York is an incredible city, with great strengths and opportunities, but not everyone’s experience of York is equal. The York Community Fund is administered by Two Ridings Community Foundation for people who live, work and study in York, to:
- support vibrant and purposeful community action that actively improves the wellbeing of everyone in the city
- provide a point where donors can collectively contribute
The York Community Fund builds on and strengthens the energy, impact and potential of York’s voluntary and community groups, and their vital contributions to life in the city, especially for those who experience the greatest disadvantage. This year Micro Grants (up to £1K) and Collaboration Grants (up to £13.5K )are available.
Groups need to be based in York and working to address the needs of local people in the city in relation to:
- equalities and human rights
- affordability and cost of living
- climate action
- health and wellbeing
York Community Fund is particularly interested in:
- supporting leadership time for reflection, learning, planning and ways of working exploration.
- applications where people with lived experience of the issues being addressed are involved with the design of the project and/or the running of the organisation / delivering the project.
- supporting ‘unpopular causes’ (issues or movements that lack widespread support, often facing stigma, negative media attention, or difficulty attracting funding)
- organisations who are dealing with the ‘root causes’ (the fundamental reasons why problems or undesirable events occur) of these issues.
Applications for Micro Grants close on noon Monday 20th October 2025. Expression of Interest for Collaboration Grants close on 22nd September.
York Community Fund decision-making space
The guidelines for this fund were created by people from the York community through a participatory decision-making process. A participatory approach ensures decisions can be made collectively. It involves people with lived experience of the issues that the Fund tackles, as well as people with practiced and professional experience. The goal is that these shift power away from the funder, creates a more equitable process and results in more informed local decision-making due to the range of perspectives in the room. Decisions on which applications will be funded will also be made by this community panel.
Donate to the York Community Fund
If you would like to help resource more York groups to their amazing community work, please consider donating to the York Community Fund.
Also see
York Community Fund
Two Ridings Community Foundation