In celebration of them investing £40 million in Norfolk communities over the past 17 years, we have cast our eyes back to the origins of one of our partners – the Norfolk Community Foundation. In this article they highlight the key moments that have made the foundation what it is today. From making their first grant and building key relationships with donors to working closely with community organisations and inspiring new ways of giving, they’ve certainly come a long way… but there’s still so much more we can do together.

Looking back over the last 17 years

The world has changed significantly since the Foundation awarded its first grant 17 years ago.

In 2005, who could have imagined working people using food banks to support their families, that vast numbers of young people would need support with their mental health, or that war would come to mainland Europe, forcing thousands to flee?

How NCF is supporting Norfolk communities today

To all of these issues and more, our local charities have stepped up to respond. They have brought their understanding, energy, skills and time to help create a better world. The Norfolk Community Foundation know the importance of keeping Norfolk communities at the heart of our work, listening to their voices and helping to provide the support they need at the time they need it.

The issues we face today are complex and nuanced; they take time to address and need everyone working together to make a difference. Norfolk Community Foundation works across every sector and every geography in Norfolk, with one vision: to build stronger communities from the ground up.

To read more about the journey of the foundation over the last 17 years, please take a look at their blog piece here.