Since this article was first published, the initiative has evolved into the Toyota and Lexus Community Fund, strengthening its focus on innovation, inclusion, and long-term corporate citizenship.

Established in 2012 and jointly funded by Toyota (GB) PLC and Toyota Financial Services (UK), the Fund supports charities, educational institutions, and CICs delivering meaningful impact across the UK.

In 2026, the programme has been refreshed to better reflect changing community needs and to reinforce a more innovation-led, outcomes-driven approach to community investment.

What is the Toyota and Lexus Community Fund?

The Toyota and Lexus Community Fund is a long-standing initiative designed to support charities and community organisations across the UK.

It provides grants to organisations making a genuine difference in their communities, helping to deliver impact across key social and environmental priorities.

What’s new in 2026 for the Toyota and Lexus Community Fund?

From April 2026, the Fund introduces a refreshed structure designed to improve consistency, transparency, and impact:

• Grants of up to £4,000 for charities, educational institutions, and CICs
• Structured funding windows for applications and approvals
• Processing periods in July, November, and February
• No applications processed during March

This approach ensures funding is delivered more strategically and aligned to community need.

What are the Core Community Partnership Pillars of the Toyota and Lexus Community Fund?

All funding is now guided by four strategic pillars:

• Mobility projects improving access and independence
• Environmental initiatives supporting sustainability and climate action
• Education, skills-building and STEAM programmes
• Community inclusion and resilience projects

These pillars ensure investment is focused where it can create the most meaningful and sustainable impact.

How the Toyota and Lexus Community Fund is driving innovation in community investment

The updated model reflects a wider shift towards innovation in corporate citizenship, moving from transactional giving to long-term community capability building.

In FY25 Q1 alone, the Fund supported 24 organisations with £42,200 in donations, strengthening local impact across the UK.

In Q2, 15 applications were approved, with £26,900 distributed, supporting targeted community-led solutions.

Real community impact: Toyota and Lexus Community Fund case studies

How Smart Works supports women into employment with the Toyota and Lexus Community Fund

Smart Works continues to deliver life-changing support for women in disadvantaged circumstances.

With backing from the Fund, Smart Works has now supported over 10,600 women across the UK, exceeding its original annual target.

• 67% of participants in North Kensington secured employment within one month
• 97% reported increased confidence after support
• No woman was turned away despite high demand

This demonstrates how targeted support can drive economic inclusion and social mobility at scale.

How Maggie’s at the Royal Marsden is supported by the Toyota and Lexus Community Fund

Maggie’s at the Royal Marsden provides free emotional, practical, and wellbeing support for people affected by cancer.

A £2,000 grant enabled expanded group support programmes including:

• Gentle exercise sessions
• Nutrition and wellbeing workshops
• Peer support activities

These services help improve wellbeing, reduce isolation, and strengthen resilience during treatment and recovery.

How the Motor Neurone Disease Association is supported by Toyota and Lexus

The Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) provides vital support, care, and information to people affected by motor neurone disease across the UK.

Toyota’s long-standing partnership with the charity has helped raise £862,487 in total, including more than £82,000 in 2025 alone, through fundraising events, volunteering, and community initiatives.

This support helps the MNDA to:

• Provide practical and emotional support to people living with MND and their families
• Deliver information and specialist services through local branches and support teams
• Fund research into treatments and a future cure for motor neurone disease

The partnership reflects Toyota’s commitment to corporate citizenship and creating a positive, lasting impact in communities across the UK.

How the Toyota and Lexus Community Fund strengthens local communities across the UK

Recent funded projects highlight the breadth of impact across the UK:

• Distington Club for Young People – creative youth programmes building confidence and connection
• Autism East Midlands – sensory-friendly outdoor learning environments
• Family Lives – supporting families affected by substance misuse

Each project reflects a commitment to inclusion, resilience, and community-led innovation.

Toyota corporate citizenship in action through the Community Fund

Beyond grant funding, Toyota’s wider community programmes reinforce its commitment to responsible business.

Across 2025:

• £129,300 distributed to 73 organisations through the Community Fund
• Record volunteering engagement across Toyota teams
• Expansion of the Community Loan Vehicle Programme supporting 42 vehicles for charities

These initiatives demonstrate how mobility and community impact are increasingly connected.

Looking ahead: the future of the Toyota and Lexus Community Fund in 2026 and beyond

As the programme moves into 2026, the focus remains on embedding innovation, inclusion, and citizenship into every aspect of community investment.

The Toyota and Lexus Community Fund is no longer just a grants programme — it is a structured platform for long-term social impact, enabling organisations to deliver measurable and sustainable change.

Updated June 2026

The Toyota and Lexus Community Fund: £179,000 pledged to good causes

The eighth financial year of the Toyota and Lexus Community Fund – a programme of small grants designed to help local charities, schools and community projects – has come to an end. The initiative has supported 105 deserving schemes, allocating more than £179,000 over the past 12 months.

Helston Community College have received £2,000 thanks to Parklands Toyota

In all its worldwide operations, Toyota seeks to be a good neighbour, supporting its local communities and the environment, fulfilling its role as a good corporate citizen. Through the Toyota and Lexus Community Fund it is able to involve its Toyota and Lexus retailer network in deserving community schemes and provide financial help.

Lexus Swindon have supported Brighter Futures

Grants of up to £2,000 are available. Applications can be put forward by retail centres on behalf of projects in their local community, individual Toyota and Lexus staff members, or directly to the fund from projects local to Toyota GB’s Head Office in Epsom.

Here are just a few of the projects that gained funding:

Yetminster and Ryme Intrinseca Parish Council, with a grant to provide a centrally-located open-access defibrillator for Yetminster village. (Somerset County Cars Yeovil).

The Smallpiece Trust, Leamington Spa to support their ‘Girls into Engineering’ Project aimed to encourage more females to pursue STEM related education and career paths. (Listers Coventry).

Tytherington Treacles W.I. received £1,500 to fund a new ultrasound scanner for the Breast Screening Unit at Macclesfield Hospital. (RRG Toyota Macclesfield).

Cerebral Palsy Plus, to run a ‘Funtastic Day’ providing a chance for young members of the charity to go away for the day and to have fun, share lots of laughter, and do what children love doing. (Motorline Bristol North).

Happy Faces Playgroup for a project bringing the playgroup and local elderly care home together for activities such as crafts, picnics, signing and baking. Inchcape Toyota Basingstoke have worked tirelessly to facilitate multiple visits, and Inchcape’s Tony Hatherall even dressed up as Santa for the Christmas Party!

Ballyclare High School, to provide an Alzheimer/SEN-Friendly Community Garden on the school grounds. (Curtis Ballymena).

Snows Toyota Waterlooville have supported the Blue Lamp Trust

Organisations, schools and charities interested in finding out more about how the Toyota and Lexus Community Fund might help them and the procedure for making an application should get in touch with Toyota GB here.

The Toyota and Lexus Community Fund is operated by the Toyota (GB) Charitable Trust on behalf of Toyota (GB) Plc and Toyota Financial Services. Registered Charity Number 327808.

Learn more: How the Toyota Fund for a Better Tomorrow helped in 2017-18