Hertfordshire Community Foundation

Name

Hertfordshire Community Foundation

Legal name

Hertfordshire Community Foundation

Website

https://hertscf.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Hatfield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Philanthropic Contributions: The foundation receives donations from individuals, families, and businesses who wish to support Hertfordshire communities. Donations are pooled into various funds including named funds, the Love Herts appeal, Hertfordshire Children's Fund, and Winter Appeal. These contributions form the primary funding source for grants distribution.
2. Trust and Foundation Administration Services: HCF provides administrative services to established trusts and foundations, outsourcing their grant-making. They handle dormant or moribund trusts, revitalizing funds to support current needs in Hertfordshire. Partnerships with national funding bodies like Comic Relief help channel vital funding into local causes.
3. Training and Development Services: HCF Training & Development provides courses and programs to support charity governance, fundraising effectiveness, and organizational capacity building for local voluntary sector organizations.
4. Event Sponsorship: Businesses can sponsor HCF publications (Annual Review) and events to promote their brand to Hertfordshire stakeholders interested in local philanthropy.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Hertfordshire Community Foundation is an independent grant-making charity that connects local philanthropists (individuals, families, businesses, professional advisors) with grassroots community causes across Hertfordshire. It administers more than 100 charitable funds, runs multiple named grant programmes for groups and individuals, and provides philanthropy administration, trust/foundation outsourcing, and training & development services to the local voluntary sector.

Product overview

Hertfordshire Community Foundation operates as a charitable grant-making organization rather than a traditional software product company. Their core 'product' is a portfolio of grant programmes and philanthropic services managed through their Fundseeker Portal. The main offerings include: HCF Grants (up to £10,000 for community groups), Hertfordshire Children's Fund (up to £500 for families in crisis), Crisis and Resilience Fund, Community Spaces Fund, Transport Fund, Small Music Grants, Care Leavers Fund, and the Bowley Fund. These are complemented by training & development services, Named Funds for tailored philanthropy, Legacy Giving, the Love Herts Appeal, and the Winter Appeal. The organization connects local philanthropists with community causes, providing due diligence, grant management, and reporting services to ensure effective distribution of charitable funds across Hertfordshire.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HCF Grants Grants of up to £5,000 or £10,000 for community groups in Hertfordshire addressing local need and deprivation, including crisis support, community spaces, and transport funding. Applications submitted through the Fundseeker Portal.
• Hertfordshire Children's Fund Grants of up to £500 for disadvantaged children and families in crisis across Hertfordshire, providing essential household items such as beds, white goods, and baby equipment, accessed via professional referrers.
• Hertfordshire Crisis and Resilience Fund Grants from £5,000 to help community groups support adults and families in crisis and build financial resilience in Hertfordshire, commissioned and funded by Hertfordshire County Council.
• Hertfordshire Community Spaces Fund Grants of up to £2,000 for community groups to operate warm/cool community spaces for vulnerable residents affected by the rising cost of living.
• Hertfordshire Community Transport Fund Grants of up to £500 to help community groups transport residents in rural Hertfordshire to local clubs, activities, and community spaces.
• Small Music Grants Grants of up to £1,000 to improve access to music for children and young people in Hertfordshire, including instruments, equipment, and music therapy.
• Hertfordshire Care Leavers Fund Grants of approximately £500 for individuals aged 18-25 who have previously been in care within Hertfordshire to improve quality of life and support transition to independence.
• Bowley Fund Grants of up to £500 for disadvantaged families in Watford and Three Rivers districts to purchase essential white goods and children's furniture. Originally established by the Bowley Charity and transferred to HCF in 2022.
• Frank Litchfield Trust Grants of up to £5,000 for projects addressing deprivation within 25 miles of Royston, including rural isolation.
• The Ware Charities Fund Grants of up to £500 for disadvantaged individuals and families in the parishes of Ware, Thundridge, and Wareside for essential items, accessed via professional referrers.
• HCF Training & Development Training programme and development services for charities and community groups in Hertfordshire, including trustee training, organisational capacity building, and 648 attendees in 2024/25.
• Named Funds Tailored giving solution allowing individuals and families to create their own charitable fund managed by HCF, providing tax-efficient philanthropy with minimal administration and Gift Aid optimisation.
• Legacy Giving Programme Gifts in Wills programme allowing donors to leave lasting legacies supporting Hertfordshire communities for generations, administered by HCF with tax-efficient structures.
• Friends Regular Giving Programme Regular donation programme enabling individuals, families, and businesses to provide sustainable ongoing support for Hertfordshire's most vulnerable residents.
• Love Herts Appeal Unrestricted fundraising appeal enabling donations to support a wide range of community initiatives across Hertfordshire, with every penny staying within the county.
• Winter Appeal Annual seasonal fundraising campaign to help vulnerable and elderly Hertfordshire residents with winter heating costs, warm clothing, and essentials.

