At Cumbria Community Foundation, we use our knowledge of the local area and our grant-making expertise to help individuals, families or companies set up their own named fund to support the most deserving local projects and people.

We tailor our services to the needs of the fund holder to ensure that their charitable giving is done in the way that suits their needs and values. James and Eve Johnson created their Endowment Fund in April 2015, starting with annual gifts from income utilising gift aid tax relief to further benefit the Foundation, and also latterly by incremental gifts of capital.

The Johnson Fund’s focus is to assist young people, whose personal circumstances may hinder such progress, to develop their self-esteem and confidence, particularly through advancing a participation in music and the performing arts. They are also keen to offer support to carers of sufferers from dementia as well as to those whose lives have taken a major unforeseen turn for the worse.

The Fund has also “Match Funded” specific initiatives, including the Foundation’s annual “Winter Warmth Appeal.”

James said: “Research into my family’s history revealed a strong philanthropic involvement which Eve and I now wish to continue. We were particularly attracted to Cumbria Community Foundation as a means of supporting local need in an efficient, well managed and focused way. We appreciate the benefits of them looking after all the paper work, including investment management and project sourcing and monitoring, and welcome the donor advisory facility which encourages a continuing partnership of interest between the Foundation and donors, and which can hopefully continue through our family after our day.”