Devon Community Foundation
Analysis
Devon Community Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Tiverton. It was registered in September 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 03236918). It says it makes grants to individuals and makes grants to organisations.
In the financial year ending March 2025, Devon Community Foundation reported income of £2.2m and spending of £2.7m, spending 124% of what it took in. Across the 5 years on record, from March 2021 to March 2025, income fell from £4.2m to £2.2m (-49%), an average of -15% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to March 2022, when income dropped by 48%. Over the whole period it spent 106% of the income it received.
Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, Devon Community Foundation sits at the 93rd percentile: it is larger than about 93% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 96th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Suffolk Family Carers (£2.2m), The Forte Charitable Foundation (£2.2m) and The Coventry General Charity (£2.2m).
In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 71%, investments 16% and charitable activities 13%. Charitable activities took 95% of spending and raising funds 5.2%. Grants to other organisations totalled £2.0m. Reserves of £375k would cover about 2 months of spending at that rate. It employed 14 people.
Data notes from the register: Spending has exceeded income in each of the last three reported years, so the charity has been drawing on reserves or other funds.
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Donations 71%
- Charitable activities 13%
- Investments 16%
- Other 1.2%
In the charity's own words
DCF is privileged to be working alongside people who are motivated by wanting to make a difference across Devon.We use our knowledge of local needs and the voluntary sector to manage the distribution of funds to achieve sustainable outcomes, awarding financial and other support on behalf of our partners and donors.In this way we address disadvantage and achieve inspiring change in our communities.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| Suffolk Family Carers | Ipswich | £2.2m |
| The Forte Charitable Foundation | London | £2.2m |
| The Coventry General Charity | Coventry | £2.2m |
| Fight for Peace International | London | £2.2m |