Giving as an individual or family

If you want to give to small, local charities in Somerset, or support the places you care about in our county, we can help you make a big impact.

We know that finding local charities to support and deciding how best to focus your giving can feel overwhelming. Many people want to give locally but don’t know where to start.

That’s where we can help. Our friendly team can provide free, impartial advice on your charitable giving and guide you to the best way to make a difference from a variety of simple and rewarding ways to give.

Guide to giving

Download our guide to giving for individuals and families.

Download

Last year, we awarded more than £5 million of funding to over 400 local charities.

Our unrivalled breadth and depth of local knowledge means we can identify where the need is greatest and direct your giving for maximum impact.

Charitable giving and philanthropy is a source of huge joy and satisfaction for so many of our donors. Done well, you can enjoy the rewards of knowing you’re helping to make life better for local people and build stronger communities.

Our speed, flexibility and responsiveness to the needs of today, coupled with our long-term vision for Somerset, means that together we can make a real and lasting impact now and forever.

Talk to us about giving and philanthropy

Get in touch for free, impartial advice on charitable giving in Somerset. Whether you’re thinking of setting up a charitable trust or just want advice on causes and places to support, we’re happy to help.

Kelly Hall (She/Her)
Philanthropy Director (Maternity Cover)
Working days: Mon – Thurs

How can I give as an individual?

We have a range of simple, impactful and rewarding ways to give – whether you want to make a small donation that has a big impact, strategically support a cause that matters to you, or create your own charitable fund.

Make your giving tax effective.

We are a registered charity, which means you can benefit from tax relief when you donate through Somerset Community Foundation. If you pay tax at the higher rate, you can claim back the difference between the higher rates of tax (40% or 45%) and the basic rate (20%) on the total value of the donation. We also benefit from Gift Aid, which increases the value of your donation by 25%.