Bernard Sunley Foundation

Charity Number: 1109099

Annual Expenditure: £5.6M
Throughout England And Wales

Contact Info

Website: www.bernardsunley.org

Phone: 0203 036 0090

Email: office@bernardsunley.org

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £5 million
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: 3 months for small grants, 6 months for large/medium grants
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £25,000+ (exceptional cases)
  • Geographic Focus: England and Wales

Contact Details

Website: www.bernardsunley.org

Email: office@bernardsunley.org

Phone: 0203 036 0090

Address: Green Park House, 15 Stratton Street, London, W1J 8LQ

Overview

The Bernard Sunley Foundation is a family grant-making foundation established in 1960 by property developer Bernard Sunley with an initial pledge of £300,000 worth of shares. Since its establishment, the Foundation has awarded over £140 million in grants. The Foundation distributes approximately £5 million annually to capital projects throughout England and Wales. Its mission is to help raise the quality of life, particularly for those who are young, disadvantaged, deprived, disabled, or elderly. The Foundation focuses exclusively on one-off capital projects such as new buildings, major refurbishments, equipment, and transport, with a strong preference for tangible infrastructure rather than running costs. The Foundation operates with a rolling application system with no formal deadlines, and approximately 80% of grants awarded are under £5,000.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation offers three tiers of funding, all processed through an online application system on a rolling basis:

  • Small Grants: £1,000 - £5,000 (approximately 80% of all grants awarded, decided monthly by trustees)
  • Medium Grants: £5,000 - £20,000 (considered at trustee meetings)
  • Large Grants: £20,000 - £25,000+ (exceptional cases for major capital projects, considered at trustee meetings)

Application Method: Online portal only (no paper or email applications accepted). Rolling basis with no fixed deadlines.

Priority Areas

Community: Village halls (especially in isolated rural areas), scout huts, youth clubs, community centres, sports facilities, boxing clubs, outdoor activity centres, farm and outdoor learning centres, sports centres and pavilions, playing fields and playgrounds, and minibuses for community use. The trustees believe that “every community needs a focus on which to build the cohesion of that community.”

Education: Support for children and young adults from disadvantaged backgrounds or with special needs/disabilities, including new adapted minibuses for children with special needs, improvements and new facilities at special needs schools, educational nature centres, and education and learning centres at museums, galleries, and arts organisations. The trustees aim to “provide practical activities that help young people attain their full potential and take their place within society as responsible citizens.”

Health: Building and refurbishment projects for residential care housing and treatment centres, improvements to hospices and treatment clinics, specialist new transport, creation of outdoor or recreational spaces for care homes and day centres, and major equipment (not consumables) to enhance medical treatment and care.

Social Welfare: Support for veterans, the elderly, ex-offenders and those in prison, day centres for the elderly, and schemes that enable people with mental and physical disabilities to live fuller lives in the community.

What They Don't Fund

  • Running costs, core costs, salaries
  • Repair costs, rent, utility bills
  • Capital fees (building surveys, planning applications, feasibility studies)
  • Websites and other IT
  • Church tower, bell, or organ repairs
  • Second-hand vehicles (transport applications must be for new vehicles)
  • Equipment under £5,000 (applications should be for single, high-cost, durable items)
  • Projects with total budgets under £5,000
  • Projects primarily benefiting a single congregation
  • Individuals
  • Organizations with annual income over £10 million
  • Charities that have applied unsuccessfully within the previous 12 months
  • Charities applying for a new grant before an existing pledged grant has been paid
  • Projects outside England and Wales

Governance and Leadership

The Bernard Sunley Foundation is governed by a board of trustees who make grant decisions and receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. While specific trustee names are not publicly disclosed in standard searches, the trustees have articulated clear philosophical positions on their funding approach:

  • “The Trustees are strong believers that every community needs a focus on which to build the cohesion of that community.”
  • On youth development: The trustees aim to “provide practical activities that help young people attain their full potential and take their place within society as responsible citizens.”
  • On education: The trustees focus on “assisting those with special educational and learning needs.”
  • On health: The trustees' interests focus on “building projects for residential care housing and treatment centres, and the provision of major equipment (not consumables) to enhance medical treatment and care.”

