Educational Opportunity Foundation

Charity Number: 314286

Annual Expenditure: £1.6M

Throughout England And Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland

Contact Info

Website: https://educationalopportunity.org.uk

Phone: 7356007655

Email: Not

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Quick Stats

Annual Giving: £1,115,991 (2023)
Success Rate: ~15% (based on November 2023 round: 8 awards from 54 applications)
Decision Time: 4-8 weeks per stage (two-stage process)
Grant Range: £30,000 - £90,000 (UK projects); £30,000 - £60,000 (International projects)
Geographic Focus: UK (care-experienced young people) and International (marginalized communities)

Contact Details

Website: https://educationalopportunity.org.uk

Phone: 7356007655

Email: Not publicly listed; contact via website form

Pre-Application Support: Detailed guidance notes available for both Stage 1 and Stage 2 applications on the website

Overview

The Educational Opportunity Foundation (formerly the British & Foreign School Society) was established in 1808 and formally registered as a charity by Royal Charter in 1906 (charity number 314286). With over 215 years of history in promoting educational access, the foundation now operates as a grant-giving organization awarding approximately £1 million annually in new and multi-year grants. In 2023, the foundation awarded £1,115,991 in new grants—their second-highest year ever. The foundation rebranded from BFSS to Educational Opportunity Foundation in 2024 to better reflect its current mission: enhancing lives worldwide by promoting educational opportunity regardless of ethnicity, nationality, or religious belief. Led by President Estelle Morris (former Secretary of State for Education) and Vice-President Professor John Furlong, the foundation supports projects for children and young people under 25 through its Main Fund and six geographically-specific Subsidiary Trusts.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Main Fund - UK Projects

Amount: £30,000 - £90,000 per project (maximum £30,000 per year for multi-year projects)
Focus: Care-experienced young people under 25 living in the UK
Application Method: Rolling basis for 2025 grants; deadline was 14 January 2026 for next round
Duration: 1-3 years

Main Fund - International Projects

Amount: £30,000 - £60,000 per project (maximum £30,000 per year for multi-year projects)
Focus: Marginalized and low-income communities worldwide
Application Method: Fixed deadlines (5 November 2025, 13 May 2026, 13 July 2026)
Duration: 1-3 years

Subsidiary Trusts

Small, geographically-specific grants (typically £1,000 - £11,000 annually)
British School Charity (Saffron Walden area)
South Church Educational Fund (former Wear Valley District, up to £1,000)
Great and Little Leighs Educational Charity (Essex)
Old British School, Bratton (within 20 miles of Bratton, Wiltshire)
Alfred Bourne Trust and Berridge Trust (currently low/no income)

Priority Areas

UK Projects:

Improving educational outcomes for care-experienced young people
Supporting access to education, employment, and training
Enhancing life chances for those aged 16-24 who have lived in care

International Projects:

Access: Increasing educational opportunities, particularly for girls and those displaced by conflict; training teachers in inclusive practices
Quality: Enhancing teaching and learning; providing extra-curricular support; increasing access to STEM, IT, and vocational training
Sustainability: Building community ownership; creating self-generating income; minimizing environmental impact

What They Don't Fund

Long-term projects (beyond 3 years)
State education services that should be government-funded
Summer camps
Individual bursaries or scholarships
Expeditions or conferences
International travel costs
Feeding programs
Uniform or transport costs as primary focus
Projects where annual grant exceeds 50% of organization's 3-year average income
Organizations without at least 3 years of continuous accounts

Governance and Leadership

President: Estelle Morris (Baroness Morris of Yardley)

Former Secretary of State for Education
Member of House of Lords
Chair of Birmingham Education Partnership

Vice-President: Professor John Furlong, OBE

Emeritus Professor of Education at University of Oxford
Former London school teacher
Recognized for services to educational research

Chair of Council (Board of Trustees): Jane Creasy

Background in educational and public sector leadership
Former Operations Director at National College for School Leadership

Treasurer: Robert Spencer

Former Director of Finance in non-profit organizations
Experience overseeing charity investments

Vice-Chair: Charlotte Cashman

Early years teacher
International teacher trainer in early literacy

Director: Joanne Knight

Extensive experience in grant-giving charities
Former Trustee of Association of Charitable Foundations

