The Fund for sankalpa invests in changemakers – people with the vision and ability to bring about systemic change, and positively shape our world for the future. The fund is held and managed by Oxfordshire Community Foundation (OCF).
OCF works closely with sankalpa’s founder Ruth Layton, as well as her professional advisor team, to channel philanthropic funds to a variety of causes, including sustainable food production, animal health, business leadership, finance, transpersonal psychology and science.
The common feature of all these projects is a shared belief that people make change. By investing in known and trusted people, sankalpa avoids onerous administrative systems, ensuring funds are used to best effect.
Ruth says: “When my business floated and I got the money, I knew I wanted to set up some sort of trust. I work with a financial advisor, and he did some research for me and suggested I look at Oxfordshire Community Foundation.
“It’s been a fantastic mechanism for us – very simple and inexpensive. I effectively have a board of trustees as a charity, and they say yes to most of the things I want to do, and we meet on a regular basis so I don’t have to wait months and months.
“I also feel strongly that there are community foundations all over the world, and I’d like to recommend them to people going forwards because I think it’s a nice community that could be strengthened.”
“Modern teenagers need a voice and to feel that they are really being heard. This in turn will help nurture and shape an empathetic and compassionate society which we will all benefit from.”
“It is so uplifting to meet so many people blessed with generous hearts and a deep sense of community.”
“I really appreciate your work on what for my parents is such an important project. I am glad that the fund has been developing so positively and swiftly.”
“The huge satisfaction to be gained from spending one’s time in giving in your later years far outweighs any pleasures that you can possibly gain on the golf course, on the beach or on the back of the yacht in the Mediterranean sipping martinis.”
“I like to have something worthwhile to get up for each morning… I find that the larger and more strategic the gift, the more pleasure I get out of it.”
“I can’t get over it; I’m still shaking when I talk about it. It’s just incredible… I feel a bit guilty about getting so much pleasure out of giving!”
“Generosity is the best investment.”
“Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”
“It is more difficult to give money away intelligently than to earn it in the first place.”
“I would never have known about many of the causes I’ve helped if the community foundation hadn’t told me about them. They are doing vital work and they need our support.”
“I am incredibly grateful to be part of OCF. The phenomenal support we’ve had has meant we can keep going; reach more vulnerable and distressed people and pay for our magical herd of horses.”
“Prosperity requires not just investment in economic capital, but also in social capital. Community foundations are playing a critical role in helping to deliver a more inclusive capitalism.”
The Ark T Centre is an arts project in East Oxford, and is situated in a high-risk area for Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE). Ark T is an open and inclusive community, where people, art, and powerful ideas come together, using the transformative powers of creativity to change lives.
SOFEA alleviates multiple social problems: the need for jobs and training for disadvantaged young people; the demand for nutritious food for vulnerable people; and the danger of supplies from the food industry going to waste.
Good Food Oxford supports the existing work of many organisations in and around the city working to make our food system more nourishing, less wasteful and more sustainable.
