Oxfordshire Community Foundation

Oxfordshire Community Foundation (OCF), established in 1995, is an independent charity dedicated to improving lives and tackling inequality in Oxfordshire by investing in its vibrant charitable sector. As a gold-standard community philanthropy hub, OCF channels resources from philanthropists, businesses, and the public sector to address hidden social issues like homelessness, educational inequality, loneliness, isolation, and climate-exacerbated challenges. Guided by values of effective grant-making, strong governance, local insight, transparency, and equity, it supports around 200 grassroots organisations annually with £2 million in grants, fostering resilient communities through prevention, wellbeing, and community-led solutions.

OCF funds projects benefiting vulnerable adults, children, and socially excluded groups, including direct support services, core costs (running costs, salaries), capacity building, community development, and occasional small capital items. Priorities encompass enabling independent living, strengthening connections, and grassroots delivery via themed programmes like the Didcot Powerhouse Fund. Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities and community groups based in or primarily serving Oxfordshire, with a preference for small and medium-sized organisations (typically under £1 million annual income); no religious restrictions apply.

Grants typically range from £1,000 to £10,000 (most £2,000–£5,000), with rare larger awards up to £50,000 for strategic initiatives. Unsolicited applications are welcomed via online forms during programme-specific rounds (biannual frequency, e.g., Didcot opens 1 December 2025, closes 11 January 2026), with decisions in 6–8 weeks—no preliminary enquiries needed, but strict deadlines enforced and no applications outside rounds. Distinctively, OCF's deep local expertise, quality accreditation, and partnership focus set it apart, excluding non-local or large-scale national efforts to prioritise place-based impact.