The Council (Board of Trustees) includes members with diverse expertise in early years education, teacher training, local and national government, voluntary sector work, charity leadership, overseas development, philanthropy, and education policy. The foundation operates two subsidiary committees: Investments Committee and Grants Committee.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Two-Stage Application Process:

Stage 1: Initial application via online form

Foundation reviews against eligibility criteria and strategic priorities
Decision within 4-8 weeks of submission
No feedback provided to unsuccessful Stage 1 applicants
Successful applicants invited to submit Stage 2

Stage 2: Full application (by invitation only)

Detailed project proposal with specific outcomes and budgets
Decision within 4-8 weeks of Stage 2 deadline
Decisions are final

Application Requirements:

Detailed guidance notes provided for both stages
Must demonstrate direct project involvement (not just fundraising)
Robust safeguarding procedures required
Environmental impact considerations required
Evidence of local stakeholder consultation

Decision Timeline

Stage 1 to Stage 2: 4-8 weeks
Stage 2 to Final Decision: 4-8 weeks
Total Process: Typically 2-4 months from initial application to final decision

Notification methods not specified, likely via email through application portal.

Success Rates

Based on November 2023 round:

Applications received: 54
Grants awarded: 8
Success rate: Approximately 15%

The foundation notes they receive “many more valuable applications than they are able to fund,” indicating high competition.

Reapplication Policy

No explicit reapplication policy found in available materials. The foundation states their decision on applications is final and they are unable to provide feedback to Stage 1 applicants. Applicants should contact the foundation directly for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Specificity is Critical

The foundation emphasizes being “extremely precise” about project activities. Instead of vague descriptions like “we will run workshops,” applications should state: “40 young people will attend 8 half-day workshops on interview skills.”

Measurable Outcomes Required

Outcomes must be:

Specific and realistic
Measurable and achievable
Within the project's sphere of influence
At least one outcome must be directly education-focused

Local Stakeholder Engagement

Successful applications demonstrate:

Consultation with local authorities and communities
Young people's involvement in project design
How local stakeholders will support implementation
Plans for sustainability beyond the grant period

Environmental Considerations

Projects should demonstrate how they minimize environmental impact through:

Carbon calculations where relevant
Use of low-resource materials
Integration of environmental education into curriculum

Financial Sustainability

The foundation prefers projects that:

Have some degree of matched funding (will fund 25-100% of costs)
Show clear plans for continuation beyond grant period
Demonstrate potential for local government or community support
Include overhead contributions up to 20% of total grant

Recent Funded Projects (Examples):

Sabre Education (Ghana): £30,000 for play-based early years teacher training in government preschools
Chance for Childhood (Ghana): £60,000 for digital screening app to identify children with special educational needs
Hope for Children (Uganda): £32,296 for literacy classes and solar lights for out-of-school children
Learning for Life (Bangladesh): £52,234 to establish 21 early learning centres
CodeBrave Foundation (Lebanon): £55,124 to train teachers in coding, robotics and AI for STEM education

Common Rejection Factors:

Vague or unmeasurable project descriptions
Lack of local stakeholder involvement
No clear educational benefit
Financially unsustainable models
Annual grant exceeding 50% of organization's average income
Projects outside priority age groups or focus areas

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Be Exceptionally Specific: Vague applications are rejected. Use precise numbers, timeframes, and measurable outcomes in every section
Demonstrate Sustainability: The foundation wants to see how projects will continue after funding ends, with evidence of community ownership and matched funding
Show Local Ownership: Projects must demonstrate meaningful consultation with local stakeholders and beneficiaries, especially young people
Align Precisely with Priorities: For UK projects, focus exclusively on care-experienced young people under 25; for international projects, emphasize marginalized communities and at least one of the three priority areas (access, quality, sustainability)
Prepare for Low Success Rates: With approximately 15% success rate, ensure your application stands out through specificity, measurable outcomes, and clear alignment with foundation priorities
Environmental Impact Matters: Include how your project minimizes environmental impact—this is an assessed criterion
Two-Stage Process Takes Time: Allow 2-4 months total for the application process; plan accordingly for project start dates
No Feedback Provided: Stage 1 rejections receive no feedback and decisions are final, so ensure applications are complete and compelling from the start