South Yorkshire Community Foundation Limited

South Yorkshire Community Foundation Limited (SYCF), established in 1986, is an independent charitable funder and the region's largest grant maker, distributing nearly £40m since inception to drive lasting positive change in Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and Sheffield. Part of the UK Community Foundations network, SYCF channels philanthropy from individuals, businesses, and statutory bodies into grassroots initiatives, guided by values of community empowerment, inclusivity, social justice, local leadership, resilience, and evidence-based funding. Its distinctive place-based approach emphasizes responsive, transparent grant making, crisis response (e.g., £1.5m during Covid-19, £1.4m post-2019 floods), and partnerships that amplify donor impact while prioritizing sustainable transformation over one-off aid.

SYCF funds broad charitable purposes benefiting South Yorkshire communities, with thematic priorities including poverty relief, social isolation, mental/physical health (e.g., green social prescribing), disabilities, homelessness, crime/safety, education, work readiness, and economic growth. It supports marginalised groups like children/young people, older adults, ethnic minorities, and those in hardship through revenue (salaries, volunteers), capital (equipment, minor works), core costs, capacity building, and programmes like Small Grants or A Tree For Everyone. Activities encompass skills training, wellbeing/sports/arts initiatives, volunteer development, and community consultations.

Eligible applicants include UK-registered charities, CICs, social enterprises, and community/volunteer groups (unregistered with charitable aims), favouring small/medium-sized organisations with modest incomes (often under £250k) that are deeply embedded locally; no strict income limits or religious restrictions apply, and unsolicited applications are welcomed. Grants typically range £500–£5,000. Apply via online Grants Wizard and form with supporting documents (constitution, accounts); many programmes have rounds (e.g., Small Grants deadline Dec 5, 2025), some rolling—check website for updates, with decisions in 8–12 weeks. SYCF avoids non-charitable activities and rarely funds large/multi-year projects, standing out for its non-prescriptive adaptability, thematic panels, and championing of under-resourced groups via community-led needs assessments.