Coutts Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £1,000,000 (approximately)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (proactive grantmaking only)
• Decision Time: Variable (proactive approach)
• Grant Range: £105,000 - £165,000 (over 3 years)
• Geographic Focus: UK, with emphasis on communities where Coutts has a presence

Contact Details

Website: https://www.coutts.com/coutts-foundation.html

Email: coutts.foundation@coutts.com

Phone: 020 7753 1000

Address: Coutts Foundation, 440 Strand, London WC2R 0QS

Note: The Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Organizations must complete an information submission form available via email.

Overview

The Coutts Charitable Foundation was established in February 2013 to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the birth of Angela Burdett-Coutts, a 19th-century philanthropist and granddaughter of banking founder Thomas Coutts. As an independent corporate foundation supported by Coutts, the Foundation has distributed over £7.25 million through 107 grants to 40 recipients since 2014. The Foundation operates with a distinctive grantmaking model, providing unrestricted funding over three-year periods to approximately 20 charities annually. Their mission is to support sustainable approaches to tackle the causes and consequences of poverty in communities where Coutts has a presence. The Foundation takes a proactive approach to identifying partners, focusing on organizations developing innovative solutions with potential for scale. In 2022, Clare Richards MBE joined as Director, bringing over 20 years of nonprofit leadership experience.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation focuses on two primary funding streams:

1. Women and Girls Programme

• Grant amounts: £105,000 - £165,000 over three years (£35,000 - £55,000 per annum)
• Total invested to date: £3.8 million to 20 organizations
• Focus on charities that:
• Intervene early and seek to prevent violence against women and girls
• Empower women and girls to move beyond trauma
• Support children who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing domestic abuse
• Particular interest in organizations led by and for Black and minoritized women and girls

2. Performing Arts for Young People

• Grant amounts: £105,000 - £165,000 over three years (£35,000 - £55,000 per annum)
• Total invested to date: £600,000 to seven theatre groups
• Focus on organizations that:
• Empower young people through performing arts
• Work in deprived areas
• Co-create programs with young people aged 5-30
• Take theatre into communities and venues

Additional Focus: The Foundation has also supported homelessness charities with £900,000 distributed to date.

Application Method: Proactive identification only; information submission form required for consideration

Priority Areas

• Geographic: Communities where Coutts has a presence across the UK, including Manchester, Liverpool, London (Hackney), Bristol, and Scotland
• Organizational Characteristics:
• UK registered charities
• Organizations developing innovative solutions
• Work with potential to be scaled up
• Charities requiring core operational support
• Organizations led by and for the communities they serve

What They Don't Fund

• The Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals
• No project-restricted funding (prefers unrestricted grants)
• Organizations outside their two primary focus areas (women and girls; performing arts for young people)
• International organizations (UK focus only)

Ready to write a winning application for Coutts Charitable Foundation?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

Chair: Lord Remnant (joined Coutts as Non-Executive Director in 2022)

Director: Clare Richards MBE FRSA (joined 2022, previously CEO of ClementJames Centre with over 20 years nonprofit leadership experience; awarded MBE in 2011 for services to the community in North Kensington)

Board of Trustees (7 trustees):

• Vicki Dela Amedume MBE - Artistic Director of Upswing
• Javid Cante - Finance professional
• Solange Chamberlain - NatWest Retail Banking CEO
• Emma Crystal - Coutts and Wealth Businesses CEO
• Rachel Harrington - Coutts Institute specialist
• Additional independent trustees

Support Team:

• Neil Henderson - Company Secretary
• Jennifer Coleman - Advisor
• Fiona Wray - Administrator

The Board includes members appointed by Coutts and independent Trustees. The Foundation is supported by volunteers and Coutts staff who offer expertise pro-bono.

Leadership Quote: Director Clare Richards MBE states: "We operate with a mission to tackle the causes and consequences of poverty in the communities where Coutts has a presence. As a supporting foundation we don't pretend we're the experts. We want to let their expertise shine through."

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

CRITICAL: The Coutts Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. The Foundation adopts a proactive approach to philanthropy and identifies organizations to support.

For Consideration:

1. Organizations must complete an “information submission form”
2. Email the completed form to: coutts.foundation@coutts.com
3. The Foundation will proactively reach out to organizations that align with their mission

No open application deadlines - the Foundation operates on a proactive identification basis throughout the year.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed due to the proactive nature of their grantmaking. The Foundation carefully targets resources on a small number of organizations, suggesting a thorough vetting process.

