We are really pleased to announce that community foundations have raised £8.7 million in the first year of Community First - which with government matched funding means £17 million for our communities.

Following the success of the 2011Surviving Winter appeal, CFN has again joined forces with Saga to run a campaign in 2012. Last year over £2 million was raised from people who donated to help older and vulnerable members of society get through the winter.  Community foundations co-ordinated the campaign, which attracted high profile support from Dame Helen Mirren, Joanna Lumley, Gloria Hunniford, Sir Michael Parkinson and many others. It proved to be an amazing success, and the sum raised helped at least 20,000 vulnerable people across the UK . It ensured the people most in need of help could afford to stay warm, eat well and remain mobile, as well as help them in practical ways such as making sure they could get to doctor's appointments, go shopping, and maintain an active social life.

The Grassroots Grants and Endowment Match Challenge were successfully completed in 2011, after three years of generous giving by donors, reaching small community groups that had rarely received any grant support before. We are confident that the impact of Grassroots will be seen for many years to come.

The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland embarked on an ambitious fund development strategy in 2004 to celebrate its 25th anniversary. It exceeded its Challenge Fund target, more than doubling its endowment to £6 million during the three year period, 2004-2007. This substantial boost to the foundation’s endowment will go to underpin its work in peace building, community infrastructure, social inclusion, social justice and active citizenship.