About Derbyshire Community Foundation

Derbyshire Community Foundation is an independent local charity, which, with the support and generosity of local individuals, companies and charitable trusts is building an endowment fund to benefit Derbyshire people in perpetuity. Income generated by our fund is used to make grants to voluntary and community groups, to tackle disadvantage and improve the quality of life for people throughout our county. By linking local donors with local needs in this way, we are able to address the problems of today and the issues facing future generations.

The generosity of our donors has enabled us to distribute over £7.9million of grants into Derbyshire, since we were established in 1996. We provide:

• a range of tailor-made services to help donors channel their charitable giving in a tax efficient way, back in to Derbyshire
• the versatility to assist a wide range of causes, including children, older people, sport, arts and culture, the environment  and community development
• through our endowment fund, the means to improve quality of life and help to build stronger communities across the county in perpetuity
• a countywide knowledge that helps us to identify suitable recipients and enables donors to reach grass roots projects that might not otherwise find the funds they need

About the Community Foundation movement

Community foundations are charitable trusts that support local community causes. Their role is to manage donor funds and build endowment as well as make grants to charities and community groups, linking local donors with local needs. Created by and for local people they help donors express their long-term interest in an area and its needs.

Community foundations have been active in the UK since the 1980s and a rapidly growing network of approximately 60 foundations is now established across the country. About 90% of the UK population has access to a community foundation.

The key advantage of this method is that the benefits are permanent. A gift made now will still be there in 100 years' time, providing funds for grants to address problems we can't anticipate today.

Community foundations benefit:

• donors and potential donors by giving them the opportunity to channel their help towards meeting local needs
  
• local voluntary and community organisations by creating and strengthening connections between those who have the means, the knowledge and the capacity to develop local resources for local needs
  
• the local community by the promotion of local charitable giving and activity and a sense of local identity and responsibility

The first community foundation was established in Cleveland, Ohio, USA in 1914. Since then, over 650 have been established in the United States. There are now more than 1,100 community foundations in over 35 countries.

The UK community foundation movement emerged in the 1980s. The impetus came from Charities Aid Foundation and central government when they supported the movement’s development by funding six community foundations for administration and start-up costs.

Since then they have grown rapidly and now provide services to voluntary groups, donors and local communities throughout Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and most of England. By March 2004, UK community foundations collectively held over £90 million in endowment (funds for the future) and in the year 2003-04 made grants of over £53 million.

Community foundations are non-profit organisations working to benefit a specific place. Their job is to attract new monies, usually from local companies and committed individuals, to create an independently-managed endowment. Funds are managed wisely by trustees appointed from the local community. Funds are invested, and used to make grants to local groups working to tackle disadvantage and promote the quality of community life. In this way, the community foundation acts as an informed and professional channel for the charitable giving of concerned people who want to support local good causes. For more information please visit the Community Foundation Network's website.

Derbyshire Community Foundation is a non-profit organisation that provides independent funding for voluntary community action throughout the county of Derbyshire. Set up in 1996, Derbyshire Community Foundation distributes grants to voluntary groups whose aims are to tackle disadvantage and enhance community life in Derbyshire.