Snapshot of plants in an Oxfordshire cornfield blowing in the wind
Setting up a named fund
A named fund is a ring-fenced charitable fund held by us on your behalf. Named funds are a great way for you to get directly involved in community philanthropy, without the cost and administration of setting up your own charitable trust.

Named funds are created for various reasons: in memory of a loved one, to campaign for a cause close to your heart, as a way of demonstrating impactful CSR, or simply because you can and want to help. Whatever the reason, a named fund is often the most effective way of carrying out great charitable intentions.

Boosting the value of your gift
Gifts made through a named fund enable you to be extremely tax efficient. This is because, whenever appropriate, the Community Foundation will always reclaim any eligible Gift Aid on your behalf, as well as allocate any available match-funding. The gift is then invested by professional fund managers into the community foundation’s endowment, where it earns further income. All of these mechanisms mean that by giving via Oxfordshire Community Foundation, your charitable gift is worth significantly more than it would have been via a conventional donation.
Types of named fund
Named funds come in two categories:

  • Donor-advised funds, which channel the charitable gifts of a single donor or small group to a portfolio of charities that match their passions and areas of interest
  • Charities-in-a-box, which are a means for committed fundraisers to solicit multiple donations in order to benefit a specific cause that they are championing

Working under the foundation’s umbrella, fundholders gain access to our professional advice, local knowledge and the expertise of our small office team.

You decide how involved you are in decisions about how the fund is used, and the fund can be anonymous or named after yourself, a family member, a friend, a company or anything that is personal to you.

If you’re interested in finding out more about named funds, download our factsheet or contact us.

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Individuals & familiesCorporate GivingOxfordshire UncoveredOur Donors & FundholdersOur Groups

  • “I know the significant difference the Community Foundations have made in helping vulnerable people respond to a variety of challenges. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Community Foundations for such great work.”
    Rob Wilson
    Minister for Civil Society
  • “I really appreciate your work on what for my parents is such an important project. I am glad that the fund has been developing so positively and swiftly.”
    David Evans, fundholder of the Maggie Evans Fund
    David Evans
    Maggie Evans Fund
  • “The huge satisfaction to be gained from spending one’s time in giving in your later years far outweighs any pleasures that you can possibly gain on the golf course, on the beach or on the back of the yacht in the Mediterranean sipping martinis.”
    Michael Oglesby, a UK businessman and philanthropist
    Mike Oglesby
    Coutts Million Pound Donor Report
  • “It is so uplifting to meet so many people blessed with generous hearts and a deep sense of community.”
    Ali Mosawi, one of OCF's donors
    Ali Mosawi
    Donor
  • “I can’t get over it; I’m still shaking when I talk about it. It’s just incredible… I feel a bit guilty about getting so much pleasure out of giving!”
    Terry Bramall, a UK businessman and philanthropist
    Terry Bramall
    Coutts Million Pound Donor Report
  • “Modern teenagers need a voice and to feel that they are really being heard. This in turn will help nurture and shape an empathetic and compassionate society which we will all benefit from.”
    Anne-Marie Cockburn
    Anne Marie Cockburn
    What Martha Did Next
  • “I like to have something worthwhile to get up for each morning… I find that the larger and more strategic the gift, the more pleasure I get out of it.”
    Dame Stephanie Shirley, a British businesswoman and philanthropist
    Dame Stephanie Shirley
    Coutts Million Pound Donor Report
  • “Prosperity requires not just investment in economic capital, but also in social capital. Community foundations are playing a critical role in helping to deliver a more inclusive capitalism.”
    Mark Carney, Bank of England Governor
    Mark Carney
    Governor of the Bank of England
  • “Generosity is the best investment.”
    Diane Von Furstenberg, a fashion designer and philanthropist
    Diane von Fürstenberg
    Fashion designer
  • “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
    Winston Churchill
    Winston Churchill
  • “I am incredibly grateful to be part of OCF. The phenomenal support we’ve had has meant we can keep going; reach more vulnerable and distressed people and pay for our magical herd of horses.”
    Jo Corfield of Hopethruhorses
    Jo Corfield
    Founder, Hopethruhorses
  • “I would never have known about many of the causes I’ve helped if the community foundation hadn’t told me about them. They are doing vital work and they need our support.”
    Jane Mactaggart, one of our generous donors and philanthropy fellows
    Jane Mactaggart
    Donor
FEATURED

Legacy for a Legend logo

Legacy for a Legend

When Paul Thompson died of a sudden cardiac event, his wife and friend created a named fund in his memory that is used to fund life-saving defibrillators.

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Royds Withy King logo

Royds Withy King

Withy King’s patron fund with OCF helps us deliver a professional, efficient service to our donors and grant recipients, and helps them become more strategic with their charitable giving.

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Logo for the Maggie Evans Fund - a cartoon cat reading a book

The Maggie Evans Fund

This named fund, which helps children discover a love of books, was created in memory of Maggie Evans, who took her own life aged just 29, after a short but intense illness with depression.

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Charity Mentors Oxfordshire logo

Charity Mentors

Charity Mentors is a service that helps charity leaders analyse strategic challenges and find the best way forward, coached by an expert in the field.

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