In a series of blog posts, we’re covering the wide range of philanthropy services that we provide and the types of funds that we manage. This month our CEO, Mary Hancock, talks about Community Benefit Funds, which are usually set up as part of the planning process for developments such as wind and solar farms, or large-scale construction projects. These funds provide vital resources to the communities they serve, and we work closely with residents to decide how the funding can be best used to benefit their community.
Devon Community Foundation works with developers to make charitable investments in the communities where they work through Community Benefit Funds.
We use the term “Community Benefit Funds” (CBF) to cover a few types of funds created as part of the planning process for developments of all natures – for example housing, power or infrastructure – and may be imposed by planning decisions as part of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), section 106 (S106) agreements or other types of requirements.
However, a CBF is usually a voluntary commitment by a developer to put money into a fund annually, which we use to make grants to community projects. We establish a named fund that will benefit the communities where they work. We do this by engaging local people and by undertaking:
We currently manage five of these funds, the largest of which is the Batsworthy Cross Wind Farm Fund in North Devon.
Since the fund was created in 2016, communities in the ten parishes surrounding the wind farm have received around £100,000 a year to support services and improve community buildings and outdoor spaces in that area. We work closely with residents to decide how the funding can be best used to benefit their community.
Over the course of 2024/5 we focused on bringing in new members for the community-led decision-making panel and on increasing the volume of grants made. We distributed more than £185,000 in grants from this fund last year. Work funded included:
Refurbishments and upgrades for Oakford and Knowstone Parish Halls.
Enhancement and accessibility works on East Anstey Village Green.
Bell ropes and repair costs for parish churches offering social activities for the whole community.
Small running cost grants for playgroups and Young Farmers associations.
A new playground for Rackenford Primary School children.
All community benefit funds have community-led decision-making at their heart, and we play an important role in supporting the volunteer panel (made up of of local residents) to make informed and fair decisions, resulting in grant awards that will have the greatest impact in their area. Community foundations are uniquely well placed to understand local need and priorities, and to identify and connect initiatives with other local funds.
If you’d like to explore how we can work together to strengthen communities across Devon through effective philanthropy, please contact our CEO, Mary Hancock, at mhancock@devoncf.com. She will be happy to arrange a chat.