Quantifiable outcome

• £5,662,850 awarded in grants during 2024/25
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hertfordshire ConstabularycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026HCF was chosen as Hertfordshire Constabulary's charity of the year for 2026 by Chief Constable Andy Prophet. The constabulary will raise funds through events and activities, supporting HCF's work with vulnerable people and grassroots charities.
• Holland & Holland Shooting GroundminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Venue host for HCF's annual Professional Advisers Networking Event bringing together solicitors, financial planners, accountants and wealth managers.
• Taylor Walton SolicitorsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Event sponsor for HCF's 2025 Annual Reception at Sopwell House. Managing Partner Dermot Carey spoke about partnership with HCF and supporting clients' philanthropic goals.
• Serge Hill ProjectminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Venue host for Private Client Networking Lunch events, owned by Tom and Sue Stuart-Smith. Provides beautiful countryside setting for donor and advisor networking events.
• KDW Financial PlanningminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Event sponsor for Private Client Networking Lunch at Serge Hill Project. Directors Marcus Maisey and Gary Cretton provided insights on estate planning.
• Hertfordshire County CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary public sector partner commissioning HCF to distribute government funding including the Crisis and Resilience Fund, Household Support Fund, Community Spaces, and Community Transport Fund. HCF works alongside the council to ensure funding reaches small, community-led organizations addressing local issues.
• UK Community Foundations (UKCF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHCF is part of the UKCF network of community foundations. UKCF celebrated 50 years of community foundations in the UK, having collectively distributed over £2.1 billion to grassroots projects. UKCF provides coordination, best practice sharing, and national representation for HCF.
• Comic ReliefcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational funding body partnership enabling Comic Relief to channel vital funding into HCF's network of local causes through HCF's grant-application and panel processes.
• Longmores SolicitorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor and partner for Professional Advisers networking events. Partner Lauren Mackenzie provides presentations on dispute resolution and mediation. Partner Alastair Liddiard prepares tax-efficient giving articles for HCF.
• Sunnyside Rural TrustminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured at HCF networking events. CEO Keely Siddiqui Charlick provides overview of the Trust's work supporting adults with learning disabilities and mental health concerns.
• Affinity WaterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided £4,493 advised grant towards fuel support vouchers as part of Borehamwood Foodbank funding, demonstrating corporate partnership for community support.
• HertsHelpcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partner for individuals in crisis, connecting them with local services including Household Support Fund for energy bills and guidance on saving money.
• Small Acts of KindnessminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWinter Appeal funded organization providing warm clothing and essentials to older residents in Hertfordshire.
• The Toy HubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWinter Appeal funded organization providing free, ready-to-wrap Christmas presents for families in hardship.
• Citizens Advice North Herts and Citizens Advice DacorumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWinter Appeal funded organizations supporting people facing fuel poverty through advice services.
• Watford and Three Rivers Refugee PartnershipminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured in Love Herts Day visits. Provides practical help, emotional support, advice, and friendship for refugees and asylum seekers.
• Potential KidsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured in Love Herts Day visits. Provides learning and social opportunities for neurodivergent children and young people through their Community & Learning Garden.
• Age Concern Bishops Stortford / The New Apton CentreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured in Love Herts Day visits. Offers warm environment for over-55s with hot meals, social activities, friendship and support to reduce loneliness.
• Bishops Stortford Youth Project / Thirst Youth CaféminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured in Love Herts Day visits. Engages, encourages and empowers young people through wellbeing initiatives, school mentoring, and youth volunteering.
• High Sheriff of HertfordshirecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual High Sheriff Awards program managed by HCF. The High Sheriff chooses annual themes (2025: Nurture through Nature) and awards recognize voluntary organizations making positive community impact. Funded through High Sheriff's Fund managed by HCF.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Buckinghamshire Community Foundation: Neighbouring UK community foundation serving Buckinghamshire. Comparable in scale, structure (named funds, donor-advisor referral channel, community grant programmes), and reliance on local-authority commissioned funds.
• Cambridgeshire Community Foundation: UK community foundation serving Cambridgeshire. Directly comparable in operating model (named funds, local philanthropy lunch model, government-commissioned grant distribution) and member of the same UKCF network.
• Lincolnshire Community Foundation: UK community foundation operating in Lincolnshire. Directly comparable operating model, including small-grant programmes, named funds, professional advisor events, and county-level government-commissioned distribution.
• Suffolk Community Foundation: UK community foundation operating the same model in Suffolk. Comparable in grant programme portfolio (crisis grants, community spaces, named funds) and donor engagement through professional advisor networks.
• Norfolk Community Foundation: UK community foundation serving Norfolk with similar size, fund structure, and donor outreach approach. Comparable across grant-making scale, named funds, and county council partnerships.
• Essex Community Foundation: UK community foundation operating the same hyper-local grant-making model for Essex. Direct comparable on donor segments, professional-advisor partnerships, county-council commissioned distribution, and named-fund endowment management.

Others

• National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO): UK umbrella body for the voluntary sector. Comparable through sector-wide research, capacity-building, and advocacy, with overlap via HCF's training and development services for local charities.
• UK Community Foundations (UKCF): Umbrella network of UK community foundations of which HCF is a member. Comparable as a structural peer (same governance model, collective £2.1bn+ distributed) but functions as HCF's representative body rather than a competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Charities Aid Foundation (CAF): UK's largest donor-advised fund and charity services provider. Overlaps with HCF on donor-advised giving, Gift Aid, and trust administration, but operates nationally with much greater scale and digital infrastructure.

Emerging players

• Big Give: UK online match-funding platform for charity appeals. Partial overlap on donor acquisition and campaign distribution; represents the digital-first giving channel competing for share of donor attention and platform-driven giving.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HertsCommunityF
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCXiUZNjjjzrU
• Facebookfacebook.com/hertfordshirecommunityfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hertfordshire-community-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/hertscommunityfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hertfordshire Community Foundation