The view from… UKCF
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What the 2023-24 data tells us
As we reflect on the landscape of grant making across the UK in 2023-24, one thing is clear: while the overall volume of grant giving has increased, the story behind the numbers is far from simple.
For community foundations, the data has reaffirmed the critical role we play in supporting the fabric of local life. Demand for core funding and capacity building remains high, and the challenges faced by the organisations we support are intensifying. Many smaller charities and community groups that community foundations fund are experiencing rising demand for their services and escalating operational costs – all while having to compete in a smaller donor pool that is still feeling the high cost of living.
In this context, investment in local people and places is more important than ever. Community foundations in our network were collectively able to distribute over £184 million to individuals, community groups and small charities throughout the UK in 2023-24, an 8.8% increase from the previous year.
How grants were distributed
We collected data from 32 of our members on the types of funding they awarded in 2023-24. Approximately 27% of their grants supported initiatives improving people’s health and wellbeing, 23% supported equality and inclusion in communities and 17% supported local community development and safety.
The pressures on grant applicants in 2023-24 did not go unnoticed by community foundations, which adapted their approaches to better respond to ongoing challenges. One clear example of this is the increase in the average grant size. According to our survey, the mean grant awarded across UKCF’s network in 2023-24 rose to £6,100, up from £4,000 the previous year. This increase may reflect a focus by community foundations on meeting the growing costs faced by applicants. The average grant size varies in areas throughout the UK, evidencing the integral role that community foundations play in positioning place-based grantmaking with different types of situations.
Going beyond the grant
If we are serious about tackling social injustice at its roots, we must think beyond short-term fixes. That’s why we are focusing on more partnerships that prioritise multi-year, core funding.
In our work to be more open and trusting grantmakers, we are going beyond the grant so that community organisations can have the space they need to build resilience, adapt to changing circumstances and develop bolder strategies. This involves listening to community networks, connecting with community panels, supporting participatory budgets, investing in models that are already working, and exploring ways together that can build a more just and equitable society.
The importance of UKGrantmaking insights
We are proud to be a UKGrantmaking partner – an important initiative that brings transparency, shared learning and collective insight to the heart of the funding sector. By collating information from across the funding landscape, we can see the direction of travel more clearly: where investment is growing, where it is declining and where critical gaps persist.
At UK Community Foundations, we remain committed to learning, adapting and collaborating. With our partners across UKGrantmaking, we are working to build a future where grantmaking is not only more strategic and equitable, but also more attuned to the lived realities of the people and places we serve.
We’re continuing to develop and evolve UKGrantmaking with each annual edition, so please do share your feedback and ideas for future development, and sign up to 360Giving’s newsletter for updates.