Wiltshire Community Foundation, one of Wiltshire and Swindon's largest grant-giving charities, is celebrating its 50th anniversary, marking five decades of supporting local communities and changing lives.
Founded in 1975 as the Thamesdown Community Trust, the Foundation began with a simple but powerful idea: to support local voluntary groups by bringing businesses together to pool their charitable giving.
The Foundation's vision was set from the start by its founder, Lord Joel Joffe, a passionate advocate for social justice and charitable giving. Lord Joffe believed deeply in the power of communities to drive meaningful change. His vision laid the groundwork for everything the Foundation has accomplished over the past five decades.
Today, the Foundation's endowment has grown to nearly £30 million, generating steady returns each year through investments and providing a reliable, long-term source of funding for local causes.
In 2024/25, these returns accounted for around 45% of the Foundation's total grant-making of £2.5 million, with the rest raised through its other philanthropy activity. To date, the Foundation has awarded over £26.8 million across 10,000 grants to charities, local groups, and individuals tackling a wide range of local issues and needs.
These grants have helped change the lives of hundreds of thousands of individuals across Wiltshire and Swindon. As the first community foundation established in the UK and Europe, Wiltshire Community Foundation has helped inspire a movement that now sees community foundations active in every corner of the UK. UK community foundations have collectively awarded more than £1.6 billion to support local causes.
Fiona Oliver, joint Chief Executive of Wiltshire Community Foundation, said: "Since 1975, we've been privileged to build on the vision of those who established the Foundation — people who believed in the power of local communities to come together and support one another."
Dame Sarah Troughton, Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire and Wiltshire Community Foundation Patron, added: "I'm delighted to congratulate Wiltshire Community Foundation on reaching this wonderful milestone. For 50 years it has been at the heart of our county, quietly but powerfully helping those in need and supporting the organisations that do such vital work."
The Foundation is hosting a series of events throughout the year to mark its 50th anniversary, including a conference recognising the voluntary sector's contribution, a Volunteers' Lunch, and a special anniversary celebration.
