Community Foundation for Leeds grants

Its registered objects are the promotion of any charitable purposes principally for the benefit of the community of Leeds Metropolitan District. They reach to a lesser degree across West Yorkshire and the United Kingdom as a whole. In particular they name the advancement of education, the promotion of good health both mental and physical, and the relief of poverty and sickness. It runs individual funds with their own themes, so check which funds are open before you apply.

Its guidance lists incorporated not-for-profit organisations such as CIOs, CICs limited by guarantee and charitable companies, registered with the Charity Commission, Companies House or the FCA Mutuals Public Register. Registered charities that are not an incorporated structure can also apply, but cannot use grants for PAYE staff, only freelancers. Small unincorporated and unregistered organisations qualify where annual income is less than £10,000 and the grant would not push income above £10,000 in the current financial year. It also asks for a minimum of three unrelated trustees, committee members or directors, with none registered as Persons with Significant Control.

For-profit, overseas and statutory organisations or activities, such as schools and hospitals, are not eligible for grants.

Grant sizes depend on which fund you apply to, and the foundation does not publish a single range. In its most recent financial year on the Charity Commission register it made £3,286,000 in grants to organisations and £16,730 in grants to individuals.

Panels typically meet 8 to 10 weeks after the application deadline, and you will typically receive an email with the outcome 10 to 12 weeks after the deadline.

Applications are made to individual funds, each with its own closing date, so the first step is to see which funds are currently open. Its open grants page lists a deadline of 01/09/2026 at 12 noon; confirm that before you rely on it. Check the funder's own website (www.leedscf.org.uk) and its Charity Commission entry (charity number 1096892) for current guidance and deadlines, as processes can change.