Lincolnshire Community Foundation CIO

Lincolnshire Community Foundation CIO, established in 2002, is an independent charity dedicated to tackling social inequalities and fostering thriving communities across Greater Lincolnshire. Its mission focuses on empowering overlooked local people and groups through strategic grant-making, endowments, social investment, and #funderplus support like advice, capacity building, and partnerships. With over £29 million distributed to more than 4,000 organisations, it prioritises evidence-led interventions addressing deprivation, guided by local data tools and consultations, embodying values of fairness, transparency, relational funding, and long-term transformation via staff visits and co-designed solutions.

It funds initiatives combating child and family poverty, mental health challenges, loneliness among older people, food insecurity, homelessness, addiction, unemployment, and access barriers. Supported activities span food provision, befriending services, youth programmes, volunteer schemes, employment support, social enterprise development, environmental projects, community infrastructure improvements, and neighbourhood strengthening via programmes like GRASSroots Grants and UK Shared Prosperity Fund, emphasising short-term relief and systemic resilience for disadvantaged, rural, and hard-to-reach communities.

Eligible applicants include UK-registered charities, community groups, and social enterprises based in and benefiting Greater Lincolnshire residents, with a preference for grassroots and smaller organisations (typically under £500,000 annual income). Grants range from £500 to £10,000 for projects, core costs, revenue, capacity building, or small capital works. Unsolicited applications are welcomed via email with forms and documents from the website; pre-application discussions are encouraged. Key deadlines include 1 November, 1 March, and 1 July for funds like Michael Cornish Core Grants, with quarterly panel meetings and decisions within six weeks.

Exclusions cover statutory duplication, personal/family grants, and non-local work; no religious restrictions apply. Distinctively place-based and approachable, it excels for embedded local groups seeking not just funding but guidance and collaboration for measurable public benefit.