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1914

The first community foundation is founded in Ohio, USA by lawyer and banker Frederick Goff.

1914
1931

A further 73 community foundations have been established across the US with the idea starting to take hold in other continents.

1931
1975
The first community foundation launched in Swindon in the UK by South African born lawyer and then business owner Lord Joel Joffe.
1975
1990

The Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) partner with the Mott Foundation to release £2 million in grants through which three UK community foundations build a long term grant making endowment.

1990
1991
The Community Foundation Network is launched to help stimulate the growth of further community foundations as well as foster good practice and encourage knowledge sharing across the network.
1991
1994
Devon Community Foundation is established following a feasibility study and charity review carried out by the Community Council.
1994
1994
The Amory Foundation gifts DCF £15,000 to cover core costs for three years.
1994
1994

DCF makes Dix’s Field, Exeter its first home.

1994
1996
Director Mrs Alex Sanders is appointed. “I joined the Foundation in April 1996 when it consisted of just a feasibility study, a box of paper work and an enthusiastic steering group.”
1996
1999
Our first ever Newsletter, the Coast-2-Coast celebrates four successful grants rounds to date, with a total of £36,670 being distributed to 130 Devon organisations.
1999
1999
DCF’s first website is launched
1999
1999

DCF commissions the University of Exeter to conduct a survey into social need in Devon to help shape its grant making and develop its standing as experts within the sector.

1999
2000
Melanie McLoughlin succeeds Alex Sanders to become the next Director of DCF. Whilst reserves are low Melanie is appointed on a voluntary basis and is the sole member of staff.
2000
2001
DCF moves to new temporary premises at Lowman Green in Tiverton, courtesy of Mr Ian Amory, one of the Foundation’s founding board members.
2001
2001
The Community Council of Devon awards DCF £50,000 in a match-funding initaitive, representing the largest single donation received in endowment since DCF’s launch. This sum creates the Rural Devon Fund – supporting small rural parishes in Devon.
2001
2002

DCF introduces new branding that aims to ‘reflect our role in Devon more accurately.’

2002
2002
DCF welcomes new Chairman Edward Bourne, stepping into the shoes of interim Chair Gerald Sturidge, who in turn succeeds founding Chair Bill Pybus.
2002
2004
In partnership with the Plymouth Evening Herald DCF runs the first ever Plymouth Community Volunteer of the Year Awards in the city. DCF continues this annual celebration with awards ceremonies until 2013.
2004
2005
A new Tesco store is planned at the site of DCF’s Lowman Green office. A kind invitation from John Heathcoat and Co results in a permanent move to The Factory, Tiverton.
2005
2005
DCF reports its most successful year to date, with £983,646 in grants being distributed in the 2004-2005 fiscal year!
2005
2005

DCF is appointed to manage Sport Relief grants in Devon. This is a joint initiative between Comic Relief and the BBC to tackle exclusion and isolation through sport. 

2005
2005
DCF launches its Do It For Devon campaign with the help of campaign patron Judi Spiers and a giant cream tea party event at the Devon County Show, that will raise funds to support the foundation’s work.
2005
2006
Ray Miles is appointed as DCF’s new Chairman in April 2006.
2006
2006
Devon Community Foundation becomes the first winner of the West Devon Good Funders Award. Administrators, the West Devon Local Strategic Partnership, say, “We all know that it can be a long and difficult process getting funding for worthwhile community projects. “A good funder can make all the difference. It’s not just about giving money. There are lots of ways in which the process can be made easier and more rewarding for both sides.
2006
2007
DCF becomes one of just five community foundations to date to receive a new quality accreditation standard from the Community Foundation Network, endorsed and recognised by the Charity Commission.
2007
2008
DCF’s branding gets a makeover with a new logo
2008
2008
DCF meets with HRH, the Earl of Wessex in North Devon to show him some of the community groups and projects it has supported.
2008
2008

DCF secures £2.5 million as part of a UK-wide funding programme to improve local communities. It includes a £1.1million match funding challenge which spurs a huge fundraising campaign to secure £3 million for the Grassroots Endowment Fund.

