Creating a Fund


Understanding the needs of a community and its issues are the first steps to solving them, and we are fully aware that we cannot tackle social problems alone. The information from our Cumbria Revealed report informs our grantmaking, and we use it to work with our fundholders and continue our work with partners to support the very best for the county. In response to this, our trustees agreed to the challenge of doubling our endowment and doubling our grantmaking in the next five years. They have also identified the following grantmaking priorities for the next five years:

• Improving the lives of disadvantaged children and families
• Improving the life skills, education, employability and enterprise of disadvantaged people
• Supporting vulnerable older people
• Improving the health and wellbeing of people
• Strengthening and supporting fragile communities
• Enabling people to access arts, sports, culture, heritage and the environment

People and businesses create grantmaking funds to support the people and causes which they care about most.  By utilising the knowledge and expertise of our staff, trustees and volunteers, grants are channelled to the best effect giving donors a great sense of satisfaction and confidence.

The creation of a fund is an enjoyable and rewarding experience.  We work with our fundholders to learn about their needs and wishes and create funds that match their interests and need in the community.  Each fund has a named member of staff attached to it as a key contact point.  Funds are governed by an agreement setting out the objects, type and terms of the fund. We currently manage more than 100 different grantmaking funds.

Fund holders receive regular reports about the grants made through their funds.  All funded projects are asked to complete monitoring forms and provide information and testimonies from the people supported.  In addition fund holders can visit projects if they wish.

“Cumbrians are very proud but sometimes both young and old need a little help to realise that local projects can improve their quality of life and, in some small way, we are hoping to achieve that by financially supporting the organisations that provide them.”
Anonymous donor, The Evening Hill Grassroots Fund.

We offer two main options for funds: endowment funds invested for long-term giving and flow-through funds that can be used for immediate grant-making.

Minimum Fund Sizes:
Flow-through Fund – £11,000 per annum
Acorn Fund – £25,000
Named Fund – £50,000
Donor-Advised Fund – £100,000

To make an appointment to learn more about funds, contact Andy Beeforth, Chief Executive on 01900 825760 or email andy@cumbriafoundation.org

Please see our Guide for Giving.