Dovedale

Charity Number: 1170157

Geographic Focus: Northern Ireland, Scotland, Throughout England And Wales

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Quick Stats

Annual Giving: Information not publicly available
Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation/discretion only)
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
Geographic Focus: UK and potentially international (covers human rights and conflict resolution globally)
Application Type: Trustee discretion - no public application process

Contact Details

Registered Address:

WEDLAKE BELL LLP

71 Queen Victoria Street

London, EC4V 4AY

Phone: 020 7395 3106

Email: Not publicly available

Website: None

Note: DOVEDALE does not have a public-facing website or application process. Contact should be made through Wedlake Bell LLP, the legal firm handling the charity's administration.

Overview

DOVEDALE was registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) - Foundation on 14 November 2016. The charity operates as a grant-making foundation, making grants to both organisations and individuals as determined by trustee discretion. The foundation's mission encompasses the advancement of education; arts, culture, heritage and science; human rights, conflict resolution and reconciliation; and the promotion of religious harmony, equality and diversity.

As of the financial year ending 31 December 2024, the charity reported total income of £736,495 (including £191,250 in donations and legacies, £82,888 from investments, and £462,357 in other income) and total expenditure of £178,293, with approximately 82.7% of expenditure directed to charitable activities. The charity operates as an endowment-style organisation, generating substantial income from investments alongside donations. The foundation is governed by six trustees, all from the Lough family, and operates without paid staff.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

DOVEDALE does not operate structured grant programmes with specified amounts or application windows. All grants are made at the discretion of the trustees. The charity has been identified as a funder for arts and education organisations, including:

Apollo Music Projects - Supporting classical music education for children
The Benedetti Foundation - Supporting music education programmes

Priority Areas

Based on the charity's stated objects and known funding patterns:

Education - Particularly music education and educational access
Arts, Culture, Heritage and Science - Supporting arts organisations and cultural initiatives
Human Rights, Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation - Reflecting trustee expertise in humanitarian and international development sectors
Religious Harmony, Equality and Diversity - Promoting inclusion and understanding across communities

What They Don't Fund

Not publicly specified. As a discretionary trust, funding decisions are made case-by-case by trustees based on alignment with charitable objects.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

Jessica Lough
Christina Byrne
Emma Lough
Oliver Lough
Robin Lough
Sean Watson

The foundation is governed by members of the Lough family. Notably, Oliver Lough is a Senior Research Fellow with the Humanitarian Policy Group at the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), with expertise in humanitarian accountability, digital technology in humanitarian action, and international development. His professional background includes roles with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and research on internal displacement and humanitarian effectiveness.

No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The foundation has no trading subsidiaries and no employees earning over £60,000.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

DOVEDALE operates as a private grant-making foundation where grants are awarded entirely at the discretion of the trustees. There is no online application portal, no published application guidelines, and no fixed deadlines for submissions.

Grants appear to be made to organisations and causes identified through the trustees' networks and professional connections rather than through open competitive processes.

Getting on Their Radar

Note: The following represents funder-specific intelligence based on the trustees' professional backgrounds:

Given that Oliver Lough is a senior humanitarian researcher at ODI with extensive experience in humanitarian accountability and international development, organisations working in these sectors - particularly those engaged with IRC, ODI, or the wider humanitarian policy community - may have indirect connection routes through professional networks.

The foundation's support for music education organisations (Apollo Music Projects and Benedetti Foundation) suggests trustees may have personal connections to or strong interest in arts education, particularly classical music programmes serving disadvantaged children.

For organisations aligned with the foundation's charitable objects, the most appropriate approach would be to:

Contact Wedlake Bell LLP at the registered address to enquire whether the trustees would be willing to consider information about your organisation
Be prepared that unsolicited approaches may not receive a response given the private, discretionary nature of grant-making

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As a discretionary trust, there are no fixed decision cycles or board meeting schedules publicly available.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Given that DOVEDALE operates through trustee discretion rather than open applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organisations that have received support share the following characteristics:

Strong alignment with education and arts - Both known beneficiaries (Apollo Music Projects and Benedetti Foundation) work in music education for children
Focus on access and inclusion - Programmes that bring cultural experiences to children who might not otherwise access them
Professional credibility - Established organisations with clear track records
Potential for systemic impact - Programmes designed for transformative experiences rather than one-off activities

For organisations in humanitarian or international development sectors, alignment with the trustees' professional expertise (particularly Oliver Lough's focus on humanitarian accountability, digital technology in humanitarian action, and work with displaced populations) may be relevant.

Important Note: Without a public application process, there is no documented guidance from the foundation about what makes organisations attractive for funding. The above observations are based solely on publicly available information about known grantees and trustee backgrounds.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

This is not an accessible funder for most organisations - DOVEDALE operates entirely through trustee discretion with no public application process
Trustee connections are likely essential - The foundation appears to identify and support organisations through personal and professional networks
Arts education and humanitarian sectors - The dual focus reflects both funded organisations (music education) and trustee expertise (humanitarian policy and international development)
Family foundation structure - Five trustees share the surname Lough, indicating this is a family philanthropic vehicle
No website or public presence - The foundation maintains a low profile with minimal public-facing information
Significant investment income - With over £461,000 in investment gains in 2024, the foundation has substantial capital and appears financially sustainable
For most grant seekers, pursuing other funders will be more productive - Unless you have existing connections to the trustees or their professional networks, DOVEDALE is unlikely to be a viable funding source