Aviva shows support for UK charities and communities

• The Aviva Foundation will now bring together the work of the former Aviva Foundation and the Aviva Community Fund into one unified programme.
• Over £5m in grants and match funding will be available in 2026.
• More than 1 in 2 UK voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations are concerned about future financial pressures.

Aviva, the UK’s leading diversified insurer, has simplified its charitable activity by bringing together the Aviva Community Fund and its previous grant-making programme, the Foundation, into a single integrated offering.

In a time where funds are increasingly scarce, over half of UK voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations describe themselves as "stable" but concerned about future pressures, while a third report being "vulnerable" or "struggling."^[1].

Research from Aviva^[2] highlights the significant needs of UK charities and social enterprises. 3 in 10 surveyed organisations rely upon grants from private or community foundations, yet 8 in 10 think the process of applying for non-statutory funding is difficult.

The Aviva Community Fund was launched in 2015 as a way for smaller community groups and charities to fund local projects supporting financial wellbeing. Over time, communities could also apply for funding to take action against the impacts of climate change. Since it launched, the Aviva Community Fund has distributed over £17 million and supported more than 9,000 UK projects – helping communities tackle what matters most to them. 

In 2018, the independent Aviva Foundation was established and has since committed over £17m of unclaimed assets – Aviva plc shares and dividends where no owner can be found – for public benefit.

Bringing together the two grant-giving and donation programmes under a single, unified Aviva Foundation identity aims to:

• make it easier and simpler for organisations of all sizes to apply for the funding they need, for today and tomorrow
• create stronger opportunities to raise awareness of charitable causes and campaign for change
• increase opportunities for employee involvement and impact such as skills-based volunteering

Claudine Blamey, Aviva’s Chief Sustainability Officer, said:

“Charitable funding is becoming scarcer at a time when many people in the UK are not well prepared to cope with life’s financial challenges^[3]. It’s a tough environment for charities and we want to support them to make an impact. The new Aviva Foundation shows a significant ambition to help communities get ready for a more resilient future by tackling the financial and climate challenges most important to them.”

-ends-

_{[1] The VCSE Barometer Survey, June 2025}

_{[2] YOUGOV Aviva Community Fund Survey Oct 2024}

_{[3] “More people have bank accounts but one in ten have no cash savings, FCA survey reveals”, May 2025}

• _{Under the Aviva Foundation umbrella, the new Financial Futures Fund will see Aviva partner with larger organisations delivering bold, long-term solutions to help people build financial resilience.} 
• _{The refreshed Communities Fund (in partnership with Crowdfunder) will continue to support small, local UK charities and non-profits (with an annual income of £1 million or less) focussing on one or both of financial wellbeing and climate action. Participating organisations can also benefit from volunteering support from Aviva employees, helping to further their mission and deepen their impact.}