Essex Community Foundation
Analysis
Essex Community Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Chelmsford. It was registered in January 1996, 30 years ago. Its declared purposes cover general charitable purposes, education/training, the advancement of health or saving of lives and disability, which this site groups under health and saving lives. Legally it is a charitable company (Companies House number 03062567). It says it makes grants to individuals, makes grants to organisations and sponsors or undertakes research.
In the financial year ending June 2025, Essex Community Foundation reported income of £8.5m and spending of £5.3m, leaving 37% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from June 2021 to June 2025, income grew from £4.8m to £8.5m (+76%), an average of +15% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to June 2025, when income rose by 74%. Over the whole period it spent 88% of the income it received.
Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, Essex Community Foundation sits at the 98th percentile: it is larger than about 98% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 99th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Streetgames UK (£8.5m), Ellenor (£8.5m) and Working Animals International (£8.5m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 78% and investments 16%. Charitable activities took 90% of spending and raising funds 7.0%. Grants to other organisations totalled £4.1m. Reserves of £482k would cover about 1 months of spending at that rate. It employed 15 people.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 78%
- Charitable activities 0.1%
- Investments 16%
- Other 5.8%
In the charity's own words
Essex Community Foundation is an independent charitable trust. Founded in 1996, it has built an endowed fund of nearly £50 million, and has awarded over £47 million in grants to community-based voluntary groups in Essex, Southend and Thurrock.By acting as a broker the Foundation helps donors achieve their charitable objectives, and local voluntary groups secure funding for their work.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Streetgames UK | Manchester | £8.5m |
| Ellenor | Gravesend | £8.5m |
| Working Animals International | London | £8.5m |
| Hull and East Yorkshire Mind | Hull | £8.5m |