Rebuilding Local Giving in Northamptonshire: Turning Local Pride into Lasting Change
At Northamptonshire Community Foundation, we see every day the extraordinary difference local generosity makes. Whether through a donation, volunteering, fundraising, or simply championing a local cause, people across our county continue to show a remarkable commitment to one another.
That is why the publication of the CAF UK Local Giving Report 2026 feels particularly timely. Its findings reinforce something many of us working in philanthropy have long understood: people are far more likely to give when they feel connected to the place where they live and can clearly see the difference their support is making.
What the report tells us
The report shines a light on the role of grassroots organisations. These groups form a vital part of our local social infrastructure, often responding quickly and effectively to emerging needs, yet frequently doing so without recognition or sustainable funding.
At a time when national charitable giving is under pressure, trust in local organisations and confidence in local impact have never been more important.
Why this matters for Northamptonshire
Across our towns, villages and neighbourhoods there is a strong sense of identity and a genuine willingness to support one another. Alongside this, we face growing challenges, from inequality and poverty to loneliness and social isolation, that require long-term, locally rooted solutions.
For Northamptonshire Community Foundation, these findings reinforce the importance of our mission. As a place-based funder, we exist to connect generosity with local need. We work alongside donors, businesses and charitable funds to direct resources towards the grassroots organisations creating lasting change across Northamptonshire.
But our role extends beyond grant-making. We help cultivate a culture of local philanthropy by making giving accessible, meaningful and impactful. We tell the stories behind the statistics, celebrate the work of community groups and small local charities and help people understand how they can make a difference.
The report highlights that many people want to contribute but are unsure where to start. Creating those pathways into giving whether through donating, volunteering, fundraising or establishing a charitable fund is an important part of what community foundations do.
A moment for local philanthropy
The Local Giving Report reminds us that strengthening local giving is about far more than increasing donations. It is about building trust. It is about creating a stronger sense of belonging. And it is about investing in the places and people that make our communities thrive.
Place-based philanthropy has a unique role to play in this. By supporting local organisations and empowering local people, we can unlock solutions that are rooted in lived experience and designed for long-term impact.
A call to action
If you care about Northamptonshire, there has never been a more important time to get involved.
And if you are looking for a trusted way to support long-term, place-based change, partner with us.
Together, we can turn awareness into action, generosity into opportunity, and local pride into lasting impact.
Read the full CAF Local Giving Report here: UK Local Giving Report 2026 | CAF
- Rachel McGrath
Chief Executive, Northamptonshire Community Foundation