Individuals and Families
The Cambridgeshire Community Foundation works with local people and families, helping them make gifts to charitable projects in a cost-effective and simple way
We make it easy for local families and individuals to support charitable projects cost effectively.

We can make donations on your behalf without disclosing your identity, if preferred

As a registered charity, all payments to CCF are tax-efficient, and we can distribute funds on your behalf (including outside of Cambridgeshire)

We can show you first hand the difference your donation has made. And introduce you to like-minded supporters.

We can help you make an informed decision, by providing you with an assessed shortlist of projects of interest to you – in your home or office.

We can help you introduce your children to charitable giving. Taking their age and interests into account, we can show them projects that are making a difference to local communities.
A cost effective and more valuable alternative to establishing a private charitable trust.
Every year we support hundreds of small, dynamic charities and community groups across Cambridgeshire. Relatively small amounts of money can make an enormous and lasting impact.
Since 2004 we have distributed over £20 million (as at April 2021) in grants and gained an unrivalled knowledge of local charitable projects. Our expertise has been sought by the Lottery, National and Local Government, Comic Relief, and Microsoft, to help distribute money on their behalf.
Whether you’re new to giving or have donated for years, we can help you develop your knowledge and interest further.
For more information, please call Michael O’Toole on 01223 410535.
How we Help
We aim to support individuals and families that wish to give to charitable projects by offering a range of different means to enhance your giving experience. If you want to set aside a regular monthly sum and have an easy means of making tax efficient payments to charitable projects of your choice; want some advice on which groups are working in areas of interest to you; need help assessing which projects are well managed and able to make the most effective use of your gift; or perhaps want to offer your support to help some of the funds we manage already on major issues needing more financial support (such as homelessness, life chances for children in care, and domestic abuse), we can help.
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Tax Effective Solutions – Read More
No one gives to charity just for tax reasons, but it is good to know that donations to Cambridgeshire Community Foundation can bring additional benefits to you and to local charities. For example, if you are a tax payer, just signing a Gift Aid Declaration can enable the Foundation to receive an additional 25p for every £1 donated, from the Inland Revenue.
As well as Gift Aid, Cambridgeshire Community Foundation offers many opportunities to tax effectively give to charity, such as Gifts of Shares, Gifts of Land and Buildings, Legacies and Payroll Giving
Gift Aid – A simple Gift Aid declaration increases the value of your donation. Under the scheme the Community Foundation can claim an additional 25p from every £1 donated by UK taxpayers. In addition, higher rate tax payers can claim tax relief on the gross amount of the donation. To download a Gift Aid Form, click here
Self assessment Taxpayers are able to nominate a charity to receive all or part of any tax rebate due to them.
Gift of Shares – A tax efficient way of giving where the benefit to the charity may be many times more than the cost to the donor. When an individual gives shares to a charity, they can get:
- Income tax relief on the value of the market value on the date of transfer of the gifted shares; and
- Exemption from Capital Gains Tax on the ‘disposal’ of the shares.
With the higher rate of income tax at 50% from April 10 for income over £150,000 and capital gains tax at 18%, this can amount to a substantial tax break.
Gift of Land and Buildings – Individuals who donate land or buildings to charity benefit from income tax relief and exemption from capital gains tax, similarly to gifts of shares.
Tax relief is given for the market value of the property as a deduction from the donor’s income tax liability for the tax year when the gift is made. The amount that can be deducted is:
- The market value of the property; plus
- Any associated costs of transferring the property, such as solicitor’s fees; less any proceeds of the sale, or the value of any benefits received in consequence of making the gift.
The income tax relief is in addition to exemption from Capital Gains Tax.
Payroll Giving – Registering a company for Payroll Giving means all employees can donate at maximum tax efficiency to a charity of their choice to which the government makes a further donation. This has been shown to have a very positive effect on employee relations, demonstrating that the company is committed to support its staff and the local community.
Payroll Giving, or Give as You Earn, offers a very convenient way for employees to make small contributions on a regular basis which is ideal for those wanting to support small charities in their local community. Donations are taken directly from the source of the donor’s income and employers deduct the specified amount before tax is calucated on the employee’s salary.

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Cambridgeshire Community Foundation
Hangar One, The Airport
Newmarket Road
Cambridge CB5 8TG
Registered Charity 1103314
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