Co-op Foundation
Co-op Foundation is Co-op's registered charity, providing multi-year unrestricted grants, campaigns, and research for UK youth aged 10-25 and youth-focused organisations, funded primarily by a £1m annual Co-op Live donation and partnership match funding.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersManchester, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Co-op Foundation does
Co-op Foundation is the registered charity of Co-op (legal name: Co-operative Community Investment Foundation), operating from 1 Angel Square, Manchester, and serving as the group's dedicated vehicle for youth-focused grant-making, campaigning, and research across the United Kingdom. Its core activity is distributing flexible, multi-year, unrestricted funding to UK youth organisations and young people aged roughly 10-25 through a portfolio of programmes including the Future Communities Fund, Young Gamechangers Fund (£4.5m envelope), Green Opportunities Fund, Carbon Innovation Fund, Systemic Change Funding, and the £5m #iwill Fund match programme with National Lottery Community Fund and DCMS. The foundation's underlying operating model is participatory: a Future Communities Collective of young people co-designs funding criteria and participates in funding decisions, while a Youth Advisory Group shapes campaigns and communications.
The technology backbone is a conventional charitable grant-making platform with a campaign management system and a public-facing website; all grants since 2016 are published via the 360Giving open-data standard for transparency. The foundation's revenue mechanics are non-commercial: it does not sell products or services. Income is generated through an annual £1m donation from Co-op Live (the music venue's official charity partner arrangement), Co-op member donations via the Local Community Fund, endowment fund investment returns, and match/partnership funding from institutional co-funders including the Omidyar Network (£700k for The Federation partnership), National Lottery Community Fund, BBC Children in Need, Esmée Fairbairn, Henry Smith, Paul Hamlyn, Joseph Levy, and Postcode Justice Trust foundations. Grant recipients are entirely free to apply; the foundation operates under charity registration 1093028 (England and Wales) and SC048102 (Scotland).
The foundation runs a parallel campaigns and research arm anchored by the Lonely Not Alone anti-stigma campaign (launched 2019, co-designed with creative partner Effervescent), youth custody reform advocacy (partnering Alliance for Youth Justice, Transform Justice, More in Common and Leaders Unlocked since 2026), and published research including One Small Step on UK youth loneliness. Customers, in the funder/recipient sense, split into two groups: a small number of anchor institutional donors (Co-op Live, Co-op members, Omidyar, National Lottery) on the supply side, and a long tail of UK youth organisations plus individual young leaders on the demand side.
Co-op Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Co-op Foundation
- Legal name
- Co-operative Community Investment Foundation
- Website
- https://coopfoundation.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Co-op Foundation is Co-op's registered charity, providing multi-year unrestricted grants, campaigns, and research for UK youth aged 10-25 and youth-focused organisations, funded primarily by a £1m annual Co-op Live donation and partnership match funding.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Co-op Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Charitable Foundation and Youth Grant-Making
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN), Dropout Prevention, Alternative Education & Re-Engagement Nonprofits (BPAGADAL)
Keywords
Where Co-op Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Manchester
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Co-op Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Others, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Co-op Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Co-op Foundation provides multi-year unrestricted grant funding and youth-led campaigns for young people aged 10-25 in the UK. Its core work includes funding programmes such as the Future Communities Fund, Young Gamechangers Fund, Green Opportunities Fund, Carbon Innovation Fund and #iwill Fund, alongside the Belong programme and the Lonely Not Alone anti-stigma campaign. Grants and support are delivered to youth organisations, charities, and individual young people with co-operative values and youth voice at the centre of decision-making.
