Are you the Cleveland Community Foundation?

What is the Community Foundation

What area does the Foundation serve?

Who runs the Community Foundation?

Please can you tell me about the Community Foundation concept?

What about the history of Community Foundations?

Why should I give through a Community Foundation, rather than direct to charity?

How much money has Tees Valley Community Foundation given in grants since its inception?

How many grants did Tees Valley Community Foundation make in the 2003/2004 fiscal year?

Are you the Cleveland Community Foundation? Back to top
Yes, we changed our name in January 2004. Some major geographical changes have taken place in our area, which are inspired by a goal of revitalising the whole region. This is aimed at establishing a strong sense of place for the Tees Valley to ensure economic development and wider community regeneration.

What is the Community Foundation? Back to top
The Tees Valley Community Foundation is an independent non-profit grant-making organisation, which is dedicated to improving the quality of life of people in the Tees Valley. We offer a solution for those who want their giving to be to the benefit of the community.

The Community Foundation is a local organisation – in touch with the community and responding to local needs. We work hard to channel all charitable donations and community investment directly into grass roots community groups and projects that really need funding, particularly to alleviate all forms of social disadvantage.

What area does the Foundation serve? Back to top
We serve the four unitary authority areas of Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees, Redcar and Cleveland and although not actively involved in Darlington, we do administer some grant programmes in this area. There are also Community Foundation's in Durham and North Yorkshire.

Who runs the Community Foundation? Back to top
An independent board of trustees made up of professionals and experts from the private sector, the statutory sector and the voluntary sector.

Please can you tell me about the Community Foundation concept? Back to top
With over 60 community foundations at various stages of development, over 90% of the UK population has access to one. Together they distributed an estimated £52 million for the year ending March 2004.

Community Foundations are a unique resource for the local community they serve and play an important role in promoting and supporting local voluntary and community activity. They have two main roles: building endowment and managing funds for donors as well as making grants to charities and voluntary groups, linking local donors with local needs.

What about the history of Community Foundations? Back to top
Community Foundations are still a relatively new idea for the UK although Tees Valley Community Foundation was one of the first to set up in 1988. The first community foundation was established in Ohio, USA in 1914. Since then, neary 700 community foundations have been established in the United States alone. In 2003, US community foundations had collective assets of US$35 billion and made grants to the value of US$2.5 billion.

Why should I give through a Community Foundation, rather than direct to charity? Back to top
As a potential charitable donor, it can be tough picking your way round the charitable world. Who, what, where or how do you wish to help? Uncertainty over the precise destination of gifts and lack of involvement in the decision-making process means many donors seek the tangible rewards and impact of giving locally. Tees Valley Community Foundation has a wealth of grant-making experience and an in-depth knowledge of local communities, which makes us experts at identifying and assessing the grass roots needs of our community.

How much money has Tees Valley Community Foundation given in grants since its inception? Back to top
The Foundation has granted more than £7.5 million to around 2650 projects since its inception in 1988.

How many grants did Tees Valley Community Foundation make in the 2003/2004 fiscal year? Back to top
We distributed over £1.5 million of grants to around 450 projects and charities.