Community Foundation for Leeds

Community Foundation for Leeds, established in 2002, is the region's leading independent funder, having distributed over £70 million through 8,000+ grants to unlock giving and build a fairer Leeds for everyone. Its mission tackles entrenched inequity, social exclusion, and systemic challenges via grantmaking, collaboration, and leadership, with core values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and organisational resilience. Distinctively, it empowers grassroots groups through flexible, multi-year funding, proactive applicant support (including advice calls and feedback), robust due diligence, and a theory of change fostering vibrant, equitable communities.

It prioritises mental health (especially youth), nature/environmental projects, children/young people in deprived areas, loneliness, employability, and resilience, while championing marginalised groups like LGBTQIA+, racially minoritised people, and d/Deaf/disabled communities. Key programmes include Leeds Fund Strategic Grants (service delivery/capacity building), Micro Grants (grassroots activities up to £500), Jimbo’s Fund (hardship), Flint Family Fund (early years), and Leeds Digital Inclusion Fund (skills/equipment). Supported activities span community gardening, arts/sports for youth, cultural programmes for refugees/asylum seekers, and women’s peer support.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities, CICs, CIOs, or small unincorporated community groups (minimum three unrelated trustees) delivering in Leeds (primary) or wider region like Bradford; preference for incomes £75k-£1m for larger grants, but open to micro-groups under £10k. Excludes for-profits, statutory bodies, overseas orgs, or those with substantial core funding.

Grants range £500-£50k (average £8.4k), including core costs, projects, capital (with quotes), and unrestricted funds. Unsolicited applications via online portal; deadlines vary (e.g., Strategic Grants 30/06/2025, Flint 17/11/2025; some rolling), with decisions 10-12 weeks post-deadline.