Product overview
Co-op Foundation is Co-op's charity offering a portfolio of funding programmes and campaign initiatives focused on delivering funding and campaigns with and for young people. The organisation provides flexible, unrestricted multi-year funding through programmes including Future Communities Fund, Young Gamechangers Fund, #iwill Fund, and Green Opportunities Fund. Its campaign work includes the Lonely Not Alone anti-stigma campaign and youth custody reform advocacy. The Foundation operates through participatory grant-making involving the Future Communities Collective of young people, and publishes impact reports and research including the One Small Step loneliness research.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Belong: Long-term programme to help young people tackle loneliness, launched 2017
- Lonely Not Alone
- Future Communities Fund
- Young Gamechangers Fund
- Green Opportunities Fund
- Lead the Change
- Carbon Innovation Fund
Products and services
- Future Communities Fund Multi-year unrestricted funding programme co-designed with young people to support organisations helping young people build fair and co-operative communities in the UK.
- Young Gamechangers Fund £4.5m funding programme enabling young people aged 10-20 to transform their local communities through social action.
- Green Opportunities Fund Funding programme supporting environmental projects and young climate changemakers across the UK.
- Carbon Innovation Fund Funding programme supporting innovation in carbon reduction and climate action by young people and communities.
- #iwill Fund Match funding partnership with the National Lottery Community Fund and DCMS supporting young people's social action, worth £5m from Co-op Foundation.
- Belong Programme Long-term commitment to help young people tackle loneliness through grants, sector strengthening, peer networks and stigma reduction campaigns.
- Lonely Not Alone Campaign Youth co-designed campaign to tackle the stigma of youth loneliness, featuring yellow socks as a symbol of solidarity and the #LonelyNotAlone hashtag.
- Systemic Change Funding Funding focused on addressing systemic issues affecting young people and creating lasting societal change.
- Lead the Change Collaborative fund with BBC Children in Need, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Henry Smith Foundation, Joseph Levy Foundation, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Postcode Justice Trust, UK Community Foundations and The National Lottery Community Fund supporting young people to tackle division in their communities.
Quantifiable outcome
- 26,500 young people engaged through Belong programme since 2017
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Co-op Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Co-op Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Co-op Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Co-opflagshipParent organization. Annual £1m donation from Co-op Live. Co-op Members raise funds through Local Community Fund. Co-op Academies Trust supports refugees. Co-op Member Pioneers connected to community groups.
- Alliance for Youth JusticecoreCampaign partnership focused on ending the unnecessary imprisonment of children in England and Wales. Joint research and advocacy work on youth justice reform.
- Transform JusticecoreCampaign partner in the partnership calling for an end to unnecessary imprisonment of children. Joint advocacy and reform work.
- More in CommoncoreResearch partnership to understand public perspectives on the use of prison for children and appetite for reform, including greater use of community sentences.
- Leaders UnlockedcoreCollaboration to gather lived experience from young people with experience of the justice system to inform the Future Communities Fund Round Two design and criteria.
- HUDLminorSupport and facilitation for the Future Communities Collective decision-making residential and fund development process.
- Lead the Change Collaborative Fund PartnerscoreCollaborative fund including BBC Children in Need, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Henry Smith Foundation, Joseph Levy Foundation, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Postcode Justice Trust, UK Community Foundations, UK Community Foundations, The National Lottery Community Fund - supporting young people to tackle division in their communities.
- Greater Manchester Youth Networkcore#iwill Fund partner working on youth social action and community building across Greater Manchester.
- The Proud Trustcore#iwill Fund partner supporting LGBT+ young people through youth social action.
- Refugee Actionflagship£250,000 grant - Co-op Foundation's largest single grant to date. Supports immediate Afghan refugee response and longer-term refugee protection system reform through collaboration with network of 150 charities.
- Comics YouthcoreLiverpool-based youth organisation receiving #iwill Fund grants for Safe Spaces programme. Adapted to Covid with Stay Safe Club boxes reaching 2,000+ young people.
- UK YouthcoreBelong Collective partnership providing network and resources for youth workers to co-operate and tackle youth loneliness. 288 youth workers engaged across eight online/offline meetings.
- National Youth PartnershipcoreLed by Youth Focus: North East, creating resources to upskill youth workers to tackle loneliness. Network includes Youth Focus North West, Yorkshire and Humber Youth Work Unit, Partnership for Young London, National Youth Agency, and others.
