GIVING – WHY CHOOSE US?
LOCALITY
We understand the immediate issues of the county. We help make sure donations go where they’re needed most.
ACCOUNTABLE
Governed by an active board of trustees who really know Herefordshire. Grant-making by an experienced and impartial staff. Only legitimate fund requests, properly assessed. Accredited by the UK Community Foundations Network.
FLEXIBLE
Major donors can have as much or as little involvement in the grant-making process as they choose. They can specify the causes they want to support and vary the degree of help.
KNOWLEDGE
We work with donors and their professional advisers (like solicitors, accountants) to make sure their gifts are both tax and cost-effective. We accept and invest a wide range of assets, properly safe-guarded for the future.
QUICK
CONVENIENT
Donors can, if they wish, channel all of their charitable giving through us. We can deal quickly and effectively with requests for funding on behalf of donors.
GIVING – WHY WORK WITH US?
Since 2002, we’ve helped community-minded people reach their philanthropic goals.
Searching for the causes you wish to champion? Or you know precisely where and how you wish to give? We can help.
Love Herefordshire and want to make the biggest charitable impact, in the most efficient way?
Then here’s five reasons why we’re your ideal partner…
TWO. You can count on us to be creative, flexible, efficient. Maximize your giving with our charitable solutions to support your unique vision and goals. We can help you make the most of appreciated assets and earnings.
THREE. You gain access to local philanthropic specialists. We can give you unique experiences and the chance to learn about current needs across Herefordshire.
FOUR. You gain access to investment experts. We support your charitable investment strategy. Whether your focus is for now or the long-term, we ensure your giving goes further in our community.
FIVE. Your charitable pounds directly invest in Herefordshire. With our help, you can make possible wonderful one-off problem-solving collaborations. Real local impact investment.
WHAT ARE COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS?
Community Foundations are a vehicle for charitable giving. They work with individuals, families and companies to design bespoke grant making strategies that target particular issues or focus on particular geographical areas.
UK Community Foundations (UKCF) is the umbrella organisation supporting 46 Foundations working in the UK. In the House of Lords in 2015, UKCF President Baroness Prashar highlighted Community Foundations as the voluntary sector’s “best kept secret”, not generally recognised by the public.
However the network’s collective endowment is worth £614 million and it has awarded over £98.3 million in grants. That makes it the fourth largest grant maker in the UK. A secret that’s making a big difference!
You can download the UKCF Charter.
GIVING – WAYS TO GIVE
We welcome donations of any size to support our work in Herefordshire.
Whether you are an individual, family or charitable trust, or a business, there are many ways that you can give to make a difference to our community.
Donors may choose one of several specific causes, or leave the choice to us.
As well as by card, you can donate direct into our bank. Choose 'offline' donation.
YOUR OWN CUSTOM FUND
We can help substantial donors establish their own named fund to support their favoured causes.
GEORGE'S FUND
A fund to celebrate the short and special life of George Price, to be used to promote the interests of Herefordshire's young children.
THE QUEEN’S GREEN CANOPY TREE PROJECT
Celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022. Donate to plant trees across Herefordshire.
SURVIVING WINTER FUND
Raising funds to help people in Herefordshire living in fuel poverty to stay warm, eat well and remain mobile.
EDUCATION
Herefordshire Educational Charity Fund
Supporting county-based young people under 25, helping prepare school leavers for the work-place, and providing bursaries for further education.
HIGH SHERIFF'S FUND
For charitable organisations benefiting community cohesion, law and order, chosen by the High Sheriff.
CARE
Herefordshire Care Fund
Helping groups and individuals to overcome obstacles and challenges in their lives.
ARTS, CRAFTS AND CULTURAL
Supporting these activities in Herefordshire.
WYE VALLEY AONB
Support for the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, its conservation, enhancement, social and economic well-being, and to promote the general enjoyment and understanding of the area.
DONATE NOW
Use the form below for payments by credit or debit card. Check PayPal and you'll go to their site and can pay there with a PayPal account or a card. You don't need to have a PayPal account. If you wish to donate by cheque or BACS you'll see instructions.
If you are a UK taxpayer we ask you to please enter your address details and tick the box to confirm and we can claim Gift Aid which will increase your donation by 25%.
DONATE NOW
GIVING – MANAGING A GRANT SCHEME FOR YOU
Herefordshire Community Foundation has the expertise to help with all aspects of setting up a Named Fund for grant-making. Our team will manage the administration of grant applications on your behalf and keep a check on those funded to make sure your money is spent appropriately.
You may like to use one of our dedicated expert grants panels, or we can host panel meetings chosen by the fund-holder. Scroll down for more.
If you have a specific cause or causes you would like to help one of our team would be happy to discuss your requirements. Please contact the office for an initial discussion on 01432 272550.
INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES
Setting up a Named Fund works like your own charitable trust but we handle the investment, and all the compliance and governance. This leaves you free to focus on building your fund and helping us decide which applications should receive a grant. For endowment funds, we normally suggest a minimum target of £25,000.
- Your way of supporting for ever, the causes you care about.
- Built up over future generations of your family.
- In memory of someone important to you.
For more information please contact us.
TRUSTS AND FOUNDATIONS
To find out more about how we can help you manage your charitable trust, please contact us.
