The Grassroots Endowment Challenge creates an incentive
for individuals and businesses to give money towards endowed funds which will
provide long term, sustainable funding for local voluntary groups.
The money is part of a £130 million nationwide drive by
the Government to support thousands of grassroots groups across the country,
including a grants programme for small local groups.
Sussex Community Foundation is managing the Grassroots
Endowment Challenge across Sussex
and has set a target of raising £1.5 million to attract the £1.5 million match
funds on offer from the Government.
However this Challenge is time limited and all donations
must be received by March 2011.
Gift Aid is
included in the matched amount so for example if you are a tax paying
individual, a donation of £100 could be increased by match funding to £256.

Sussex
Community Foundation has appointed Sarasin & Partners LLP as their
investment advisers. Sarasin have approx £7.2bn under management of which 25%
is managed on behalf of charities. For information about Sarasin see their
website: www.sarasin.co.uk
Funds are
invested in Sarasin’s Alpha CIF for Charity Endowments.

Decisions
on how funds will be distributed will be made by a local advisory panel including
representatives from the community who have a good knowledge of local needs. Sussex
Community Foundation will provide the necessary administration and financial
accountability.