviating poverty or improving health/saving lives
  • Charities not nominated by a YBS member or colleague
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Governance and Leadership

The Foundation is governed by five trustees: two colleagues from Yorkshire Building Society and three independent trustees. Trustees review all applications quarterly and make funding decisions based on fit with Foundation guidelines and available funds. The Foundation operates independently from Yorkshire Building Society while being funded through the Society's member and colleague contributions. Individual trustee names are available on the Charity Commission register for charity number 1069082.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Important: Charities cannot apply directly. Applications must be nominated by a Yorkshire Building Society member or colleague.

For Small Change Big Difference Fund:

  1. Connect with a Yorkshire Building Society member or colleague who can nominate your charity
  2. Provide detailed information about your charity and the project requiring funding
  3. Nominator submits application through the YBS system
  4. Applications reviewed quarterly

Application Deadlines: 31 March, 30 June, 30 September, 31 December annually

Guidance Notes: Full guidance notes are available at www.ybs.co.uk prior to application

Decision Timeline

  • Applications reviewed on a quarterly basis by trustees
  • Decisions communicated within three months of application submission
  • Successful grants paid at the end of each quarter via Charities Trust
  • Trustees assess applications based on strongest fit with guidelines and available funding

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed. However, historical data shows:

  • 2023: ??319,008 distributed (number of grants not specified)
  • 2020: 299 local charities supported with ??319,020
  • 2019: 366 local charities supported with ??378,773

The Foundation reports a “huge increase each quarter in applications,” suggesting competitive funding environment.

Reapplication Policy

  • Charities that have received a donation from the Foundation must wait two years before reapplying
  • No explicit waiting period mentioned for unsuccessful applicants - they may reapply in subsequent quarters

Application Success Factors

Strong Fit with Guidelines

Trustees prioritize "charities that are the strongest fit for the Foundation's guidelines." Key alignment factors include:

  • Clear demonstration of how funding addresses urgent support or relief for financial hardship
  • Location in top 20% most deprived areas (provide evidence)
  • Small charity size (annual income under ??100,000 particularly welcomed)
  • Support for marginalised communities

Recent Examples of Funded Projects

  • Bradford Foodbank: ??1,000 for Job Club support
  • Moray Fresh Start: ??1,800 for starter packs for homeless people
  • Bradford Central Foodbank: Accredited training courses in warehousing, manual handling, customer service, and food hygiene
  • Smart Works Bradford: ??370,000 over three years for employment support services for women
  • The Cellar Trust: Pathways to Employment service for people with mental health challenges
  • Lower Grange Community Association: English for speakers of other languages, workplace English, digital skills, vocational training

Application Tips

  1. Find a Yorkshire Building Society nominator: This is essential - start networking early to identify members or colleagues who support your mission
  2. Emphasize deprivation context: Clearly articulate the level of deprivation in your service area with data
  3. Focus on immediate relief: Highlight how funds provide urgent support or relief, not long-term projects
  4. Demonstrate flexibility in fund usage: The Foundation values that their grants can support core costs, not just project expenses
  5. Show organizational sustainability: While they welcome small charities, demonstrate your charity is well-governed with timely reporting
  6. Be specific about impact: Provide concrete examples of how the grant will help beneficiaries experiencing financial hardship

Language to Use

Align your application language with Foundation priorities:

  • “Urgent support or relief”
  • “Financial hardship”
  • “Areas of high deprivation”
  • “Marginalised groups”
  • “Essential living supplies”
  • “Crisis support”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Nomination is mandatory: Build relationships with Yorkshire Building Society members and colleagues well before application deadlines, as charities cannot apply directly
  • Small grants, broad usage: While grants are modest (??250-??2,500), they are unrestricted and can cover core costs like salaries and rent - a significant advantage
  • Deprivation data is critical: Being in the top 20% most deprived areas is a priority criterion - include robust evidence of deprivation in your service area
  • Two-year funding gap: Plan accordingly if you receive funding, as you cannot reapply for two years
  • Quarterly rhythm: With four annual deadlines, unsuccessful applicants may be able to reapply relatively quickly with improved applications
  • Small charities favoured: Organizations with income under ??100,000 are particularly welcomed - emphasize your organization's size if applicable
  • Focus on immediacy: Frame your work around urgent relief and immediate support rather than long-term development programs
  • Bradford-specific opportunities: Organizations in Bradford District should explore the Building Bradford Skills Fund for significantly larger grants focused on employability

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