ACF: Association of Charitable Foundations, supporting the UK's foundations and grant-making charities
Association of Charitable Foundations
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Benefits of Joining ACF

ACF (Association of Charitable Foundations) is the only membership body representing all trusts and foundations in the UK.  We work by:

  • Supporting the work of charitable trusts and foundations.
  • Representing the interests of our members.
  • Promoting good practice in grant-making and the effectiveness of trusts and foundations.

    Become a Member

    If you would like to join ACF and you are a grant-making charity, please go to our become a member section.

ACF Member Benefits

Join ACF and enjoy the following member benefits:

Targeted, timely and up to date information:

  • Our quarterly magazine, Trust & Foundation News is packed with news, views and information.  TFN keeps readers up to speed with the shared experience and perspectives of other trusts, as well as grant-making news and trends.  All members receive complimentary copies of Trust & Foundation News
  • Our, free, monthly bulletin, Funders' News, provides up-to-date briefings on issues in grant-making, on the wider voluntary sector and on government initiatives.

Free practical advice written by grant-makers for grant-makers:

  • ACF sends free copies of all its publications to members, providing useful reference material and practical advice on good practice and current thinking in grant-making.

Access to the experience of a diverse range of trusts and foundations:

Membership of ACF brings access to a varied range of meetings and seminars - bringing together a diverse network of trusts and foundations that share an interest in specialist funding areas, establishing and building relationships. Our events programme includes:

  • Networks led by members exclusively for members focusing on funding areas and issues such as Penal Affairs, Disability, and Monitoring & Evaluation
  • Special seminars both on legal and regulatory issues such as investment management, SORP and the Charities Act, and on the bigger strategic issues like the role and vision of foundations
  • Training on key aspects of grant-making (such as Assessing Grant Applications), drawing on the knowledge and experience of others in the field through our Professional Development Programme 
  • A biennial conference widely recognised as the networking event for grant-makers in the UK, providing stimulating and challenging sessions on the issues affecting trusts and foundations.

Some of these events are open to non-members. See our online events listing for further information.

 

Representing the interests of members to decision makers:

ACF campaigns on behalf of members, giving them the opportunity to influence legislators and policy makers.  While our members can and do lobby decision-makers on issues that concern them, ACF's broad and diverse membership gives it the authority to speak on behalf of all trusts and foundations.

 

Opportunities to shape ACF's future:

ACF is the only umbrella body representing the interests of all grant-making charities.  All of our trustees are elected by our members, who have voting rights at our AGM and can propose candidates for election to our Trustee Board.