NORFOLK COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Local financial companies take their corporate social responsibilities very seriously. Many turn to the Norfolk Community Foundation to assist them in ‘giving something back’ to Norfolk.

As a registered charity the Norfolk Community Foundation is dedicated to strengthening our community by developing giving within Norfolk to address the needs of our communities and to support community self help.

To that end, we target grants that make a genuine difference to the lives of Norfolk people. We manage funds donated by individuals and organisations, building endowment and acting as the vital link between local donors and local needs – connecting people who care with causes that matter.

Importantly, we’re independent providing donors with expert advice and the benefit of our local knowledge, our only agenda is to ensure that their giving makes a lasting impact in areas they care about most.

The primary objectives of the Foundation are:

• To build an endowment that will permanently increase the level of funds available to community and voluntary groups in Norfolk.
• To develop and encourage new ways of giving to increase the pool of charitable funding available to meet local needs.
• To understand and respond sensitively to changing needs and priorities within the County.
• To ensure funding is available to support small and informal voluntary and community groups.
• To draw in external funds to address priority needs in Norfolk.

The Norfolk Community Foundation currently administers over 55 funds on behalf of a range of donors. We look after both revenue and endowment funds with the Norfolk Community Foundation Endowment Fund approaching £1.5 million. Under the Governments Grassroots programme we are responsible for delivering £1.1million in grant support by March 2011, which is designed to support small community based projects with grants ranging from £100 to a maximum of £5,000.

The Norfolk Grassroots Endowment Challenge offers business donors a unique opportunity to maximise the value of their giving. Under the Government’s Grassroots Initiative announced in July 2008 we are able to claim an additional £1 for every £2 donated for local causes. For example, to create a named Fund, a donation of £16,667 and match funding could create and endowment fund of £25,000 and the net cost to the donor (on a standard rate of business tax) would be £12,000.

It is acknowledged that the management and administration of an organisations charitable giving can be a time consuming and at times a difficult process. This is a role that the Foundation is well equipped to perform. We work very closely with our donors to assist them in the grant process to ensure that the charities and areas of special interest that they want to support are targeted and aware of the opportunities open to them. The activities we perform in this role are managing the administration, assessing and monitoring the grants, making recommendations on the grant applications received, making grant payments on behalf of our donors and ensuring the donor receives the right visibility and best local PR they can through the grants they have made. We see the NCF and donor relationship as a real partnership and one where we facilitate charitable giving.

The Foundation will actively promote any funds both through our website and close links with other voluntary organisations. We currently have a database in excess of 1000 groups and we can target the appropriate individuals and organisations relevant to the areas that donors wish to support. Fund holders can, set up their own grants panel that will be sent reports on the individual applications prior to a decision making meeting. One of our Grants officers will be available at these meetings to offer any further information and to act on the decisions made. This will involve informing the applicants on the decisions made and sending out the relevant cheques and paper-work.

Community Foundations make philanthropy affordable and there is no better way to connect those with needs with those willing to help. Giving to your local community can be a hugely rewarding experience. There is a unique sense of satisfaction in knowing that you are making a difference to the lives of others, especially close to home. For further information please check our website http://www.norfolkfoundation.com or telephone 01603 623958.