About Us

Working hand in hand with communities to build a better future.

We’re an independent, grant making trust, inspiring generosity and achieving impact.

The Community Foundation want to see a place where generosity and fairness changes lives, communities flourish, and everyone feels they belong.

We Inspire Generosity

Matching generous people to important causes, we manage and award grants to hundreds of charities through donations and funds set up by our donors. Beginning with the causes and issues that you care about, our team guide you with your giving and connect you to a network of like minded people, social entrepreneurs, important causes and charitable organisations.

Whether you want to make a one off, regular or lifetime donation, help charities and social enterprises thrive with a social investment, give now or in the future we’re happy to share our expertise, support and advice so get in touch.

Our Grants Achieve Impact

Responding to need, we’ve awarded over £100m in 40 years to groups and organisations across NI making contributions to education, health, housing, the arts, social justice, employment, peace and reconciliation. We’re rooted in a tradition of community connections, risk taking and innovation and we like to help smaller, community-led organisations that work directly with people who are at the margins of society. Funding through the Foundation ranges between £250 to £1m.

Empowering the local community to effect change, the big issues and themes we are currently focussed on include building sustainable communities, community voice, thriving after the conflict and people on the edges.

Fundraising Standards

The Foundation is registered with the Fundraising Regulator and is committed to high standards of transparency and accountability in fundraising.

23 Mar 2026

Environmental fund launched to support communities to  tackle climate change 

Communities across Northern Ireland are being invited to take the lead in tackling climate change through a new Climate Action Seed Fund designed to support grassroots…

Foundation News

12 Mar 2026

Tender Opportunity: Provision of capacity building support to grantees of the Housing & Homelessness fund

Invitation to tender for the ‘Provision of capacity building support to grantees of the Housing & Homelessness fund’ The Community Foundation is seeking a suitable…

Foundation News

27 Jan 2026

The Brian Conlon Foundation celebrates five years of giving

The Brian Conlon Foundation is celebrating five years of giving as it opens a new round of funding for grass roots groups in the wider Newry area. To date the Foundation,…

Foundation News