Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation

Bedfordshire and Luton Community Foundation (BLCF), established in 1999 and registered as a charity in 2001 by founders Geoffrey Farr MBE DL, Sir Samuel Whitbread KCVO, and John Richardson, Bishop of Bedford, is a local grantmaker dedicated to tackling inequalities and building resilient communities in Bedfordshire and Luton. Its mission focuses on eradicating poverty, promoting health and wellbeing, and advancing equity and inclusion, guided by values of local empowerment, lasting change, and community-led solutions as outlined in its 2022–2027 Strategic Plan. Renowned for deep ties to grassroots groups, BLCF empowers organisations with lived experience, responds to shifting needs like food/fuel poverty, mental health crises (especially for 16–25-year-olds), employment gaps, and Covid-19 impacts, and emphasises "golden threads" of inequality reduction, climate action, and adaptive learning.

BLCF funds thematic priorities including economic security, youth mental health and development, women's empowerment, cultural inclusion (e.g., Windrush projects), food poverty relief, arts engagement, leadership building, community health, and biodiversity/climate initiatives. It supports staff/core costs, new/existing projects, equipment, capital, and capacity building via programmes like Small Grants Fund, Community Trust Fund, Luton Citizens’ Fund (participatory budgeting), Mental Health Collaborative, and Greener Future Fund, distributing over £4.7 million annually in partnership with local authorities.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities, CICs limited by guarantee, and not-for-profit community groups delivering direct benefits to Bedfordshire/Luton residents, with preference for grassroots organisations under £250,000 income showing strong governance, sustainability, and beneficiary engagement. Larger/national entities qualify only with clear local impact.

Grants typically range £1,000–£10,000 (up to £25,000 rarely), for up to one year. Unsolicited applications start with Expression of Interest (EOI) via online portal; 2025 deadlines: 17 January, 14 April, 14 July, 29 September (panels quarterly, decisions 2–4 months). Excludes individuals, for-profits, national charities without local ties, religious/political activities, unrelated animal welfare, retrospective costs, or statutory duties. Distinctive for flexible, locality-driven grantmaking, user-led panels, and UK Community Foundations membership with top governance ratings.