EXAMPLE - COMING TOGETHER
The parish of Much Marcle in south Herefordshire had an ancient charity, believed to date back to the time of the English Civil War, which was originally established by wealthy parishioners to help local people in need or hardship.
In recent years, the Charity had become under-used, struggling to make enough grants, or find trustees to run it. Herefordshire Community Foundation was described as being “the answer to their prayers”, when trustees realised they could transfer the burdens of fund management and grant-making to us.
The Charity and Herefordshire Community Foundation Director Dave Barclay, worked together over an 18-month period to transfer assets to a new fund in the Community Foundation, the Much Marcle United Fund. This fund will continue to support organisations and community groups that benefit the wider community in the ancient parish of Much Marcle, and can also help individuals in the Parish who may require financial assistance for education or welfare need.
CORPORATE GIVING
Our Good Giving Guide is essential reading for any organisation that is reviewing its charitable giving or corporate social responsibility programme and for those who want to do more. To get a copy of the guide, or find out more about how we can help you manage your corporate charitable trust, please contact us.
PROFESSIONAL AND FINANCIAL ADVISERS
Because we handle the administration associated with donations, the cost and the burden of administering a fund do not fall on your client in the same way as if they were to set up a charitable trust.
Community foundation staff deal with grant applications, carry out due diligence on the chosen charities, prepare a portfolio of funding options and measure the impact of funding.
Your clients can give to excellent causes, all of which have been assessed for their value to the community, through a variety of different funding structures.
In addition, as Herefordshire Community Foundation invests in many funds at one time, we often benefit from preferential rates and greater returns. This makes it easier for solicitors and other fund managers to recommend the Foundation, especially when the welfare of the fund is the primary concern.
For more information please contact us.
GIVING THROUGH WILLS AND LEGACIES
There are many ways that you can give to make a difference to our community in Herefordshire. Considering a gift to the Herefordshire Community Foundation is one way in which you can support the local community.
Legacies left to the Hereford Community Foundation in wills help us to continue to fund community-based projects. On top of the charitable benefits of making a gift there may also be tax advantages for our generous donors.
Legacies in wills come in all shapes and sizes. Hereford Community Foundation is assisted by Harrison Clark Rickerbys Solicitors to answer your questions and to provide support with legal advice and assistance in drafting your will.
Please contact Harrison Clark Rickerbys dedicated will writing team on 01432 349670 for further advice.
Why Make a Will
One in three of us die in the UK without making a will. When someone dies without making a will there are strict legal rules that decide how and when their estate is divided.
Many people assume that after they have died those that they want to benefit will do so but this is not always the case. If you are over the age of 18 (or under that age if you are a member of the Armed Forces) you can make a will.
Making a will is the only way that you can ensure that your chosen beneficiaries and charities will benefit from your estate. You may also benefit from a reduced rate of inheritance tax if, subject to certain criteria, 10% of the estate is left to charity.
Please contact Harrison Clark Rickerbys dedicated will writing team on 01432 349670 for further advice.
How to Make a Will
Professional advice is key to making sure that your will is drafted correctly and that your chosen beneficiaries, whether individuals or charities, benefit on your death.
A will is not just about who you wish to leave your assets to after you have died. A will, amongst other things, enables you to appoint guardians for your children who may be under the age of 18 at your death which is often one of the most important decisions you will make.
You are advised to contact Harrison Clark Rickerbys dedicated will writing team on 01432 349670 for further advice and information.
GIVING – STORIES
Charles Saunders was born in a labourer’s cottage at Penrose Green Farm, just south of St Weonards, in 1890. He attended the National School at St. Weonards and eventually moved to Pontypool where he lived and worked. He emigrated to the United States in 1913, following his brother Albert who was a Presbyterian Minister.
Charles and Anna’s grandchildren and great grandchildren have created the Charles and Anna Saunders fund at the Herefordshire Community Foundation to honour them. Their goal is to assist the foundation in its philanthropic work in Herefordshire. Much of the family’s personal and business success originated from its connection to Herefordshire.
GRANDSON, STEPHEN SAUNDERS ON LOCAL RADIO
By allowing the trust to become part of the Herefordshire Community Foundation’s portfolio (as the Joanies Fund) we not only improved its administrative effectiveness but also its reach, while remaining an integral part of the decision-making as members of the panel.
Grant making is a much calmer process now, and thus a more considered one.
For many years the trust was administered by the family although meetings were not easy to arrange owing to family life and work commitments.
We first became aware of Herefordshire Community Foundation (HCF) in 2002 when Richard Bulmer became one of the founding trustees and we watched the work they were doing with grant programmes with interest. We always looked to deliver the best possible outcomes with the Becket Bulmer Trust – my father would have expected no less! – and in 2007 we asked that HCF take over the management of the Becket Bulmer grants although the trust remained independent with the family trustees being responsible to the Charity Commission.
For two years HCF did the administration involving getting in sufficient applications, assessing them, making recommendations and presenting them to the Becket Bulmer trustees to an agreed schedule, monitoring approved grants and ensuring there was feedback and End of Grant reports.
At the end of the two years we Becket Bulmer trustees were very happy with the service delivered by HCF and decided to close the Becket Bulmer Trust and hand over the whole management to Herefordshire Community Foundation with Bulmer family members remaining involved through the grants panel.