- EffervescentcoreCreative partner for co-designing the Lonely Not Alone campaign with young people to tackle the stigma of youth loneliness. Ongoing partnership for campaign development.
- BeechbraecoreSocial enterprise in Blackridge, Scotland receiving £10,000 grant and £50,000 interest-free loan for woodland centre development. Repayment holiday provided during Covid.
- Small Charities CoalitioncoreImplementation partner for Charity Digital Code of Practice, ensuring small charities had voice in developing guidance that works for them.
- Zoe Amar DigitalminorChaired the steering group for Charity Digital Code of Practice development, providing digital expertise for the charity sector initiative.
- The FederationflagshipCo-working community of digital innovators in Manchester established by Co-op, united by ethical values. Early-stage social enterprises can access free co-working space for up to 60 social innovators.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Co-op Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ormiston Trust: UK grantmaker focused on children and young people, particularly those in the justice system or facing disadvantage. Direct peer in youth-justice and education-support grantmaking.
- UK Youth: National umbrella body for youth organisations and partner in the Belong Collective with Co-op Foundation. Direct peer as a UK-wide youth-sector capacity-builder working on loneliness.
- Lloyds Bank Foundation: UK grantmaker supporting small charities and disadvantaged groups, including a co-funding partnership with Co-op Foundation on the Charity Digital Code of Practice. Direct peer in grantmaking to small/medium youth charities.
- Paul Hamlyn Foundation: UK foundation focused on young people, especially through participatory grantmaking and support for marginalised youth. Direct peer in mission, beneficiary focus, and Lead the Change partnership.
- The Henry Smith Charity: UK grantmaker funding social change for marginalised communities, including Lead the Change co-funder with Co-op Foundation. Direct peer in funding underserved populations.
- UK Community Foundations: Network of community foundations across the UK participating in Lead the Change. Direct peer in local-place-based grantmaking to youth and community organisations.
- Youth Endowment Fund: UK grantmaker focused on preventing youth violence and involvement in the justice system. Direct peer on the youth-justice advocacy axis where Co-op Foundation runs its 2026 campaign with Alliance for Youth Justice.
- Esmée Fairbairn Foundation: Major UK foundation funding social change, including youth, environment and community cohesion. Direct peer in flexible, unrestricted grantmaking approach and participation in Lead the Change collaborative.
- National Lottery Community Fund: The UK's largest community grantmaker, joint-funder with Co-op Foundation of the £5m #iwill Fund and Lead the Change. Direct peer as a UK-wide multi-programme grantmaker supporting youth and community work.
- BBC Children in Need: UK-wide grantmaker funding projects for children and young people, including the Lead the Change collaborative fund with Co-op Foundation. Direct peer in mission, beneficiary age group, and grantmaking model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Co-op Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceCo-op Foundation compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Co-op Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Co-op Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Co-op Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Co-op Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Co-op Foundation
What does Co-op Foundation do?
Co-op Foundation provides multi-year unrestricted grant funding and youth-led campaigns for young people aged 10-25 in the UK. Its core work includes funding programmes such as the Future Communities Fund, Young Gamechangers Fund, Green Opportunities Fund, Carbon Innovation Fund and #iwill Fund, alongside the Belong programme and the Lonely Not Alone anti-stigma campaign. Grants and support are delivered to youth organisations, charities, and individual young people with co-operative values and youth voice at the centre of decision-making.
Is Co-op Foundation a public or private company?
Co-op Foundation is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Co-op Foundation founded?
Co-op Foundation was founded in 2000. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Co-op Foundation based?
Co-op Foundation is headquartered in Manchester, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
Who are Co-op Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ormiston Trust, UK Youth, Lloyds Bank Foundation, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, The Henry Smith Charity, UK Community Foundations, Youth Endowment Fund, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, National Lottery Community Fund and BBC Children in Need.
Does Co-op Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Co-op Foundation.
What industry is Co-op Foundation in?
Co-op Foundation's product category is Charitable Foundation and Youth Grant-Making. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAB, Community Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGADAK, Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8300.