Oxfordshire Community Foundation

The Foundation funds a wide range of causes including domestic abuse support, mental and physical health, community development, homelessness prevention, and services for older people, disabled people, unemployed individuals, refugees, and ethnic minority communities. They support core costs, project delivery, training, equipment, and some capital works. Priority is given to organisations that reach underserved communities and to schemes that build on existing networks for mutual aid or fill gaps in social prescribing options. All grants are made to benefit Oxfordshire, with a focus on county-wide impact.

Eligible organisations include registered charities, charitable incorporated organisations, community interest companies, companies limited by guarantee, unincorporated associations, and community benefit societies. Community groups without formal legal status may also be considered. They support organisations that are based in or primarily serve Oxfordshire. Priority is given to those that demonstrate reach into underserved communities. The Foundation supports a broad range of beneficiaries, including older people, disabled people, unemployed individuals, homeless people, refugees, and ethnic minority communities. Some programmes may have specific beneficiary focuses, such as older people or adults, and may exclude children or young people.

The Foundation does not fund activities where the primary benefit is the advancement of religion, animal welfare, or enabling a public body to carry out statutory obligations. They also exclude debt repayment, general appeals, one-off events with limited impact, and activities without a clear connection to the funded theme. Activities that have already taken place before the grant period are not supported. Additionally, they cannot fund activities charged to the public where there is an existing market and the organisation has received substantial public funding.

Grants are typically multi-year, structured over one, two or three years. The Foundation supports core costs, project delivery, training, and capacity building. They favour small to medium-sized organisations and welcome unsolicited applications. Their approach is rooted in partnership with philanthropists, businesses, and public sector partners to channel funding to grassroots organisations.