Looking back on 20 years of Leeds Community Foundation

2025 marked the 20th anniversary of our very first grant. It’s been a year for celebration, reflection and a re-energised commitment to working together for a fairer Leeds. 

Here, we look back at just a few of more than 150 programmes we’ve delivered over the past 2 decades… 

 

Our first programme 

Our very first grants programme was the Social Enterprise Development Fund, which funded organisations’ staff costs to pursue sustainable social enterprise ideas. As well as grant funding, each organisation was given capacity-building support to help them realise their ambitions. Many of the organisations funded through our first programme are still active grant holders today, and have received funding from various programmes over the years. 

The premise behind that first programme – to provide capacity-building support alongside grants to help facilitate resilience and sustainability – continues to shape our work and is reflected in the current focus of our flagship programme, The Leeds Fund. 

 

Unlocking endowment capital to invest in communities now

2025 has been a challenging year for our community organisations, and our donors. The compounding effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and cost-of-living crisis have continued to put strain on people and businesses. We met this urgent need by releasing £2m from Jimbo’s Fund with the support of the Heselden family, to be distributed through The Leeds Fund. 

So far, 30 Leeds community organisations have received multi-year, strategic grants to,  support their resilience and sustainability, with many opting to also received top-ups to take action on climate change. 

 

The Leeds Fund over the years 

We established our flagship programme, The Leeds Fund, in 2016 to address the city’s most pressing needs. In that time, we’ve focused on mental health, loneliness and inclusion, enterprise and employability and, most recently, investing in the strength and resilience of community organisations. 

From Microgrants to Strategic grants, we’ve invested nearly £4.5m in more than 250 organisations across the city through The Leeds Fund. 

 

Healthy Holidays for Leeds families 

Another major milestone has been the delivery of Healthy Holidays Leeds, since 2018. We ran the programme first with generous support from local businesses and individuals and, more recently, as part of the Department for Education’s Holiday Activities and Food Programme, in partnership with Leeds City Council. 

We’ve awarded more than £6m through the programme, so organisations can support children who might go hungry during the school holidays. As well as making sure children get to have a nutritious meal, they also put on fun, engaging activities and experiences for kids to take part in. 

The programme not only helps children to be in a good place to return to school after the holidays, but also eases the pressure on parents. One organisation said “Healthy Holidays has made a massive difference in the community for the children and their families. We’ve had lots of conversations with parents about their own mental health, and how it’s helped to take away financial worry or guilt for them. Many have been surprised and thrilled at just how well their child has got involved and thrived at Healthy Holidays.” 

 

The power of partnerships 

None of this progress would have been possible without the incredible partners we’ve worked with to make Leeds, and the surrounding areas, a fairer place. From Comic Relief, The National Lottery Community Fund and Henry Smith Foundation, to the Bartlett Group, Local Care Direct and Nationwide, plus so many more than we can name. Together, we’ve invested more than £70m in our communities. 

We’re proud of the impact we’ve had over our first 20 years, but we know there’s much more to do. Community organisations are facing higher demand and higher costs, and fewer people than ever are giving to charity. It’s vital that we come together now, to invest in our community organisations so they can help local people – not only to survive, but to thrive. 

Visit our giving page to learn more about the part you could play in a fairer Leeds for everyone.