The Foundation has launched its annual report, detailing highlights from the financial year for 2021 – 2022.
Awarding over £2.9 million to 596 projects across the region, it’s been another successful year of giving for the Foundation that typically awards around £3 million every year to deserving local community groups.
2021 – 2022 saw the Foundation launch its 3-year strategy with a clear focus on improving its customer journey and becoming a more inclusive, equitable and diverse funder. The Foundation also passed Quality Accreditation 5 which ensures the charity’s governance, policies, procedures, Board, and future planning are all to a high standard.
The Foundation also externally evaluated its work which shared key insights into the communities it reaches and revealed that for every £1 a donor invests in the Foundation, 93 pence of that goes straight back out into supporting communities in the region.
The year brought in new partnerships with West Midlands Combined Authority, Arts Council England, Made By Sport and Warwickshire County Council, as well as individual donors including David East and Graham Griffiths. Thanks to their generosity the Foundation was able to support local projects that improved sport development, health and wellbeing, stronger communities, mental health and community cohesion.
Reflecting on the Foundation’s year, Chris West, Chair at the Foundation, shared:
“In many ways 2021/22 has been a year of recovery, consolidation and refocus, not just for the Foundation but for the network of community groups and voluntary organisations that we seek to empower with our grant making. The dedication and commitment of the people who run those organisations, our own staff and trustees will continue to be the inspiration for the Foundation and the key to our future success.”