The fellowship – currently called Time to Give –aims to involve over 1,000 people through the development of donor networking, education and joint-working initiatives of the kind that some Community Foundations already have experience of running successfully for philanthropists who use their services.

The fellowship also aims to work with committed philanthropists who will act as ambassadors for philanthropy in their regions, bringing their expertise and networks to bear and sharing their stories and experience with others, explains Clare Brooks, director of philanthropy at CFN.

Community Foundations specialise in supporting work that engages local people in creating solutions in their neighbourhoods to make communities and regions better places to live.

“Twice as many people are giving through community foundations than they were two years ago. This initiative will allows us to encourage that and attract more people interested in community change at all levels,” says Brooks.

The funds will create eight donor-support centres across the country to run the initiative.

Matthew Bowcock, CFN’s Chair said: “We are delighted with the generosity of the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and inspired by Ian Fairbairn who did so much to pioneer accessible investment for everyone. In this respect, Time to Give represents for us an opportunity to make best practices in philanthropy and donor networking accessible to a broad range of givers, large and small.  In this sense we hope that ‘Fairbairn Fellows’ will become champions for philanthropy in their areas and encourage others to actively support their local community or wider society. It is exciting evidence of a developing culture of philanthropy in the UK.”

Dawn Austwick, chief executive of the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation said: “We believe that the Time to Giveinitiative has the potential to make a significant impact on philanthropy in the UK, encouraging people to become part of a community of givers, supporting their local neighbourhood and playing an active role in the charitable activities they support. Esmée Fairbairn Foundation has a very proud history of supporting civil society projects and we are pleased, as part of our 50th birthday projects, to help the Community Foundation Network to create stronger community bonds and to inspire a greater culture of philanthropy in Britain today.”