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Acorn Fund

Grow an Acorn Fund
Now you can support local good causes and build up a lasting fund for you, your family or your company by setting up your own Acorn Fund with Leicestershire Leicester and Rutland Community Foundation.
You make a regular contribution to your endowment-based Acorn Fund, and receive up to an extra 40% from the taxman if you are a UK taxpayer. When you can afford it, you can also add in extra payments to your Acorn Fund.
In the first few years the income from your Acorn Fund can be used to support the local good causes listed overleaf or reinvested to grow the value of your fund.
You can name your fund after yourself, a family member, company or friend you wish to remember.
The best thing about your Acorn Fund however, is that it will continue to help the causes close to your heart for generations to come.

Why establish an Acorn Fund with Leicestershire Leicester and Rutland Community Foundation
Since 2002 Leicestershire Leicester and Rutland Community Foundation has helped local people, families and companies give back to their communities by creating their own charitable funds, which are invested to provide an annual income that is awarded as grants.
Until this point the minimum size for an endowment fund at Leicestershire Leicester and Rutland Community Foundation was £25,000 but Acorn Funds provide an opportunity for people, who do not have a large capital amount to donate, to build their fund over a number of years.

Benefits
Having your own Acorn Fund is just like growing your own charitable trust, but without all the red tape and solicitors bills. Your fund will be invested by expert investment managers and monitored by our committee of knowledgeable trustees.
By working with Leicestershire Leicester and Rutland Community Foundation, you gain direct access to thousands of local charities and worthwhile causes that really need your help.
Acorn Fund holders will be invited to Leicestershire Leicester and Rutland Community Foundation events and have the opportunity to visit projects and meet people they have helped.

From little acorns...
To set up an Acorn Fund requires a minimum donation of £1,000 per year, which can be made by monthly installments and/or one-off payments. If you are a UK taxpayer, we can claim back the standard rate of tax you have paid on your donation through Gift Aid. This means that an annual contribution to your Acorn Fund of £1,000 will only cost you £780 (or £65 per month). For higher rate tax payers, this will cost even less as you can claim additional tax relief (currently at 18%) in your tax return - therefore £1,000 each year will only cost you £600 (or £50 per month).
You may wish to consider giving shares, which can be even more tax effective. We will be happy to send you further information about giving shares.
What if something changes? If your income increases or you receive a windfall from an inheritance, property or sale of a business you can make additional gifts or increase your regular contributions, allowing you to grow your Acorn Fund faster.

...grow great oak trees
When you reach £25,000, your Acorn Fund turns overnight into your own charitable endowment fund. But you don’t have to wait for that day. You can start now by choosing your fund name and the good causes you would like your fund to support.

A lasting legacy
For many people the most significant gift they are able to make to charity is a gift in their will. If you establish an Acorn Fund in your lifetime, you can add to your fund in your will, ensuring that one day even more grants can be awarded to the causes close to your heart.