Cripplegate Foundation

Charity Number: 207499

Annual Expenditure: £2.0M
Geographic Focus: Islington, City Of London

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £2,000,000
  • Success Rate: 59% (Community Chest 2024/25)
  • Decision Time: 8+ weeks after deadline
  • Grant Range: £500 - £300,000
  • Geographic Focus: London Borough of Islington and parts of the City of London

Contact Details

Website: www.cripplegate.org

Email: office@cripplegate.org.uk (General enquiries) | grants@cripplegate.org.uk (Grant enquiries)

Phone: 020 7288 6940

Pre-application support: Strongly encouraged - contact Programme Manager Patrick Jones at patrick.jones@cripplegate.org.uk or 020 7288 6948

Overview

Cripplegate Foundation is one of England's oldest charitable foundations, with the first recorded gift made in 1500. Formally established in 1891, the Foundation has been funding ideas, projects and organisations that make life fairer in Islington for over 500 years. The Foundation is a proactive grant-maker whose work addresses poverty and inequality, with a vision of a society where everyone can live a rewarding and fulfilled life. With annual grant-making of approximately £2 million, the Foundation prioritises multi-year funding (typically 2-3 years) and is committed to funding core costs to ensure groups have the resources and capacity to support local residents and contribute to the stability of the voluntary sector. The Foundation serves residents in the London Borough of Islington and a small area of the City of London, supporting both organisations and individuals through various funding programmes.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Main Grants Programme: Multi-year grants typically ranging from larger amounts (£1,750 - £300,000 reported range), with particular interest in funding smaller organisations. Applications considered through specific funding rounds. Applicants strongly advised to discuss funding levels with Programme Team before applying.

Islington Council's Community Chest (ICCC): Up to £5,000 per year. Two application rounds annually. Rolling basis with fixed deadlines. Administered in partnership with Islington Council. Priorities align with Council's 2030 Missions: Empowering Lives, Greener/Healthier Islington, Community Wealth Building, and Child-Friendly Islington.

Disability Fund: Up to £3,000 for organisations who have previously received funding from Islington Giving, Cripplegate Foundation, or Islington Council's Community Chest in the last 18 months.

Catalyst Programme: Up to £500 awarded to individuals on low incomes to pay for opportunities that make a difference.

Equity-Focused Fund: Multi-year core support specifically for groups led by and for minoritised communities in Islington (£400,000 awarded in recent round).

Priority Areas

  • Projects addressing poverty and inequality in Islington
  • Initiatives improving access to opportunities
  • Activities promoting social cohesion
  • Groups led by and for minoritised communities (Black, Asian, minority ethnic groups, deaf and disabled people, LGBTQ+ people)
  • Empowering Lives - inclusive, affordable support and enriching activities
  • Greener, Healthier Islington - mental and physical wellbeing
  • Community Wealth Building - financial resilience
  • Child-Friendly Islington - equal access to opportunities for children

What They Don't Fund

  • Direct funding to individuals (individuals supported through partner programmes RSS and Catalyst only)
  • Organisations outside Islington (unless no local alternatives exist and/or the organisation offers better service/value for money to local residents)
  • Organisations already receiving a Cripplegate main grant (ineligible for additional rounds while grant is active)
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Governance and Leadership

The Foundation is overseen by 15 Governors (trustees), with two appointed by the City of London Corporation and two by the London Borough of Islington.

Chief Executive: Sarah Roth Benioff (since September 2019) - Oversees all aspects of the organisation, internally and externally

Director of Finance and Resources: Jenny Couper (joined May 2024)

Director of Development and Communications: George (joined January 2025)

Recent Governor appointments (2024) include Fiona Au (Finance & General Purposes Committee member with Multi Asset portfolio implementation experience) and Anna-Marie (ESG and data scientist). The Foundation has a small, passionate staff team including programme managers, accountants, and communications specialists.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are made through specific funding rounds with fixed deadlines. The Foundation strongly advises that applicants get in touch before making an application to discuss criteria and explore questions. All applicants are visited by Programme Team staff to understand the organisation and discuss the application.

Pre-application support: Contact Patrick Jones (Programme Manager) at patrick.jones@cripplegate.org.uk or 020 7288 6948, or contact Voluntary Action Islington for application assistance.

Decision Timeline

Applications are assessed only after the deadline. The Panel meets to decide funding at least 8 weeks after the application deadline. Applications are considered by a Panel comprising Islington Councillors, Cripplegate Foundation Governors, members of Islington's voluntary and community sector, and local residents.

Success Rates

Islington Council's Community Chest 2024/25: 79 applications received, 59% success rate (47 funded)

Islington Council's Community Chest 2023/24: 61% success rate

The Foundation particularly welcomes applications from organisations that have never received a grant from Cripplegate or Islington Giving, or have only received small grants of £5,000 or less annually.

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applicants normally have to wait one year from the date of application to reapply. If in doubt, contact the Programme Team for guidance.

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Funder:

  • Get in touch before applying - the Foundation strongly encourages pre-application contact to discuss eligibility and questions
  • All applicants receive a visit from Programme Team staff - use this as an opportunity to build understanding of your work
  • Contact is welcomed and encouraged throughout the process

Examples of Recently Funded Projects:

  • Talk for Health - £3,000 for 6-month pilot of one-to-one support for residents with mental/physical disabilities
  • Stuart Low Trust - £2,500 for wellbeing resources, mindfulness videos, virtual walks accessible to those with visual and hearing impairments
  • Single Homeless Project - £3,000 for technology and internet access for people with disabilities
  • Say It Loud Club - Multi-year funding through Equity-Focused Fund (first-time applicant)

Key Terminology and Values:

  • The Foundation uses language around “poverty and inequality,” “access to opportunities,” and “social cohesion”
  • Strong emphasis on “core costs” and “multi-year funding” - demonstrating commitment to organisational stability
  • Focus on “proactive funding” and being “relational” in their approach
  • Commitment to “diversity, equity and inclusion” (DEI)

Standing Out:

  • Demonstrate how your work addresses poverty and inequality in Islington
  • Articulate the need for core costs and multi-year funding in terms of organisational capacity and sustainability
  • Show alignment with specific funding priorities and Council's 2030 Missions (for Community Chest)
  • For organisations led by minoritised communities, emphasise this leadership structure
  • Be prepared for a site visit and relationship-building approach
  • Contact them early - they value engagement before application

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Pre-application contact is essential: The Foundation strongly encourages discussion before applying and provides dedicated support through programme managers. Use this opportunity to align your proposal with their priorities.
  • Multi-year and core costs are valued: Unlike many funders, Cripplegate actively seeks to provide 2-3 year funding and explicitly funds core costs. Frame your request accordingly and emphasise organisational stability.
  • Strong success rate for the right applicants: With 59-61% success rates for Community Chest, odds are relatively good for well-aligned applications. First-time and small grant applicants are particularly encouraged.
  • Relationship-based approach: Every applicant receives a site visit from Programme Team staff. This is a funder that values relationships over transactional grant-making - invest in building that connection.
  • Islington-focused and place-based: Geographic restriction is firm - your work must benefit Islington residents. Demonstrate deep knowledge of local needs and community context.
  • Equity and inclusion are strategic priorities: Following their 2022 internal audit, the Foundation has significantly strengthened focus on groups led by and for minoritised communities. Organisations with this profile should highlight their leadership structure.
  • Be patient with timing: Allow at least 8 weeks after deadline for decisions. Plan your organisational cash flow accordingly and apply well in advance of when funds are needed.

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