About us
UK Community Foundations (UKCF) is the national membership organisation for all accredited community foundations across the United Kingdom.
Our members bring together people and organisations wanting to make a positive difference to communities through place-based philanthropy.
For over 30 years the UKCF network has distributed millions of pounds towards smaller, locally based organisations. Our 47 UK-based community foundations provide vital support to every postcode in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Our network of community foundations managed over £811 million in community-focused endowments, being invested by communities for communities. This has risen by 14% since 2020, showing a drive for more sustainable support at a local level. In 2023 over £170 million in grants were distributed by community foundations.
UKCF provides a range of services for members, including training and support, networking opportunities, national PR, and national grant programmes. We want our members to be the best place-based grant makers, leaders, convenors and catalysts of local communities, encouraging and developing local philanthropy, and helping people and organisations invest where it is most needed and where it will make the most impact.
Vision
Community foundations have a UK-wide reputation as agile agents for change in every local community – addressing need through vibrant local philanthropy and giving, sustainable charitable funding and local partnership working – and are recognised as an integral element of any national discussions relating to local communities.
Purpose
To position community foundations at the national level as the partner of choice.
Mission
To provide inspirational leadership and advocacy at the national level by delivering training, resources, and a national profile to enhance and sustain their support of local communities.
Our five strategic objectives for 2024-2027 are to:
Establish a stronger voice and influence for CFs
Support CFs to continue to transform grant-making and assume local systems convening role
Grow local philanthropy and giving
Become an insights and driven network
Position CFs as the long-term funder
Values
We believe in justice and fairness. Everyone should have the opportunity to have a fulfilling life and to feel they belong. This cannot be mandated by government or done to people, only with them. Change needs to come from within communities, driven by people who understand the local situation. Our support makes this possible. We understand the challenges, we find the funding and we work with those who have the solutions to improve lives.
We embed inclusivity in all that we do
We put relationships first
We are ambitious for members and the communities they support
Finances
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement
We are committed to building a just and fair society. In order to improve our diversity, scrutiny and decision making, we have woven Equity Diversity and Inclusion into everything we do. This includes support for members to become more representative of the communities they serve and to share best practice.
UKCF staff worked with multiple community foundations to support them with shaping EDI strategies both internally and externally, delivering facilitation and training.
We are working with our members to explore the many ways in which their work aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The alignment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the work of community foundations is clear. The 5 P’s (People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership) in the 2030 Agenda capture the breadth of community foundation work and align with the core mission of community foundations – to drive philanthropy and collaboration across communities for transformative and sustainable change.