Purpose

Camden has created the Camden Community Wealth Fund (CWF) – a mission-driven, social investment fund that will provide investment for people, businesses and organisations in Camden that are delivering on our missions, to develop their ideas, grow their businesses, and maximise their impact. The creation of the CWF was approved by Cabinet in July 2023 (section 2.1).

When set out by Cabinet, a measure of success of the CWF was its ability to leverage private income, alongside Camden’s financial commitment, to help further the impact of the CWF and its mission.

This report recommends the establishment of a Donor Advised Fund, a model which enables organisations to open a charitable account under the umbrella of a registered charity. This model would involve partnering with one, or more, registered charities who administer a Donor Advised Fund which could accept donations on CWF’s behalf and make onward grants to the CWF. This model would provide a cost-effective, administrative solution, allowing the Council to receive donations without needing to establish a standalone UK charity. This structure will enable the CWF team to focus primarily on fundraising activities and securing philanthropic income to support the CWF, while the Donor Advised Fund provider would oversee the full charitable legal, financial, administrative, and governance framework required but with the Council retaining its own internal due diligence process with regards to accepting donations.

This report is coming to the Director of Finance because CWF decisions have been delegated to him in his capacity as section 151 officer. This delegation has been confirmed via email by the Chief Executive following his change in role from Executive Director Corporate Services since August 2025.

Decision

The Director of Finance is asked

1. To approve the establishment of a Camden Community Wealth Fund Donor Advised Fund to enable the Council to raise philanthropic income from individual donors, corporate foundations and trusts to advance the work and impact of the Camden Community Wealth Fund (see section 1.1).
2. To authorise the Chief Investment Officer Community Wealth Fund, following consultation with the Director of Finance and the Borough Solicitor, to enter into partnership agreements with one or more registered charities to facilitate the set up and administration of the Community Wealth Fund Donor Advised Fund (see section 1.2).