Transferring an existing trust, charity or fund

There are many reasons why an existing trust or charity would consider working with the Community Foundation.

Sometimes existing trusts or charities can become dormant, semi-dormant or ineffective.  The original remit might no longer be valid and it may be that you are finding it increasingly difficult to be able to effectively apply the charities aims.  It could be that the existing trustees are unable to provide as much commitment as is necessary to enable the trust to run effectively, or it could be that the existing trustees are no longer able to dedicate the time that they need to.

Through previous trust transfers the Community Foundation for Staffordshire and Shropshire has brought more than £5m back into use, to ensure that the funds remain in the local community, and go on to support the people who were intended to benefit.

Many trusts find they are now struggling to distribute their income for the public benefit.  This can happen for a number of reasons, but the main problems are usually:

• Finding new trustees
• Identifying new beneficiaries, and returning to the same people each year
• Having the time to run the charity and provide the necessary reports
• Charitable aims which are outdated or too restrictive

No matter the reason for wanting some extra help with administering the charity, the Community Foundation for Staffordshire and Shropshire can help.  We have a long history of supporting many difference charities and trusts who may be finding it difficult to meet their obligations.  We have worked with the Charity Commission for a number of years on both the Boost programme and the Revitalising Trusts initiative, which were designed to help trusts to transfer easily to a registered, recognised and accredited community foundation, and advice on the Charity Commission website directs trusts or charities to their local registered, recognised and accredited community foundation.

We can take over all the administration of the original fund, keeping or widening the original remit as necessary to ensure the original donor’s wishes are met.  The management of the fund is then taken care of by the Community Foundation, but you having as much or as little involvement as you would like.

Trusts which transfer can be run as schemes in their own right or they could be merged with similar funds under our jurisdiction to create a wider ranging ‘community fund’.