Become a friend

Enabling local people to support local causes.

Who we are.

We are a registered charity that exists to make Sussex a fairer and more equal place. We do this by enabling local people to support local causes, making grants to small charities and voluntary groups working in communities across Sussex.
We use national and local data to focus our impact on four key funding priorities where we believe we can make the biggest difference.

  • Tackling poverty - Reducing poverty and disadvantage in our communities
  • Improving health - Helping people live longer, better lives
  • Reaching potential - Providing life-changing skills, education and training
  • Acting on climate - Taking local action for the climate

Through our philanthropy advice we help to match our supporters’ aims with the many small, effective local charities offering solutions to local issues.

Since 2006 we’ve raised £48 million, given grants of £30 million to over 3,020 organisations and £24 million is in endowment to provide for future generations across Sussex.

Our history.

Our Funder and first Chairman was the late 10th Duke of Richmond and Gordon. He felt that Sussex needed a community foundation to support the smaller charities and community groups often overlooked when local people and companies thought about giving to charity.

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Why a community foundation?

Sussex Community Foundation is a member of UKCF, the membership body for 47 accredited UK community foundations. It is the only national network of charitable funders with a physical presence in every part of the UK. As the community foundation in Sussex, our grant making is place-based, which means that grants are distributed according to specific needs identified across the county.

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Our mission.

Our mission is to champion and enable all those who want to make a contribution to our local area through effective philanthropy and community action.

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Our impact.

We use national and local data to focus our impact on four funding priorities where we believe we can make the biggest difference. Through our philanthropy advice we help to match our supporters’ aims with the many small, effective local charities offering solutions to local issues.

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Our people.

Whether you want to donate to Sussex or you’re applying for a grant, our team are here to support you. Find out more about each member of staff.

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