The Foundation operates as both a registered charity (number 1109099) and a company (number 05407187).

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  1. Eligibility Check: Complete the online eligibility check at bernardsunley.org/apply/eligibility
  2. Online Application: Submit through the online application form only (no paper or email applications accepted)
  3. Rolling Basis: No formal deadlines; applications accepted and reviewed throughout the year in order of receipt

Key Requirements

  • Organizations must have annual income below £10 million
  • Project costs must be over £10,000 and preferably under £5 million
  • For projects costing £10,000-£100,000, preference for organizations with income under £1 million
  • Must have at least one set of annual accounts
  • Planning permission required if applicable
  • Leased premises must have at least 10 years remaining on lease
  • Must have quotes or cost plans for the project

Decision Timeline

  • Small Grants (under £5,000): Decisions within 3 months, agreed by trustees on a monthly basis
  • Medium/Large Grants: Decisions within 6 months, considered at trustee meetings
  • Major Projects (budgets over £50,000): Applicants should apply at least 6 months before project start date

Success Rates

Success rate statistics are not publicly available. However, the Foundation distributes approximately £5 million annually across all grant sizes, with the majority (80%) being small grants under £5,000.

Reapplication Policy

Charities that have applied unsuccessfully within the previous 12 months are not eligible to reapply. Organizations must wait at least 12 months after an unsuccessful application before submitting a new application.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Capital Project Focus: The Foundation exclusively funds one-off capital projects. Ensure your application clearly demonstrates how the funding will be used for buildings, refurbishment, equipment, or transport—not running costs or salaries.

Demonstrate Community Impact: The trustees value projects that build community cohesion and serve vulnerable populations. Applications should clearly articulate how the capital project will raise quality of life for those who are young, disadvantaged, disabled, or elderly.

Project Viability and Readiness:

  • Have planning permission in place if required
  • Provide detailed quotes or cost plans
  • Ensure lease terms meet minimum requirements (10+ years for rented premises)
  • For transport applications, specify new vehicles only

Appropriate Grant Size:

  • The Foundation rarely funds a significant proportion of small projects (under £5,000 total budget)
  • Most successful applications are for projects costing £100,000 and under
  • Major projects (over £50,000) should apply well in advance (6+ months before start date)

Equipment Specifications: Equipment applications should be for single, high-cost items (£5,000 and over) that are durable, not consumables or multiple small items.

Strategic Timing: Since applications are reviewed in order of receipt on a rolling basis, there is no advantage to waiting for specific deadlines. Apply when your project is ready and documentation is complete.

Organizational Scale: The Foundation has an explicit preference for smaller organizations (under £1 million income) for projects in the £10,000-£100,000 range, suggesting they want to support grassroots organizations where their grants can make significant impact.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Capital projects only: Running costs, salaries, and core funding are categorically excluded. Your application must focus entirely on buildings, refurbishment, equipment, or new vehicles.
  • Small grants dominate: 80% of grants are under £5,000, so adjust expectations accordingly. Larger grants (£20,000+) are exceptional and require major capital projects.
  • Clear timelines: Small grants decided within 3 months; larger grants within 6 months. Plan accordingly and apply early for projects over £50,000.
  • One chance per year: Unsuccessful applicants must wait 12 months before reapplying, so ensure your application is thorough and well-prepared the first time.
  • Community cohesion matters: The trustees explicitly value projects that build community focus and cohesion. Frame your capital project in terms of bringing people together and serving vulnerable populations.
  • Readiness is crucial: Have planning permission, quotes, lease agreements, and cost plans in place before applying. The Foundation favors projects that are ready to proceed.
  • Organizational eligibility matters: Organizations must have income under £10 million, and smaller organizations (under £1 million) are preferred for mid-range projects. The Foundation aims to support grassroots organizations where grants have significant impact.

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References