Cambridgeshire Community Foundation

Could Cambridgeshire Community Foundation fund your project? Check fit free. Draft if yes — or shortlist better matches.

Typical grants: £1,500 – £10,000
Where they fund: Cambridgeshire, Cambridge City region, with particular focus on King's Hedges and Arbury in North Cambridge, Integrated Neighbourhoods in Huntingdonshire, Peterborough, and Fenland as listed
Applications: Accepted
How to apply: Online form

Works for Registered charities, CIOs, CICs and community groups.

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cambscf.org.uk

About Cambridgeshire Community Foundation

Cambridgeshire Community Foundation is an independent local charity dedicated to enhancing quality of life across Cambridgeshire. Established in December 2003, they work to identify critical needs and channel philanthropic resources through targeted grant-making, guided by values of partnership, inclusivity, and measurable impact. They manage a wide range of funds, each with its own priorities, and take an evidence-led approach to address evolving social challenges. The Foundation funds community-focused not-for-profit organisations for a wide variety of projects and charitable causes. Most funds seek to address inequality and give additional support to those at a disadvantage. They are distinctive as a place-based funder with deep local knowledge, managing over 50 distinct funds that allow them to respond flexibly to community needs.

What Cambridgeshire Community Foundation funds

The Foundation supports work across a wide variety of charitable causes, with most funds seeking to address inequality and give additional support to those at a disadvantage. Specific themes include mental health, education, homelessness, and poverty. They fund community-focused not-for-profit organisations for projects, core costs, salaries, capital works, and equipment. All funded activity must take place in Cambridgeshire. Some funds have more specific geographic focuses, such as the Cambridge City region or Integrated Neighbourhoods in Huntingdonshire, Peterborough, and Fenland. One fund supports therapeutic support, mentoring, skills development, careers guidance, and enrichment opportunities for children, young people, and families in King's Hedges and Arbury.

Who can apply

The Foundation funds community-focused not-for-profit organisations, including registered charities, CIOs, CICs, CLGs, schools, community groups, social enterprises, and community benefit societies. They support work with children, young people, older people, disabled people, carers, refugees, unemployed people, and homeless people. Organisations must be based in Cambridgeshire, and all funded activity must take place in Cambridgeshire. Some funds have additional geographic restrictions, such as excluding Peterborough or focusing on specific neighbourhoods. Faith groups are not eligible, and individuals are not funded.

What Cambridgeshire Community Foundation doesn't fund

The Foundation does not fund animals, faith-based activities, grant-making bodies, or projects promoting political activities or lobbying. They cannot usually fund improvements to land or buildings that are not open to the general public at convenient hours. Some funds have additional exclusions, such as not funding core costs or salaries, or requiring that projects have not started before approval.

How they like to fund

The Foundation makes grants through a variety of funds, each with its own priorities. Most grants are one-off, though some funds support multi-year projects. Some funds require match funding. They welcome unsolicited approaches from eligible organisations. The Foundation works in partnership with donors, public partners, and stakeholders to address community needs.

How much does Cambridgeshire Community Foundation give?

Cambridgeshire Community Foundation runs 5 grant programmes. Every figure below is sourced from their published guidance.

Last verified 8 August 2026 · 78 sourced facts

Arm Community FundOpen to applications

Up to £3,000

Online application form
4 rounds a year

Cambridge 2030 FundCurrently closed

£1,000 – £5,000

Online application form
2 rounds a year

General Funds (applied via the general application form, not fund-specific)Open to applications

£1,500+

Online application form
Single-year grants

Investing in Community Health FundCurrently closed

Up to £50,000

Online application form
Multi-year funding

Thalia WB Community FundOpen to applications

£5,000 – £100,000

4 rounds a year
Single-year grants
Match funding required

Those are the published figures. What your charity could realistically get — and whether you'd clear their rules on income, location and legal structure — is what the free fit check answers.

What Cambridgeshire Community Foundation funds — and what they won't

Their stated priorities

Small grants for projects focused on community development and engagement, children, young people and families, and adults facing life crisis.

Where they fund

CambridgeshireCambridge City region, with particular focus on King's Hedges and Arbury in North CambridgeIntegrated Neighbourhoods in Huntingdonshire, Peterborough, and Fenland as listed

Costs they'll cover

Project deliveryEquipmentTrainingEventsCore costsSalariesCapital works & buildings

They don't fund

AnimalsFaithEmergency fundingFeasibility studiesResearchTransportEventsTrainingCore costsSalariesIndividualsFaith groups

The full exclusions list (6)

Priority will be given to applicants who have not recently been awarded by the fund.
We cannot usually fund grant-making bodies or activities
Improvements to land/buildings that are not open to the general public at convenient hours
Projects promoting political activities or lobbying for causes
Projects must not have started or been committed to before approval
Projects must not result from planning permission conditions or statutory agreements

Good to know

FaithNo restriction

Focus areas

Children & youthMental healthEducationHomelessnessPoverty & hardship

How to apply to Cambridgeshire Community Foundation

Cambridgeshire Community Foundation takes applications via online form.

Published programme route: online application form.
Check whether your charity is in scope before you spend time on a full bid.

How it works

1
Describe your project. Once — used for this funder and others.
2
See if this could be a fit. Honest check on cause, place, size, and rules.
3
Draft if yes. From your real data — or move on if not.

See if Cambridgeshire Community Foundation could be a fit. Draft if yes.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Cambridgeshire Community Foundation provide?

Cambridgeshire Community Foundation runs 5 grant programmes — Arm Community Fund: Up to £3,000 · Cambridge 2030 Fund: £1,000 – £5,000 · General Funds (applied via the general application form, not fund-specific): £1,500+ · Investing in Community Health Fund: Up to £50,000 · Thalia WB Community Fund: £5,000 – £100,000.

Where does Cambridgeshire Community Foundation fund charities?

Cambridgeshire Community Foundation funds charities operating in Cambridgeshire, Cambridge City region, with particular focus on King's Hedges and Arbury in North Cambridge, Integrated Neighbourhoods in Huntingdonshire, Peterborough, and Fenland as listed.

Does Cambridgeshire Community Foundation accept unsolicited applications?

Cambridgeshire Community Foundation accepts unsolicited applications from eligible organisations. Current programme status is on this page — do not assume a round is open.

What does Cambridgeshire Community Foundation not fund?

Their published exclusions include: Priority will be given to applicants who have not recently been awarded by the fund.; We cannot usually fund grant-making bodies or activities; Improvements to land/buildings that are not open to the general public at convenient hours; Projects promoting political activities or lobbying for causes; Projects must not have started or been committed to before approval. The full exclusions list is further up this page.

How do I apply for funding from Cambridgeshire Community Foundation?

Cambridgeshire Community Foundation takes applications via online form. Published programme route: online application form.