From individual impact to collective strength: how HIWCF is transforming local giving

At Hampshire & Isle of Wight Community Foundation (HIWCF), we champion local giving. Since the pandemic, our communities have proven they are rich in compassion, resilience, and generosity – but they are also facing unprecedented challenges.

Rising costs of living, health and social inequalities and social isolation are intensifying, leaving too many individuals and families struggling to make ends meet. 

Traditionally, HIWCF’s fundraising has focused on large donations. But we know it is important for people who really care but who might not be ready or able to make a large donation, to support their local communities too.  That’s why we’ve launched Give Together, Give Local, a campaign that invites donors to get involved in the power of collective giving to create deeper connections and increase their impact across Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight. 

Why Now? 

The need across our region has never been more urgent. Food banks are experiencing record demand, community hubs are stretched to capacity, and too many people are choosing between heating their homes and putting meals on the table. Meanwhile, grassroots charities – the lifeblood of local communities – face funding cuts and rising costs, making it harder to deliver vital services. Hampshire is often seen as a picturesque, affluent county – a place of leafy countryside, sailing, and seaside charm. But beneath this image, significant pockets of deprivation exist. For those experiencing poverty in a wealthier area, the challenges can be even greater, from limited access to public transport to a lack of affordable supermarkets, making everyday life even harder. In Portsmouth alone, 33.4% of children, that’s over 9,000 children – rely on free school meals. This is well above both the national average of 24.6% and the South East region’s average of 19.7%, underscoring the hidden hardship within our communities. 

As a Community Foundation, we know that in challenging times, collective generosity is even more effective. Give Together, Give Local is our response to this growing need – an opportunity for people, businesses, and philanthropists to work together to pool their donations and maximise their gifts.  People more like you and me. 

What is collective giving? 

At its heart, collective giving is a simple but transformative concept: individuals and businesses can contribute to a shared fund, combining resources to create a bigger, more targeted impact than any one person could achieve alone. It’s about turning individual generosity into collective action and amplifying the reach and effectiveness of every pound given. 

Our targeted funds are linked to four or our impact themes: Poverty & Inequality, Employability & Skills, Flourishing Communities and Health & Wellbeing. 

Collective giving isn’t new. ‘Giving circles’ and pooled philanthropic funds are used worldwide to help empower donors to align their giving with shared values and achieve greater social outcomes. In fact, that’s what we do with our endowment funds.  So we’re bringing this powerful model to everyone, through Give Together, Give Local. 

Why HIWCF? 

As the leading charitable grant-maker for our region, HIWCF has decades of experience understanding and addressing local needs. We work closely with grassroots charities, tiny community groups, and community organisations – the unsung heroes tackling everything from poverty and homelessness to mental health and social isolation. 

Our unique position means we know where funding can do the most good. We rigorously vet organisations to ensure donations go where they’re needed most, supporting projects that create measurable, meaningful change. We’ve earned the trust of donors and local partners alike by ensuring funds are distributed responsibly, transparently, and strategically. 

Give Together, Give Local aligns with HIWCF’s established impact themes focused on Poverty & Inequality, Employability & Skills, Flourishing Communities, and Health & Wellbeing. We know that these themes reflect some of the most pressing challenges facing our region, providing donors with a clear and meaningful way to target their giving. 

The benefits of giving together 

I think the beauty of collective giving is its ability to unite people around a shared purpose. It builds a community of like-minded individuals, businesses and organisations, all invested in creating a better future for local people. 

For donors, this approach offers: 

• Bigger impact: pooled resources enable larger grants, reaching more people and delivering more sustainable results. 

• Targeted giving: donors can choose to support one of four key impact themes, aligning their contributions with the causes they care about most. 

• Local insight: with HIWCF’s expertise, donations go to trusted grassroots organisations that truly understand and serve their communities. 

• Long-term change: collective giving isn’t just about immediate relief; it’s about supporting the creation of resilient communities that can thrive for years to come. 

For the charities and organisations we support, collective giving means funding that helps them scale their projects, plan for the future, and deliver life-changing services to those who need them most. 

For the charities and organisations we support, this new and flexible collective giving fund shows that our commitment to being there for our communities – forever – is real. 

Join the movement 

Sometimes it feels like the challenges our communities face are so vast we can’t change anything.  But when we come together, we really can make a lasting difference. Give Together, Give Local is more than a fundraising campaign. It’s an invitation to join a movement that redefines how we give, driving progress and building stronger, more resilient communities. 

I’m proud of HIWCF’s long-standing reputation as a trusted steward of local philanthropy and I’m confident that, together, we can create the lasting change our communities deserve.