Celebrating a decade of the DWF Foundation

People often ask what it’s like to be the DWF foundation and community investment manager, and honestly, it’s a blend of strategy, creativity and a lot of heart. I oversee the smooth running of the DWF Foundation, ensuring we deliver positive impact across our communities. That involves managing grants, supporting trustees and maintaining strong, transparent policies to ensure everything we do is fair. Governance may sound formal, but it’s what builds the trust our communities place in us. 

Then there’s the fun part – fundraising and community engagement. I work with our local CSR groups to plan challenge events, volunteering activities and creative campaigns that bring people together, positively impact our communities and raise money for the foundation. Watching colleagues roll up their sleeves, get stuck in and make a real difference is one of my favourite parts of the job.

My role is anything but boring – no two days in my hybrid role look the same. Some days I’m in the office meeting people or helping plan and deliver activities; other days I’m leading sessions online and keeping things moving virtually. The one constant is the steady stream of emails. Much of my time is spent responding to colleagues and partners, drafting communications, and coordinating support across projects. Juggling multiple events and priorities comes with the territory, and time spent on spreadsheets, monitoring and reporting impact is essential to ensure everything runs smoothly - even if it’s not my favourite part, as I’m very much a people person and love engaging with people directly.

When I joined DWF 10 years ago to help establish the foundation in Liverpool, I never imagined what we’d achieve: £1.5 million donated and over 700 charities supported worldwide. Those numbers tell an incredible story of generosity and teamwork.

One of the biggest game changers for the foundation was receiving 1.8m shares in DWF Group plc, an incredibly generous donation from our partners when we listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2019. That has enabled us to support even more charities and deepen our long-term impact. It’s a standout moment of the past decade, closely followed by the unforgettable experience of sending 70 DWF colleagues to skydive out of aeroplanes to raise funds for the foundation. These moments reflect the generosity and adventurous spirit of our colleagues and show how far we’ve come in driving positive change together.

Our DWF Foundation trustees’ commitment goes far beyond simply awarding grants. A key part of our work is helping community groups develop the skills and knowledge they need to grow and succeed. One of my favourite ways to do this is through our sustainability session – a practical workshop that helps organisations understand the evolving funding landscape and why sustainability is essential to securing support. We encourage participants to consider their environmental impact, recognise how their work already contributes to sustainability, and explore ways to embed it into everything they do. By sharing our expertise and creating opportunities for collaboration, we help communities build resilience and prepare for future challenges and opportunities. Our support isn’t just financial – it's about empowering people to thrive.

Over the past decade, CSR has evolved dramatically and so has my role. It’s no longer just the 'nice' thing to do – it's the right thing to do and sits at the heart of DWF’s business strategy. It’s wonderful to see organisations embrace responsible business and recognise their wider impact beyond profit. I’m proud that DWF has been at the forefront of this, consistently delivering positive outcomes for our colleagues, clients and the communities we support. What’s especially rewarding is seeing our clients actively wanting to collaborate in the community space – their enthusiasm amplifies what we can achieve together.

Every day my role brings fresh opportunities and challenges. It’s incredibly fulfilling to know my work helps others create real, lasting impact. But there are difficult moments too: continuously seeking support, delivering disappointing news to grant applicants, and balancing the demands of fundraising, volunteering and governance. What makes it manageable is the brilliant team around me, including a fantastic CSR officer who supports me every step of the way.

After 23 years in the charity sector, I understand the dedication needed to create genuine change. That experience guides how I lead our community investment work every day. I feel privileged to work with such caring, passionate people – both within DWF and across our partner charities – who are all committed to making the world a better place.

Looking ahead to the next 10 years, I’m confident that, with the passion and support of our people, the DWF Foundation will continue to achieve even greater impact.

Clare Beavan is community investment manager at DWF