Introduction: How can Devon’s businesses help build stronger, more resilient communities? Molly Southwood of Devon Community Foundation explores how strategic philanthropy, local partnerships and long-term investment can turn business success into lasting community impact.
By Molly Southwood, Head of Development & Philanthropy, Devon Community Foundation
Devon is a wonderful place to live and work, with a strong business sector and thousands of people working to make a positive difference locally. Yet rising costs, increasing demand and pressure on funding mean many charities and community organisations are being asked to do more with less.
At Devon Community Foundation (DCF), we believe that combining local knowledge, business expertise and philanthropic investment can help communities overcome these challenges and build a stronger future.
For more than 30 years, we have connected people who want to make a difference with the communities and organisations that need support, investing more than £28 million in grants to thousands of inspiring grassroots groups across Devon.
Celebrating 30 years – and looking ahead
On 4 November, we celebrated DCF’s 30th anniversary at Rockbeare Manor, bringing together supporters and partners to recognise three decades of local giving and community impact. The event also marked the launch of our ambitious ten-year strategy by our Chair of Trustees, Commodore Jakes Moores DL.
As we reflect on what local generosity has achieved, we are looking ahead to what we can accomplish together over the next decade.
Our vision for Devon
Our vision is simple: a place where all communities have the resources they need to thrive.
Our 2026–2036 strategy focuses on three interconnected priorities:
Inform: Strengthen our understanding of Devon’s communities through research, local knowledge and lived experience, sharing insight to encourage better decisions and collaboration across the public, private and voluntary sectors.
Invest: Direct funding where it can make the greatest difference, particularly to grassroots organisations and underfunded communities. Our ambition is to triple our grantmaking to £6 million a year by 2036.
Inspire: Encourage more people and organisations to give locally and strategically, while growing our endowment to £30 million by 2036. This will create a lasting community asset to support Devon for generations.
These are ambitious goals, and we cannot achieve them alone. Devon’s businesses have an important role to play.
How businesses can make a difference
Many businesses already support local causes through donations, sponsorship, fundraising and volunteering. These contributions are invaluable, but there is also an opportunity to think more strategically about how business resources can strengthen the communities on which we all depend.
DCF works with businesses of all sizes to develop charitable giving that reflects their values, priorities and capacity. We can identify local needs, connect businesses with community organisations and help ensure support reaches where it can have the greatest impact.
1. Create a charitable fund
Whether you want to make annual donations, establish a longer-term fund or bring employees together around giving, we can help you find the right approach. We manage the administration, governance and grantmaking, while working with you to decide which causes and communities to support. You can make a meaningful local contribution without the responsibility of running your own charitable foundation.
2. Align giving with your business values
Perhaps you want to improve opportunities for young people, support health and wellbeing, protect the environment or strengthen a particular part of Devon. Our local knowledge can help you identify where support is most needed and which organisations are making a difference. Pooling resources with other donors can also help fund work that might otherwise struggle to attract investment.
3. Engage employees and customers
Supporting local communities can bring people together around a shared purpose. From employee fundraising to collective giving and raising awareness of local charities, we can help you connect your people with the causes they care about, creating a tangible link between business success and positive change.
4. Build a lasting legacy
Businesses and their owners can also consider how their success might benefit Devon for generations to come. Through endowment giving, gifts from business owners and other forms of strategic philanthropy, it is possible to create a lasting source of funding for local communities.
Our ambition to grow DCF’s endowment to £30 million is about more than a financial target. It is about ensuring that future generations can access support, whatever challenges they face.
A stonger devon is everyone’s business
Strong communities benefit everyone. They create places where people want to live, work, raise families and build businesses. When local organisations have the resources to support people and respond to challenges, the whole county benefits.
Our ten-year strategy is an invitation to work together: sharing insight, building partnerships and unlocking resources for communities that need them.
Whether you are a small independent business making your first charitable donation or an established company exploring a more strategic approach to community investment, we would welcome a conversation.
Explore our work and discover ways to get involved here or contact Molly Southwood, Head of Development & Philanthropy, at [email protected]
Together, we can turn local generosity into lasting change and build a stronger Devon for everyone.
You can read more about DCF’s work and plans for the future in our Annual Reviews, 10-Year Strategy, and Guide for Professional Advisors, all available on our website. Publications – Devon Community Foundation
Article and images courtesy of Devon Community Foundation.
Main image: DCF supports grassroots organisations across Devon
