Cornwall Community Foundation

Cornwall Community Foundation, established in 2003 as a registered charity and company limited by guarantee, is the sole community foundation serving all of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Its mission is to combat poverty, social isolation, and deprivation—exacerbated by low incomes, high costs, and seasonal work—by fostering resilient communities and positive change for the disadvantaged, embodying Cornwall's motto 'Onan hag Oll' (One and All). With over £23 million distributed to 8,000+ grassroots organizations, it prioritizes hyperlocal impact through flexible grants leveraging deep local knowledge and donor partnerships.

It funds a broad array of charitable activities, including advancing education, improving physical/mental health, relieving poverty and sickness, and community-benefiting initiatives. Priority goes to vulnerable groups—all ages, at-risk youth, disabled people, elderly, rural isolated individuals—via projects like disability arts (Drama Express), animal-assisted therapy (Hugs Foundation), youth camps, food banks, crisis funds (e.g., Surviving Winter), mental health support, social inclusion, and capacity building. Grant types encompass project, core/revenue costs, capital, emergency/micro-grants (£250+), seed funding, and innovative responses to evolving needs.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities, CICs, or community groups based exclusively in Cornwall/Isles of Scilly, preferably small/volunteer-led with ≥3 unrelated trustees, a governing document, and no significant free reserves; no income thresholds apply. Typical grants range £500–£10,000 (avg. £4,000–£5,000; up to £20,000 occasionally), via unsolicited online portal applications requiring docs like accounts and quotes. Deadlines vary by fund (rolling or fixed, e.g., People in Mind closes Dec 2025); panels meet 4–8 weeks post-deadline, with payments in 2 weeks.

Exclusions include retrospective costs, lobbying, individuals, and religious advocacy. Distinctive for its supportive process, empowerment of overlooked grassroots efforts, and adaptability to Cornish challenges like rural isolation and crisis response.