# Community Foundation Network raises over £17 million for endowment fund

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2012/04/30/community-foundation-network-raises-over-17m-endowment-fund/
- Published: 2012-04-30T09:59:44+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

The Community Foundation Network (CFN) has raised £8.7 million which will be matched
by government funds bringing the total to £17 million for community projects. The
money which will go into an endowment will generate ongoing income for communities.

Community First is an £80 million government-funded programme being delivered by
the Community Development Foundation (CDF) that helps communities come together 
through new and existing community groups, to identify their strengths and local
priorities, plan for their future and become more resilient.

It includes a £30 million small grants programme for some of the most deprived areas
in the country and a national £50 million endowment match challenge.

## Advertisement

 [⌊Posthub advert. You create the campaign. We'll handle the postal journey. Get started at post-hub.co.uk.⌉](https://fundraising.co.uk/ads/posthub-20261007-300x250/)

Community First runs until April 2015, and during 2012/13 a further £15 million 
of matched funding is available. This means that people and organisations that wish
to set up [Community First Funds](http://www.communityfoundations.org.uk/working_in_partnership/community_first)
will be able to attract matched funding from the Government, with £1 added to every
£2 donated.

Stephen Hammersley, CFN’s chief executive, said: “The aim of the Community First
programme is to help neighbourhoods become more self-reliant and grow their capacity
to make the changes they want to see in their area, and this first £17 million of
endowed funding is a great start.”

Alison Seabrooke, Community Development Foundation’s chief executive said: “Our 
work leading this programme has demonstrated that communities are resilient but 
they deserve our support. We are working with communities who tell us what a difference
small amounts of money makes. The Endowment Match Challenge will make sure that 
communities are supported for years to come.”

Alistair Lang, chief executive officer, Birketts LLP said: “Birketts LLP is delighted
to be able to support the Community First match funding initiative. As a regional
law firm, we work closely with the community foundations of Suffolk, Cambridgeshire,
Norfolk and Essex so this represents a very special opportunity to boost our local
giving by 50% and make an even greater impact in the counties in which many of our
staff and clients work and live.”

www.communityfoundations.org.uk

 * **[People's Postcode Trust's funding round closes this week](https://fundraising.co.uk/2012/05/20/people039s-postcode-trust039s-funding-round-closes-week/)**(
   20 May 2012)
 * **[£56 million for arts and heritage groups to build endowment funds](https://fundraising.co.uk/2012/06/21/56m-arts-and-heritage-groups-build-endowment-funds/)**(
   21 June 2012)
 * **[Bletchley Park completes £2.4 million appeal to unlock £5 million matched funding](https://fundraising.co.uk/2012/06/27/bletchley-park-completes-24-million-appeal-unlock-5m-matched-funding/)**(
   27 June 2012)