Success Rates

Traditional success rates do not apply as the Foundation does not operate an open application process. The Foundation works with approximately 20 partner charities at any given time and has funded 40 different recipients with 107 grants since 2014.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the proactive approach. However, the Foundation frequently renews and increases grants to existing partners. Examples include:

• Contact (Manchester): Initial grant of £150,000 (2021), followed by increased grant of £165,000 (2023)
• Multiple organizations receiving additional grants beyond initial three-year commitments

Application Success Factors

What the Foundation Looks For

1. Alignment with Mission: Organizations must demonstrate clear focus on tackling causes and consequences of poverty affecting women and girls or young people through performing arts.

2. Innovation and Scale: According to their stated priorities, “The Foundation is especially interested in organisations that are developing innovative solutions and/or those whose successful work has the potential to be scaled up.”

3. Organizational Leadership: Particular interest in organizations “led by and for Black and minoritised women and girls” in the women and girls programme.

4. Geographic Presence: Connection to communities where Coutts has a presence (major UK cities).

5. Operational Strength: Need for unrestricted core funding to support personnel and operations demonstrates organizational maturity.

Recent Funding Examples

Women and Girls Organizations:

• Winner (Preston Road Women's Centre): £135,000 over 3 years
• Surviving Economic Abuse: £135,000 over 3 years
• Tender: £135,000 over 3 years
• Aanchal Women's Aid: £120,000 over 3 years
• Amina: £105,000 over 3 years

Performing Arts Organizations:

• Contact (Manchester): £165,000 over 3 years (2023 renewal)
• Immediate Theatre (Hackney): £120,000 over 3 years
• Travelling Light Theatre Company: £105,000 over 3 years
• 20 Stories High (Liverpool): £105,000 over 3 years

Foundation Philosophy

The Foundation's approach emphasizes trust and partnership: “The Foundation has a general principle of providing unrestricted funding, with the belief that the organisations they support are best placed to work out how best to use the funds they provide.”

Standing Out

Given the proactive approach, organizations are more likely to be identified if they:

• Demonstrate strong community connections and leadership
• Show innovative approaches to systemic poverty issues
• Operate in geographic areas where Coutts has branches
• Have track record but need core operational support
• Engage directly with beneficiary communities in program design

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Open Applications: Do not submit unsolicited proposals; instead, complete the information submission form and wait to be contacted if your organization aligns with their priorities
• Three-Year Unrestricted Funding: The Foundation provides long-term, unrestricted core funding (£105,000-£165,000 over 3 years), allowing for organizational stability
• Limited Focus Areas: Must fit within women and girls OR performing arts for young people; very narrow mission alignment required
• Trust-Based Approach: The Foundation believes in letting grantees' expertise guide fund usage; demonstrate you know your community and have innovative solutions
• Geographic Alignment: Stronger consideration for organizations in communities where Coutts has a presence
• Relationship-Based: Evidence shows the Foundation renews and increases funding to successful partners; focus on long-term partnership potential
• Equity Focus: Priority given to organizations led by and for Black and minoritized communities, particularly in the women and girls programme

References

1. Coutts Foundation Official Website - https://www.coutts.com/coutts-foundation.html
2. Coutts Foundation “Who We Are” - https://www.coutts.com/coutts-foundation/foundation-who-we-are.html
3. UK Charity Commission Register - Charity Number 1150784 - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5034363
4. 360Giving GrantNav Database - The Coutts Foundation - https://grantnav.threesixtygiving.org/org/GB-CHC-1150784
5. “How The Coutts Foundation and Winner are helping tackle poverty and support vulnerable women” - Coutts Insights, 2023 - https://www.coutts.com/insight-articles/news/2023/how-the-coutts-foundation-and-winner-are-helping-tackle-poverty-and-support-vulnerable-women.html
6. “Coutts launches a charitable foundation” - Civil Society, 2013 - https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/coutts-launches-a-charitable-foundation.html
7. Travelling Light Theatre Company - Coutts Foundation Funding Announcement - https://www.travellinglighttheatre.org.uk/stories/the-coutts-foundation-funding-to-support-our-work-with-children/
8. Companies House - Coutts Charitable Foundation Company Number 08395296 - https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08395296

Key Quote Source: Clare Richards MBE (Director): "We operate with a mission to tackle the causes and consequences of poverty in the communities where Coutts has a presence. As a supporting foundation we don't pretend we're the experts. We want to let their expertise shine through."