The Northstar Foundation

The Northstar Foundation was set up to support entrepreneurship and social enterprise in the North East of England.

It does so through a number of different programmes:

Fresh Ideas Fund - North East

The Fresh Ideas Fund (FIF) is a £3m grant programme set up to enable voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs) in the North East of England to explore new opportunities. Its aim is to improve the long term sustainability and social impact of organisations across the region. FIF is funded by The Northern Rock Foundation and delivered by The Community Foundation Serving Tyne & Wear. 

Fresh Ideas Fund – Cumbria

The Northern Rock Foundation also granted The Northstar Foundation £500,000 to run the FIF programme in 2016 and 2017 in Cumbria. It is managed by The Cumbria Community Foundation on behalf of The Northstar Foundation. 

Matched Giving & Volunteering

The Northstar Foundation further supports the local community by offering to match any fundraising that team members at Northstar Ventures undertake (up to £500 a year each). If team members spend time volunteering for North East VCSEs, the Foundation will also make a donation. 

While the Foundation has wide charitable goals, we already have a number of charitable commitments and are therefore not generally in a position to respond to unsolicited requests for grants or donations.