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From our ChairNick Alston cbe dlChair of TrusteesIt is a pleasure to introduce our 2024 Annual Review. This is my sixth year as Chair of Trustees and each year brings new energy and inspiration. I am deeply proud of the Foundation and the value it brings to all our communities, which has been reaffirmed in our conversations with you. This year we have increased the many ways that people can support and shape our work, starting with discussions about our growing investments and how they are responsibly managed. We continued with our community listening project, complemented this year, with research from Professor Tony Chapman which we launched at our first Charity Symposium in November 2023. This large event also saw the launch of our conversation with you about our new strategy. We created our new FundBuilder initiative, which allows people to start their giving journey with us in a way that suits their financial means. We also extended our community listening activities to our donors, with the results to be presented to the Board in November 2024. We are incredibly excited about your input into all this important work and the encouragement that you have given us to be bolder, and to use our influence and resources to enrich communities in need across Essex. Your confidence in our work has driven our bold and ambitious 2030 Strategy. Thank-you to the many partners, donors, fundholders, charities and public sector leaders for your engagement. A community foundation is, after all, by and for local people. I am confident too that our founder, Ian Marks CBE DL, would have been thrilled that we are a strong, reliable presence that attracts new people to work with us in our search for solutions and a response to pressing social issues. That was his aim when he and his wife Angela, set up the Foundation in 1996. This year our generous and growing community of donors, has enabled us to give grants totalling %u00a33.3%u202fmillion to support a wide range of charities working at the heart of their local communities. We remain committed not only to help charities expand and develop their work, but also to provide financial support towards their core costs with 54% of our grants supporting these everyday demands, which is an increase on last year. We welcomed four highly skilled trustees during the year and they are already making their mark and helping to drive our work forward. On behalf of the Foundation, I express my deep gratitude to our fundholders and donors, our volunteers, trustees, and staff team, led by our CEO, Caroline Taylor. We are so proud to have both your confidence and your close involvement in our work. Together we each play our part in making Essex such a great place to live.031. Over 50%u2019s Black Men%u2019s Forum. Providing a network of support tackling issues including health, education, isolation and employment.2. Dig-It Community Allotment. Providing a place where people of all abilities can learn new skills.3. CVS Tendring. Supporting local charities and bringing people together to celebrate different cultures.123