Enabling investment in communities to transform people's lives
We work with community foundations to inspire place-based philanthropy, bring communities together and fund vital work in neighbourhoods across the UK.
In 2024-25
-
£183m+
was distributed by community foundations throughout the UK
-
38,000+
grants were awarded to a wide range of community activity
-
34%
of funding supported mental and physical health and wellbeing
-
£5,500
was the average size of our grants, supporting grassroots organisations
We are here for the long term
Community foundations have been helping communities in the UK for 50 years.
Our endowment model means that we can remain as sustainable channels of support to people and communities all year round, and we can guarantee to be there for communities for many more decades.
What is place-based philanthropy?
Community foundations encourage local giving by bringing people together in common purpose to address local needs. Each community foundation is deeply rooted in place, drawing on decades of knowledge, relationships and expertise in the areas where they operate.
At the national level, UKCF works with strategic partners to pilot new neighbourhood ideas and scale existing solutions across the UK, making sure resources reach people and communities where they are needed the most.
Find a foundation
Community foundations are proud to be rooted in UK communities, working closely with fantastic voluntary and charitable organisations that are the heartbeat of community life.
Get involved and learn about your local community foundation by entering your postcode on our map.
Explore UKCF
Latest news
The latest news from the UK Community Foundations team.
-
May 14, 2026
£3m to help communities shape the future of AI and confront the ‘wisdom gap’New programme will track AI’s real-world impacts at a local community level across the UK, and fund ground-breaking community-led AI tools -
April 15, 2026
Independent evaluation report published for the Know Your Neighbourhood FundA new independent report explores evaluation findings from KYN Fund delivery between January 2023 and March 2025.community cohesionpartnerships -
April 13, 2026
An important day for place-based philanthropy as UK Government publishes new planUK Community Foundations welcomes the publication of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Our Place to Give: a plan for growing place-based philanthropy, which sets out how the UK Government intends to grow philanthropy in England and build a positive culture of giving.