Activities

As described by the charity on the register

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.

Latest income

£8.5m

Expenditure

£5.3m

Financial year end

2025-06-30

Income & spending history

As reported to the Charity Commission, by financial year end

Year end Income Expenditure income spend
2021-06-30 £4.8m £5.1m
2022-06-30 £5.4m £5.4m
2023-06-30 £5.3m £5.0m
2024-06-30 £4.9m £4.6m
2025-06-30 £8.5m £5.3m

Latest detailed return

Year end 2025-06-30

Income mix

Donations & legacies £6.6m
Charitable activities £12k
Trading £0
Investment income £1.3m
Total income £8.5m

Spending

Charitable spend £4.9m
Raising funds £385k
Grants to institutions £4.1m
Governance £139k
Total expenditure £5.3m

Balance sheet

Reserves £482k
Total funds £56.8m
— restricted £946k
— unrestricted £1.3m
— endowment £54.5m
Total assets £56.8m
Cash £2.9m

People

Employees 15

Classification

The charity's own register classification

What it does

  • General Charitable Purposes
  • Education/training
  • The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives
  • Disability
  • The Prevention Or Relief Of Poverty
  • Accommodation/housing
  • Arts/culture/heritage/science
  • Amateur Sport
  • Environment/conservation/heritage
  • Economic/community Development/employment
  • Other Charitable Purposes

Who it helps

  • Children/young People
  • Elderly/old People
  • People With Disabilities
  • People Of A Particular Ethnic Or Racial Origin
  • Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies
  • Other Defined Groups

How it works

  • Makes Grants To Individuals
  • Makes Grants To Organisations
  • Sponsors Or Undertakes Research
  • Acts As An Umbrella Or Resource Body

Source: Charity Commission for England and Wales register, 2026-07-28. Detailed figures as filed in the charity's annual return. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.