Two Ridings Community Foundation

Two Ridings Community Foundation, established in 2000 by former Chief Constable David Kenworthy, inspires local giving and channels philanthropic investment to strengthen communities across North Yorkshire, East Yorkshire, York, and Hull. Its mission centers on placing people at the heart of grant-making, transforming lives through trust-based, participatory funding that builds equitable, thriving regions. Core values—transformative, trustworthy, compassionate, connected, and generous—drive over £23 million in grants to more than 7,000 organizations in 25 years, emphasizing integrity, transparency, and community-led solutions amid challenges like floods and COVID-19.

The foundation funds a broad array of needs-led initiatives tackling poverty, children's wellbeing, mental health (especially youth and isolated groups), food insecurity, social isolation, youth provision, community cohesion, rural suicide/digital exclusion, and crisis response. Priorities include food banks, intergenerational projects, community infrastructure (village halls, digital hubs), skills training, employability, and emergency relief. Grant types span project funding, core costs, capacity building, unrestricted support, capital for facilities, seed/pilot projects, and revenue grants, benefiting disadvantaged groups like low-income families, young people, elderly, and rural communities.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities, CICs, or community groups that are not-for-profit, locally led, and delivering in the specified regions (some funds target districts/wards); preference goes to organizations with income under £500,000, though larger ones may qualify exceptionally. No religious restrictions apply. Typical grants range £200–£30,000 (average £4,800), via online forms for open/rolling funds or fixed deadlines (e.g., York Community Fund: 20 Oct 2025; Bettys Fund: 1 Dec 2025), with decisions in 6–12 weeks—check website for guidance and drop-ins.

Distinctively, it blends local insight with national partnerships (e.g., National Lottery, Joseph Rowntree), empowering community panels for bottom-up decisions, fostering resilience without rigid exclusions beyond geography and profit status.