User:SteveAdams231177/Staffordshire Community Foundation



The Staffordshire Community Foundation is one of 57 Community Foundations based in the United Kingdom. The majority of counties in the UK are covered by a Community Foundation, with the exception of Staffordshire's county neighbour, Cheshire.

The Staffordshire Community Foundation, like many UK based Community Foundation's, or CF's, has 2 main remits. The first is to distribute grants - from private endowment funds and on behalf of larger organisations, such as Government, councils or larger charities, (like Comic Relief).

The second remit is to build a lasting endowment to benefit the county of Staffordshire.

History
The Staffordshire Community Foundation was first conceived in 2001. It started building endowments early on in it's lifetime, with the intention of benefitting Staffordshire's communities for many years to come. However, it only really came to prominence with the start of the Grassroots Grants scheme, (an initiative of the Office of the Third Sector, (now called the Office of Civil Society under the Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition)).

Grants
The Staffordshire Community Foundation manages grants schemes from organisations such as the Government, (Grassroots Grants, Targeted Support Fund), national charities, (Comic Relief Community Grants) and from local authorities, (Stoke on Trent's Safer City Partnership), as well as from it's permanent endowment funds, (Realise Supporting Lifelong Learning).

Permanent Endowment Funds
Unlike many charities that will spend your money within a year or two, a permanent endowment fund is invested and only the income from interest is used to make grants year after year...forever. Over time the fund will give out more than the original capital sum! The lump sum is invested either anonymously or specifically in the donor's name. The interest is given out as grants - which can be distributed in line with the donor's own criteria or standard criteria of the managing agents. The capital endowment is never touched and can be expanded with future donations. An SCF endownment fund doesn't help just one charity but will reach a wide range of voluntary groups and charities in need - and can be adapted over time to suit the changing needs of the community.