Introduction
Hackney Giving is a charitable programme that connects donations, business contributions and public funding with grassroots organisations supporting residents of Hackney and the City of London.
Run by Hackney CVS, it provides community grants and in-kind support to not-for-profit groups. Its approach gives individuals, businesses and public bodies a coordinated way to support local projects addressing inequality, wellbeing and community connection.
History and Background
Hackney Giving launched in 2014 and initially operated until 2017 with support from the National Lottery Community Fund. During this period, it raised more than £300,000 for local community groups, with grantmaking undertaken by East End Community Foundation.
In 2019, Hackney CVS secured funding from City Bridge Trust, now City Bridge Foundation, to relaunch the programme internally. Its return in 2020 coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing it to channel donations and public-sector funding towards community responses.
From 2022, support increasingly addressed the rising cost of living. Hackney Council also commissioned the programme to distribute funding alongside donations from residents and businesses.
Mission and Purpose
Hackney Giving works towards a fairer society by supporting organisations close to the communities they serve. Its priorities include improving health and wellbeing, reducing social isolation, strengthening community relationships and helping residents during crises.
Its grantmaking seeks to reflect the area’s diverse population. Alongside financial support, the programme helps businesses contribute resources such as goods, skills and space. This broadens local philanthropy beyond cash donations and helps community organisations access practical assistance.
Governance and Structure
Hackney Giving operates within Hackney CVS, registered charity number 1069736. Governance therefore sits within its parent charity’s structure.
Hackney CVS’s volunteer Board of Trustees oversees the charity, while its executive team manages daily operations under delegated responsibilities. Published governance arrangements cover financial planning, risk, conflicts of interest and monitoring organisational performance.
Hackney Giving also publishes awarded-grant information using the 360Giving Data Standard. Its downloadable records allow donors, applicants and researchers to examine how funding has been distributed.
Funding and Grants
How Donations Are Used
Hackney Giving pools donations from individuals and businesses until sufficient money is available for a grant round. It also develops tailored programmes for larger donors and distributes funding on behalf of statutory partners.
Its published donation allocation retains 12% for programme administration, assigns 75% for immediate community spending, and places 13% into the Fund for City and Hackney, an endowment being developed for future local funding. Bespoke and statutory-funded programmes carry an administration fee.
Current Microgrants
The current application page offers microgrants of up to £1,000 under two strands: Community Grants and Helping People Understand Health Information.
The programme invites applications from not-for-profit groups with annual turnover below £300,000. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with no fixed deadline, until available funding is allocated.
Applicants must first arrange a pre-application conversation. Where an idea fits the programme, Hackney Giving supplies an application form. The published instructions require applicants to complete this conversation before submitting.
Major Programs and Initiatives
Community Wellbeing and Health Information
Community microgrants support activities improving residents’ wellbeing or bringing people together. The health-information strand supports better understanding of conditions, treatments and services, practical action such as accessing screening, and greater confidence in making health decisions.
Cost-of-Living Support
Previous cost-of-living rounds have funded food, essential supplies, community meals, help with bills and preventative support. The winter 2025 programme offered £5,000 grants from a £165,000 funding pool, combining government funding routed through Hackney Council with local donations. These figures relate to that historical round.
In-Kind and Public-Sector Partnerships
Through Match My Project, community groups can seek practical contributions from businesses. Hackney Giving also manages grant programmes for public-sector partners, including application guidance, assessment, payments and monitoring.
Impact and Examples of Work Funded
Hackney Giving’s published dashboard records 471 grants worth £3,172,086, supporting 196 voluntary and community-sector organisations since 2020. It also reports 28 in-kind project matches.
A March 2026 report states that almost £42,000 in donations funded eight additional winter cost-of-living projects alongside council funding.
Examples included AMURT’s community lunches, with food also delivered to people unable to attend, and BetaMinds’ warm-space activities, bringing residents together for meals and social contact. These examples show how local funding supports practical assistance and opportunities to reduce isolation.
Conclusion
Hackney Giving provides a local funding mechanism linking donors and public partners with grassroots community organisations. Its combination of small grants, tailored funding programmes, in-kind contributions and an emerging endowment supports both immediate needs and future community resources.
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