Focus Foundation: supporting grassroots charities in perilous times

In an era where small and medium-sized charities face unprecedented challenges, Focus Foundation is stepping in to help bridge the funding gap that threatens the survival of vital grassroots organisations.

As highlighted in The Centre for Social Justice Foundation’s report, Overlooked and Underfunded, the financial landscape for charities in the UK is deeply skewed. Larger charities, often treated no differently than outsourcing firms by the government, continue to thrive, while smaller charities – those with the closest connections to communities – struggle to stay afloat. In the last decade alone, 97% of charity closures have been from small and medium-sized charities with incomes below £1 million. The future of grassroots charities is increasingly uncertain, but businesses like yours can make a real difference.

At Focus Foundation, our mission is simple but powerful: to provide critical funding to small charities that are the lifeblood of their communities. From mental health initiatives to local food banks, these organisations fill gaps left by public services, yet they are underfunded and at risk of closure. Post-pandemic, their expenditure now far outstrips their income as local needs continue to rise, yet the funding landscape has not adapted to meet this demand. Despite the fact that two-thirds of UK adults recognize the essential role that charities played during the pandemic, income for the small charity sector has declined by £4.6 billion, even as larger charities have seen an increase in funding of £4.5 billion in the same period.

This is where Focus Foundation comes in. We ensure that 100% of every donation goes directly to the charities we support*. Our approach is straightforward: we raise funds and distribute them to the grassroots organisations that need them most. By cutting out the bureaucracy that often hinders larger charities, we ensure that every pound raised has a tangible, immediate impact on communities. But we can’t do this alone.

Businesses in Sussex and beyond have an opportunity to play a critical role in addressing this funding disparity while also meeting their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitments. Supporting Focus Foundation is not just a charitable act – it’s a way for businesses to boost employee morale, engage in meaningful community partnerships, and meet their emotional profit targets. Research shows that employees are more engaged and motivated when their company actively supports social causes that align with their values. By partnering with us, your business can help ensure that the small, innovative grassroots charities that are so vital to our society not only survive but thrive.

As the gap between the charitable haves and have-nots widens, now is the time for businesses to act. The future of the charity sector should not be dominated by a handful of large-scale charities with distant connections to the communities they are meant to serve. With your help, we can level the playing field and provide the support that small charities so desperately need. Together, we can make It happen.

Let’s work together to build a fairer, more sustainable future for grassroots charities.

To learn more about how your business can partner with Focus Foundation and make a lasting impact on the communities in which you serve, contact – katie.gibson@focusfoundation.org.uk.

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*Focus Foundation’s running costs are covered by Focus Group

Source: Source: Civil Society, Charity sector income shrinks, 2024. Underfunded and Overlooked Report – The Centre of Social Justice Foundation