2008
2008
DCF hosts a Charity Event at the Barnfield Theatre in Exeter to celebrate the launch of its £2 million Changing Local Lives Appeal and showcase some of the voluntary groups it has supported to date.
2008
2009
Former Vice Chairman of four years, Mike Bull steps up to take over the Chairman post and succeed Ray Miles.
2009
2009
Melanie McLoughlin retires and is replaced by CEO Martha Wilkinson, a former Chief Exec of a not-for-profit regeneration project in London with a history in strategic development for private, public and charitable sector organisations.
2009
2009
DCF launches it’s Devon 100 Club, inviting businesses to join to support local community projects.
2009
2010
Former DCF Director Melanie McLoughlin recieves an MBE in the Queen’s New Years honors list for services to Devon Community Foundation.
2010
2010
DCF launches its new look and easier to use website with more stories from the people and projects it supports plus fundraising and event news.
2010
2010

DCF joins social media and invites its supporters to keep updated with its latest goings on via Facebook and Twitter.

2010
2010
DCF holds a Mad Hatter’s tea party at Crealy Park to mark the ‘very important date’ that is one year remaining on their Grassroots match-fund Challenge.
2010
2010

 

The Foundation reaches its £7 million grant making total by awarding a £5000 grant to Exbourne and Jacobstowe Community Shop & Café which provides a vital service to elderly residents and young mums in this isolated village.

2010
2010
DCF launches a Christmas Unwrapped Appeal to raise awareness and funds to help vulnerable people in Devon for whom the festive period is especially hard. This appeal later made way for the Winter Appeal then Surviving Winter Appeal that still runs to this day.
2010
2010

Channel 4’s Secret Millionaire Marcelle Speller launches the donation platform Localgiving.com, the funds from which DCF will distribute to small UK charities and community groups in Devon.

2010
2011
On 31st March DCF celebrates the success of its Grassroots Challenge – thanking everyone who donated towards its staggering £3,000,000 total.
2011
2013
The Community Foundation Network becomes UK Community Foundations with a brand new tag line, stating “‘thriving communities’ is not a concept, but an experience that everyone can and should aspire to enjoy.”
2013
2013

DCF becomes BBC Radio Devon’s Charity of the Year

2013
2013
DCF administers Red Nose Day Community Cash Grants of £50,000 to small organisations in Plymouth supporting local people who are disadvantaged through low income, rural or social isolation, age, disability, race, sexuality or gender.
2013
2014

DCF welcomes Steve Hindley as it’s new Chairman.

2014
2014

The foundation celebrates investing over £10 million into local communitites since it began.

2014
2014


Devon County Show announce DCF as it’s Charity of the Year

2014
2014

Devon sees a series of serious weather events during the winter and many families, businesses and organisations suffer the consequences of flooding. DCF responds and with the help from it’s donors distributes emergency funding and sets up the Devon Flood Fund.

2014
2014
DCF is awarded the South West Impact Leader Award, an accolade to the way the foundation measures and communicates the difference its grantmaking makes to local communities.
2014
2014

DCF celebrates its first £1 million private donor fund.

2014
2015
David Fursdon, Lord Lieutenant of Devon, takes on the role of DCF President.
2015
2016

DCF celebrates 20 years with a celebratory event at Exeter Cathedral and a calendar of 20 inspiring events exploring philanthropy with partners all across the county.

2016
2016
In response to the largest fire in Exeter since World War 2 and the destruction of the oldest hotel in the UK, DCF sets up the Historic Exeter Fire Appeal, raising over £25,000 to help individuals and businesses affected.
2016
2017

Devon Community Foundation achieves the latest Quality Accreditation Award from UK Community Foundations (UKCF) gaining top marks (Exemplar) for 10 out of the 11 Core Standards.

2017
2017
Wellbeing Exeter, a social prescribing programme managed by DCF, collects a National Health Service Journal award at a ceremony in London.
2017
2018

DCF joins the grant-making publishing platform 360Giving to make all its grant making data available for public viewing.

2018
2019
DCF writes a successful bid to the Mohn Westlake Foundation and subsequently begins a £45K, three-year grant-making programme focusing on the mental health of young people.
2019
2020

After a 20 year association that includes 6 years as Chair, Steve Hindley steps down and DCF welcomes new Chair of Trustees Dinah Cox.

2020
2020

DCF Launches the hashtag #GiveLoveDevon to encapsulate and flag-up its work supporting communities in Devon.

2020
2020
DCF faces an unprecedented year as the coronavirus pandemic hits. Over just six months DCF distributes more than £1 million of emergency funding to groups supporting the especially vulnerable at this time. 
2020
2021
DCF gets ready to celebrate 25 years since its humble beginnings, starting with the launch of a new website and the sprucing up of its brand!
2021
2021

DCF achieves the latest UKCF Quality Accreditation

2021