Our story

We’re proud to be Leeds: investing in communities for over 20 years.

Where it all began

Since 2005, Leeds Community Foundation has been working to create a fairer Leeds for everyone. Through flexible and responsive grant making, we enable and strengthen community organisations that are the backbone of our city, because when they thrive, so do our communities – and all of us benefit.

Our very first grants programme, the Social Enterprise Development Fund, funded organisations’ staff costs to pursue sustainable social enterprise ideas. As well as grant funding, each organisation was also given capacity-building support to help them realise their ambitions.

Leeds Community Foundation today

For over 20 years, we’ve been helping donors invest more than £72 million to benefit communities across our city and the wider region. As a trusted partner to businesses, foundations and professional advisors, we’ve delivered dozens of strategic giving programmes with life-changing outcomes.

Now, more than ever, our city needs us. With growing social, economic and climate pressures, grassroots community organisations have never been more vital, but with demand soaring and resources stretched, they’ve never been at greater risk. That’s why we’ll continue to develop partnerships, invest where it’s needed and build a fairer future, together.

Our vision

Leeds Community Foundation is building a fairer Leeds for everyone. As the region’s leading independent funder, we unlock giving and invest in communities through grant making, collaboration and leadership.

Read our strategy

People standing in a circle in the woods

Our DEI commitment

We’re committed to being an equitable grant maker. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is integral to our work and has remained a core part of our strategy since 2019. We’ve focused on embedding DEI into donor recruitment, programme design, grant panels and workforce — as well as specific grants programmes that engage and support more diverse and minoritised communities. We’re extremely proud of our progress, but know there’s always more to do.

Taking action on climate

Climate is everyone’s issue. We’ve embedded climate action in our 2024-29 strategy because we believe a fair Leeds is not only socially and economically inclusive, but also environmentally responsible. We’ve signed the Funder Commitment on Climate Change, introduced a new Environmental Policy and updated our Investment Policy with climate targets. We’ve also been proud partners in the Climate Action Leeds Community Grants programme, and are piloting climate topup grants as part of The Leeds Fund.