Foundation makes major community investment through The Leeds Fund

During 2025, Leeds Community Foundation invested more than £1.5m in local communities through our flagship programme. The Leeds Fund supports community organisations to take on the challenges that face our city today and into the future, from the rising cost of living and growing social isolation to the climate crisis.

Through our latest funding round, we awarded two-year grants of £50,000 to 30 organisations, taking the total given out through the fund since its launch in 2016 to nearly £4.5m. Today we’re inviting businesses and individuals who want to build a fairer Leeds for everyone to give to The Leeds Fund and help us create even more impact in 2026.

 

What is The Leeds Fund?

The Leeds Fund supports local community organisations that improve the daily lives of people across the city, through everything from running theatre and dance classes to tackling health inequalities and loneliness. Our grants fund day-to-day delivery of their vital services, while also supporting the organisational development that allows them to plan for the future and create long-lasting change.

Duncan from Humans Being, a Community Interest Company funded through The Leeds Fund, which helps people from marginalised groups to improve their wellbeing, said:

“In my experience of 24 years of grants and organisational management, I’ve never encountered a grant that has more of an impact. It’s had a transformative effect on our organisation – it’s brought in more funding, allowed us to benefit more vulnerable people, to build our community and leave us in a much stronger position to face the future.”

The Leeds Fund is only possible thanks to our donors and partners. Their generosity and commitment to funding together for collective impact allows us to make a lasting difference to communities across the city.

 

What’s been funded?

30 Leeds community organisations were funded in the latest grants round. They’ll use their grants for a mix of project delivery and organisational development – in whatever way works for them.

As well as supporting them to be there for their communities today, they can use their funding to plan for the long-term, working on leadership and governance, financial sustainability, workforce development and strategic vision.

They also had the opportunity to apply for additional funding specifically to support them to act on climate change, and to cover the costs of training and development. These are both unique features of The Leeds Fund, developed in response to feedback from communities.

A full list of the 30 organisations funded can be found at the bottom of the page.

 

Giving through The Leeds Fund

Giving through The Leeds Fund is the simplest and most effective way to make a lasting difference in the city you care about, whether through your business or as an individual. Donations of all sizes are combined for the greatest collective impact, so everything from a regular corporate donation to a small personal gift plays a part in building a fairer Leeds for everyone.

By giving together, donors are helping to address the real challenges people in our communities face: improving health and wellbeing, providing opportunities for learning, tackling inequalities and so much more. We’re proud to work with a wide range of supporters who trust us to invest in positive change for the city where they live or do business. The close and lasting relationships we have with the organisations we fund gives our donors confidence that our grants will get to the heart of what local people need.

Long-standing donors, Journey Further say, “Leeds Community Foundation have been doing this for 20 years and have distributed over £70 million. They know how to make donations work hard for the community.”

Do you want to join hundreds of organisations like Hill Dickinson, McInroy & Wood and Bay Media, and play your part in building a fairer Leeds for everyone? Get in touch with our team at info@leedscf.org.uk and we can help you get started on your giving journey.

 

Which organisations were awarded funding from The Leeds Fund in 2025?

Aire Place Studios, Association of Blind Asians, Battle Scars, Black Health Initiative, Brave Words CIC, Dance Action Zone Leeds, Feel Good Factor, Gateway Church, Getaway Girls, Getting Clean CIC, Give A Gift, Heads Together Productions/Chapel FM Arts Centre, Home-Start Leeds, Hyde Park Source, IMPACT North Ltd, Leeds & Moortown Furniture Store, Leeds Centre for Integrated Living (Leeds CIL), Left Bank Leeds, Let’s Do More CIO, Meanwood Valley Urban Farm, Otley Action for Older People, Reestablish, Shantona Women and Family Centre, Simon on the Streets, St Luke’s Cares, St. Paul’s, Ireland Wood, Sustainable Arts in Leeds CIC, Transform Theatre Projects, Women’s Counselling and Therapy and Yorkshire Dance.