Exeter Chiefs Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £262,965 income (2024); £229,459 expenditure (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Bi-monthly trustee meetings
• Grant Range: £hundreds - £84,000+
• Geographic Focus: Greater Exeter area (including East Devon and Mid Devon)
• Total Impact Since Inception: Over £3 million raised; 200+ projects supported

Contact Details

Website: www.exeterchiefsfoundation.org.uk (note: the provided website www.exeterfoundation.org.uk redirects here)

Email: enquiries@exeterfoundation.org.uk

Phone: 07976638371

Registered Charity Number: 1143121

Overview

The Exeter Chiefs Foundation was established in 2011 by Exeter Rugby Club executives and local businessmen, with founding chairman Tony Rowe CBE at the helm. Since inception, the Foundation has raised over £3 million and supported more than 200 projects, charities, and organizations in the Greater Exeter area. For the financial year ending June 30, 2024, the Foundation had an income of £262,965 and expenditure of £229,459. The Foundation operates with six trustees and over 1,050 volunteers. Its strategic approach centers on funding “tangible investments” - physical assets and equipment that can be used repeatedly to benefit many people - rather than operational costs or staff time. The Foundation has funded diverse projects including vehicles (minibuses, boats), play equipment for children with special needs, IT suites, hydrotherapy pools, outdoor learning centers, and specialized access equipment.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Project Grants (Rolling Basis)

• Grant Range: £hundreds to £tens of thousands
• Application Method: Submit application form to enquiries@exeterfoundation.org.uk at any time
• Review Schedule: Applications presented to trustees at bi-monthly meetings
• Notable Awards: Range from small equipment grants to major capital projects

Legacy Project Grants (Special Initiatives)

• Previous Amounts: £50,000 - £150,000 per funding round
• Examples:
• 2022: £84,000 to Hospiscare for wellbeing hub at Searle House
• 2018: £100,000 to Hospiscare for patient area redecoration
• 2014: £50,000 to WESC Foundation for transition houses for visually impaired young people
• Application Method: Special funding rounds announced periodically

Designated Charity Program

• Grant Range: Share of £71,000+ distributed annually
• Application Method: Annual application process for following season
• Requirement: Provide volunteers for match-day collections at Sandy Park
• Current Partners (2024/25): 28 organizations including Age UK Exeter, Children's Hospice South West, Force Cancer Charity, Royal Devon Hospitals Charity

Priority Areas

The Foundation supports charitable activities that benefit the Greater Exeter area community in one or more of these categories:

• Relieving poverty
• Promoting health and wellbeing
• Educational projects (including training for employment)
• Caring for the elderly, sick, or infirm
• Supporting disadvantaged children and families

Key Principle: Projects must involve tangible assets - “equipment or something that can be used again and again to benefit many people rather than paying for man hours.”

Examples of Funded Projects:

• Eight different vehicles including minibuses and boats
• Six play parks for children with special needs
• Outdoor learning centres
• IT hubs and suites
• Specialist equipment and wheelchairs (e.g., Exeter Hawks Wheelchair Rugby team)
• Buddy chairs for hospital wards
• Two hydrotherapy pool refurbishments
• Affordable school uniforms for 55 schools (The Children's Society)
• Community kitchen hubs
• Greenhouse for St Sidwell's Community Centre gardening program

What They Don't Fund

Explicit Exclusions:

• Educational establishments and PTA committees
• Sponsorships for challenges or individuals
• Man hours or operational staffing costs
• Projects outside the Greater Exeter area (Exeter, East Devon, Mid Devon)
• Non-tangible projects that don't leave lasting physical assets

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Governance and Leadership

The Exeter Chiefs Foundation is governed by six trustees drawn from the Exeter Chiefs' board of directors and the local business community. No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Tony Rowe CBE, Chairman

Chief executive and chairman of Exeter Rugby Group Plc. Led the transformation of Exeter Chiefs from fourth division amateur status to Gallagher Premiership champions. Oversaw the 2006 relocation to Sandy Park stadium. Rowe has stated the Foundation's aim is “to champion local community and grass-roots level sport, whilst at the same time creating a legacy” and that “the aim of the Foundation is to create a lasting legacy for everyone that we help.”

Michael Caines MBE, Trustee

Michelin-starred chef and owner of Lympstone Manor, renowned for modern cuisine emphasizing local produce.

Keiron Northcott, Trustee

Deputy chief executive of Exeter Chiefs since 2005. Former player who progressed through club ranks to first XV, previously serving as committee member and chairman before joining management.

