At County Durham Community Foundation we use our grant making expertise and knowledge of the local area to help you set up your own, named charitable fund which will support the most deserving local projects and people according to criteria that is set by you.
We are dedicated to providing the highest level of service for all of our fund holders; as such each charitable fund that is set up with County Durham Community Foundation is unique. We tailor all of our services to the needs of each individual donor to ensure that your fund and your charitable giving is done in the way that best suits your needs and your values.
As a fund holder with County Durham Community Foundation you can expect:
Direct access to thousands of local charities and worthwhile causes
Working with County Durham Community Foundation gives you access to thousands of local charities and people in need. Using our knowledge and expertise will help you identify worthwhile local causes, saving you considerable time, energy and money in your search.
Regular information in the format you choose
To keep you up-to-date on the projects you are supporting, you can choose to receive regular updates in a variety of different formats to suit your needs, even visiting your projects so you can see first-hand the boost your support has given to local communities. This will give you complete confidence that your money is being spent in the most effective way possible.
You set the terms of your fund
Right at the start of our relationship, you set out the guidelines for how your fund is to be run, and the type of people or groups to whom your grants are to be allocated, giving you complete control and security in knowing your money is only ever going to be given to the very people you want to help.
Increase your fund’s value by as much as 40% from the taxman
All funds, including those set up through legacies, can be made in the most tax efficient way available to you. We will be pleased to advise you, or work with your solicitor, on the most financially effective way for you to make a donation, leaving you to concentrate on the difference you want your donation to make and how you want your gift to be used.
You stay in the driving seat if you want to
You can have as much, or as little, involvement in the decision-making process as you wish. You can either take advantage of our professional expertise, receiving a comprehensive assessment of each grant that we put forward for you to fund, or you can simply leave us to make the decision on your behalf, safe in the knowledge that you have set the guidelines. Either way, you stay in control.
Avoiding red tape and solicitors' bills, the easy way!
By setting up your charitable trust through County Durham Community Foundation, you will save yourself thousands of pounds in legal fees and 'red tape' than doing it yourself, meaning you can help people or projects within just a few days. We take over all the legal responsibilities and liabilities for running your fund and complying with charity law - all you have to do is read and sign the paper work, saving you the task of completing lengthy annual returns from the Charity Commission or having to prepare your own accounts.
Making sure your money benefits from expert investment advice
Your fund is wisely and prudently invested through our expert Investment Managers, UBS Wealth Management. Its performance, which is continuously monitored by our board of investment experts, can also be tracked by you online, making sure your money works harder for your good causes.
The lowest management fees, guaranteed
To make sure the maximum amount of your money is spent on good causes, you will only pay a 1.25% charge for administration on endowment (invested) funds and 10% for revenue (immediate) funds. All this is done without your support being diverted into costly charity management charges.
A steady hand at the helm
Your fund and County Durham Community Foundation are managed with the highest level of integrity and standards of governance. Our Trustees meet regularly to discuss and monitor any activity so that any decisions are only made in your best interests in order that your fund will continue to help good causes for many generations to come.
Professional service
The staff at County Durham Community Foundation are dedicated to managing your fund in a thorough and professional manner. You can rely on us to honour your wishes and ensure that grants from your fund are only made to groups and individuals that meet your criteria.
Once you have set up your fund, you can be assured that every grant given from your fund will be addressing a real need, because we will ensure that we thoroughly assess each application received. Click here to find out how we safeguard your money.
Read more about the various ways we can work with you in our Ways to Give section or find out how we are already working with people just like you – individuals & families, businesses, trusts and public bodies - in our Who we work with section.
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