ESSEX COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
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.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that total income for the year was £8,477,899, with unrestricted reserves carried forward at £482,330. The trustees report that the charity remains a going concern and that all financial obligations can be met, noting that unrestricted reserves slightly fall short of the stated policy target of £650,000 but can be supplemented by the endowed Acorn Fund if necessary.
What the accounts disclose
“To the extent that the carried forward unrestricted reserves (excluding dilapidations) slightly fall short of the target figure, the Trustees take account of their ability to allocate funds from the endowed Acorn Fund to operational expenditure if there were a severe and unexpected decline in the Foundation’s financial position.”
“Four grants totalling £8,382 were awarded to Bar ‘N’ Bus Trust. ECF Chairman, Nicholas Alston, is Patron of this organisation.” — page 44
“A grant of £300 was awarded to CPRE Essex. ECF Trustee, Simon Hall, is a vice -president of this organisation.” — page 44
“Four grants totalling £8,382 were awarded to Bar ‘N’ Bus Trust. ECF Chairman, Nicholas Alston, is Patron of this organisation.” — page 44
“A grant of £300 was awarded to CPRE Essex. ECF Trustee, Simon Hall, is a vice -president of this organisation.” — page 44
“Four grants totalling £8,382 were awarded to Bar ‘N’ Bus Trust. ECF Chairman, Nicholas Alston, is Patron of this organisation.” — page 44
“A grant of £300 was awarded to CPRE Essex. ECF Trustee, Simon Hall, is a vice -president of this organisation.” — page 44
“Four grants totalling £8,382 were awarded to Bar ‘N’ Bus Trust. ECF Chairman, Nicholas Alston, is Patron of this organisation.” — page 44
“A grant of £300 was awarded to CPRE Essex. ECF Trustee, Simon Hall, is a vice -president of this organisation.” — page 44
In the news
- Essex Community Foundation appoints new director Gavin Benn
- Essex Community Foundation is giving vital support to craftspeople in the county
- Essex Community Foundation’s Emergency Grants Program (United Kingdom)
- Struggling local charities are receiving financial help thanks to Windsor-Essex Community Foundation
- Green Shield makes $50,000 donation Windsor-Essex Community Foundation
Property (HM Land Registry)
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 30/06/2025)
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (26/06/2026)
- Received assets from another charity (17/06/2026)
- Received assets from another charity (22/05/2026)
- Received assets from another charity (23/07/2025)
- Received assets from another charity (25/07/2023)
- Received assets from another charity (04/11/2020)
Trustees
- Atul Manek
- Benjamin Minter
- Charles Richard Maurice Bishop
- David Guest
- Dorine Johnson
- Gail Cunningham
- Gemma Cartwright
- Gillian Hayter
- Graham Chapman KC
- Maggie Desmond
- Shahnaz Biggs
- Tim Field
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 30/06/2025 | £8.5m | £5.3m |
| 30/06/2024 | £4.9m | £4.6m |
| 30/06/2023 | £5.3m | £5.0m |
| 30/06/2022 | £5.4m | £5.4m |
| 30/06/2021 | £4.8m | £5.1m |
Common questions
Is ESSEX COMMUNITY FOUNDATION financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that total income for the year was £8,477,899, with unrestricted reserves carried forward at £482,330. The trustees report that the charity remains a going concern and that all financial obligations can be met, noting that unrestricted reserves slightly fall short of the stated policy target of £650,000 but can be supplemented by the endowed Acorn Fund if necessary. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by HaysMac LLP.
Who funds ESSEX COMMUNITY FOUNDATION?
Funders whose own accounts filings name ESSEX COMMUNITY FOUNDATION as a grant recipient include THE DULVERTON TRUST, THE ESSEX AND SOUTHEND SPORTS TRUST, JOHN LAING CHARITABLE TRUST, THE FRANK LITCHFIELD GENERAL CHARITABLE TRUST, UTURN4SUPPORT.
Known funders
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK government | 27/01/2023 | £182k | LTC's Community Fund Pilot |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 24/07/2020 | £250k | Aligned Covid-19 Funding |
Funders of similar charities
Charities like this
- ACTIVE ESSEX FOUNDATION
- NOTTINGHAMSHIRE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
- CITIZENS ADVICE ESSEX LIMITED
- ESSEX RECOVERY FOUNDATION
- EAST END COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
- ESSEX PARTNERSHIP UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST CHARITIES
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESSEX COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | £8.5m | — | — | below | — | no doubt |
| ACTIVE ESSEX FOUNDATION | £1.3m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| NOTTINGHAMSHIRE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | £815k | — | 0 | unclear | 0.0% | no doubt |
| CITIZENS ADVICE ESSEX LIMITED | £2.1m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| ESSEX RECOVERY FOUNDATION | £755k | — | 1 | below | — | no doubt |
| EAST END COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | £2.9m | — | — | above | — | no doubt |