David Bird, Trustee

Financier with over 30 years of banking and corporate finance experience. Leads the debt advisory team at Isca Ventures, focusing on fundraising and specialist finance. Previously held senior positions at Santander, Clydesdale, and Barclays.

Marc Astley, Trustee

Journalist and media commentator with 23 years of newspaper industry experience. Former editor of Exeter Express & Echo with extensive local contacts.

Karime Hassan MBE, Trustee

Town planner with over 40 years of local authority experience. Awarded MBE for local government services (2022). Former chief executive and growth director at Exeter City Council (2013-2023).

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Project Grants:

1. Complete the Project Grant Application Form available on the website
2. Include all relevant supporting documentation
3. Submit via email to enquiries@exeterfoundation.org.uk
4. Applications accepted on a rolling basis

For Designated Charity Status:

1. Contact enquiries@exeterfoundation.org.uk to request application form
2. Applications typically open annually for the following season (e.g., applications for 2026/27 season)
3. Requires commitment to provide volunteers for match-day collections at Sandy Park Stadium
4. Volunteers must be comfortable working in crowded, noisy environment on match days

Decision Timeline

• Trustee Meetings: Bi-monthly
• Application Review: All applications presented to trustees at their next scheduled meeting
• Notification: Applicants receive notification of approval or rejection following the trustee meeting
• Typical Timeframe: Up to 2 months depending on submission timing relative to meeting schedule

Success Rates

Success rate statistics are not publicly available. However, the Foundation has supported over 200 projects since inception (13+ years), suggesting approximately 15-20 awards per year across both designated charities and project grants.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication restrictions are documented. The Foundation's focus on creating “lasting legacies” suggests they prefer funding capital projects that won't require repeat applications, though unsuccessful applicants appear welcome to reapply.

Application Success Factors

Demonstrate Tangibility

The Foundation explicitly prioritizes projects involving physical assets that create lasting impact. Successful applications clearly articulate how funding will purchase equipment, vehicles, buildings, or infrastructure that will be “used again and again to benefit many people.” Projects requesting funding for staffing, training, or consumable costs are unlikely to succeed.

Geographic Specificity

Applications must demonstrate that the project is “located within the Greater Exeter area and must enhance the local area and the local community within it.” Clearly specify the Exeter, East Devon, or Mid Devon location and explain the local benefit.

Align with Foundation Purposes

Frame your project within one or more of the Foundation's charitable purposes: relieving poverty, advancing education/training, caring for elderly/sick/infirm, supporting disadvantaged children/families, or promoting wellbeing. Use this language in your application.

Show Community Reach

The Foundation values projects that benefit multiple people over time. Demonstrate how many individuals will benefit from the equipment or facility, and over what timespan.

Examples of Successful Projects

Study the Foundation's track record for guidance on suitable projects:

• Hospiscare's wellbeing hub (£84,000) - major capital project for health facility
• St Sidwell's Community Centre greenhouse - training and educational infrastructure
• Vehicles for community transport
• Play equipment for special needs children
• IT suites for educational access
• Specialized medical equipment for hospitals

What Doesn't Work

Avoid applications for:

• General operating expenses
• Staff salaries or training costs
• Projects outside Greater Exeter area
• School PTA requests
• Individual sponsorships
• Non-physical/intangible outcomes

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Tangible assets are essential: Only apply if you need physical equipment, vehicles, buildings, or infrastructure - not operational costs
• Geographic boundaries matter: Your project must be clearly located in Exeter, East Devon, or Mid Devon and demonstrate local community benefit
• Grant range is wide: Awards span from hundreds to tens of thousands of pounds, with special Legacy Grants reaching £84,000+
• Rolling applications welcome: Submit at any time, but expect up to 2 months for bi-monthly trustee review
• Two funding streams available: Consider both project grants (one-off awards) and designated charity status (annual match-day collections requiring volunteer commitment)
• Study their history: Review previously funded projects to understand what “tangible legacy” means to this Foundation
• No success rate data: Lack of published statistics means you should apply if you meet criteria, as competitiveness is unknown

References

• Exeter Chiefs Foundation Official Website -
• Charity Commission Register - Exeter Chiefs Foundation - Financial data for year ending June 30, 2024
• How to Apply for Funding - Application process and eligibility criteria
• Foundation Trustees - Governance and leadership information
• Our Story - Foundation history and impact
• Legacy Project Grant 2022 - Examples of major grants awarded
• Foundation Celebrates More Than £70k of Donations - 2024/25 designated charity funding
• Devon Funding News - Exeter Chiefs Foundation - Overview of funding programs
• Designated Charities - Current charity partners
• Become a Designated Charity - Application process for designated charity status