Hertfordshire Community Foundation

The Foundation funds work addressing poverty and hardship, mental health, youth, disability, homelessness, domestic abuse, and support for refugees and migrants. They also have a dedicated fund for children and families in Watford and Three Rivers. Supported activities include project delivery, equipment, training, and capital works. All funded work must take place in Hertfordshire and benefit local residents. The Foundation gives priority to smaller, grassroots groups with an in-depth knowledge of the issues they are dealing with and the communities they serve.

Registered charities, Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs), community or voluntary groups with a written constitution, social enterprises, Community Interest Companies (CICs), community benefit societies, and faith groups (provided their project does not include proselytising) can apply. Priority is given to smaller, grassroots groups, particularly those that are user-led or where the management reflects the community they aim to support. Groups must be based in Hertfordshire or be able to show how the funding will benefit people in the county. Statutory organisations including schools, hospitals, and parish councils are not eligible, nor are individuals.

The Foundation does not fund national charities without a clear Hertfordshire focus, statutory organisations, medical research or causes, general fundraising appeals, overseas travel for groups, fundraising events, or retrospective funding. They also exclude groups with more than one year's unrestricted reserves, businesses or Community Interest Companies limited by shares, and organisations that cannot demonstrate public benefit. Animal-related causes are excluded from the Foundation Grants programme.

The Foundation offers grants on a rolling basis while funds are available. They fund core costs, salaries, project delivery, capital works, equipment, and training. Grants are typically one-off rather than multi-year. They welcome unsolicited applications and do not require match funding. Their approach favours smaller, grassroots organisations with deep local knowledge of the issues they address.