Fiftyfour Two Foundation (54:2 Foundation)

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £161,570 (based on most recent expenditure)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (unsolicited applications not accepted)
• Decision Time: Not specified (invitation-based)
• Grant Range: Not publicly specified
• Geographic Focus: UK (Bristol, London, East Midlands) and international (Zimbabwe)
• Grant Duration: Typically 3-year commitments

Contact Details

Website: www.fiftyfourtwo.org

Email: hello@fiftyfourtwo.org

Phone: 0333 3447 542

Address: 8 Highcross Street, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 9AJ

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications. Contact is primarily for organisations invited to apply or for initial relationship-building inquiries.

Overview

Founded in 2018, the Fiftyfour Two Foundation (54:2 Foundation) is a UK-registered charity (number 1180441) that partners with charitable organisations working to relieve and prevent poverty, advance education and opportunities, and further the Christian faith. The foundation operates with a distinctive approach, focusing its grants on a limited number of charities to enable larger grant amounts and medium-term support commitments. With annual grant-making expenditure of approximately £161,570, the foundation's grant-making is largely conducted through engaging with charitable organisations local to their trustees in Bristol, London, and the East Midlands, as well as international work in Zimbabwe.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through a targeted, relationship-based grant-making approach:

• Medium-Term Partnership Grants: Typically 3-year funding commitments to enable strategic planning and transformative initiatives
• Organisational Development Support: Investments in governance and administrative capacity building
• Core Costs and Overhead Funding: Focus on areas that prove more difficult for charities to fund, such as overheads and administration
• Application Method: Invitation-only (does not accept unsolicited applications)

Priority Areas

Charitable Objectives:

• Relief and prevention of poverty
• Advancement of education and opportunities of all kinds
• Furthering the Christian faith
• Advancing the effectiveness and efficiency of charities

Strategic Focus:

• Local, relatively small organisations operating from a Christian philosophy of service
• Organisations addressing significant social challenges with a roadmap to sustainability
• Organisations and individuals with which trustees have first-hand experience
• Projects where funding can make a meaningful difference
• Well-governed and administered charities
• Infrastructure projects (such as the Ebenezer project in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe)

Additional Support Beyond Grants:

• Networking opportunities
• Strategy development
• Coaching and expertise
• Consultancy services

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's approach indicates they do not fund:

• Organisations without a connection to their trustees
• Unsolicited applications from unknown organisations
• Projects outside their core charitable objectives
• Large, well-established charities (preference for smaller organisations)

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Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by seven trustees who receive no remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The charity has no trading subsidiaries.

Trustees:

William Dalziel (Chairman)

Worked in investment and insurance internationally before retiring in 2018. Now serves as a Non-Executive Director in business and on charity boards. Has particular interest in Zimbabwe, where he is involved in both business and charitable work. His background in finance and international development brings strategic oversight to the foundation's grant-making.

Hilary Dalziel

Pastor at Kings Church, South East London, with a background in healthcare. Her expertise includes pastoral care, chaplaincy, and coaching. Based in Market Harborough.

Eleanor Dalziel

Structural engineer who serves as Governor of St Paul's Nursery School & Children's Centre and is an active member of City Church in Bristol. Her governance experience and Bristol connections inform the foundation's work in that region.

Chris Dalziel

Works in investment management and is involved with a local Scout group. Based in Market Harborough with interests in cycling and youth development.

Jenni Stirrup

Former primary school teacher who now works at Boromi, a nonprofit provider of early-years play libraries focused on empowering families to connect and play together. Based in Market Harborough, bringing education and family services expertise to the board.

How to Apply to Fiftyfour Two Foundation (54:2 Foundation)

How to Apply

Critical Information: The 54:2 Foundation does not consider unsolicited grant applications.

The foundation has concluded that it can be most effective by focusing grants on a limited number of charities, enabling larger grant amounts and medium-term commitments. The foundation identifies potential partners through:

• Existing relationships with trustees
• Local connections in Bristol, London, and the East Midlands
• First-hand experience and direct knowledge of organisations
• Network referrals and strategic relationship building

Organisations interested in connecting with the foundation may contact them at hello@fiftyfourtwo.org or 0333 3447 542, though this is primarily for relationship-building rather than formal applications.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly specified, as the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis. Decision timelines would be communicated directly to invited organisations.

Success Rates

Not applicable in traditional terms due to the foundation's invitation-only model, which reflects their strategic decision to deepen relationships with fewer organisations rather than spreading resources across many applicants.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to invitation-only model.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's unique invitation-only approach, success is not about submitting applications but about relationship-building and alignment:

Key Alignment Factors:

1. Geographic Connection: Organisations should have connections to Bristol, London, or the East Midlands where trustees are based, or operate in areas of trustee interest such as Zimbabwe.

1. Christian Philosophy: Operating from a Christian philosophy of service is central to the foundation's mission and funding decisions.

1. Trustee Relationships: Organisations with which trustees have “first-hand experience” are prioritised. Building genuine relationships with trustees through shared networks, communities, or areas of work is essential.

1. Size and Scale: The foundation explicitly prefers “local, relatively small organisations” rather than large, established charities.

1. Organisational Capacity: Despite supporting small organisations, the foundation values “well governed and administered charities” and is “convinced that well governed and administered charities are likely to be more effective in delivering their missions.”

1. Core Funding Needs: Organisations seeking funding for overheads, administration, and organisational development are particularly well-aligned, as the foundation recognises these areas are “more difficult for charities to fund.”

1. Sustainability Vision: Having a clear “roadmap to sustainability” demonstrates strategic thinking and long-term viability.

1. Social Impact: Addressing “significant social challenges” where the foundation's funding can make a “meaningful difference” is crucial.

Partnership Approach:

The foundation describes itself as creating “long-lasting partnerships” and working collaboratively. Organisations should be prepared for engaged, supportive relationships that extend beyond check-writing to include strategic input, networking, and capacity-building support.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications – traditional grant writing is not relevant here; relationship-building is key
• Focus on networking and building connections with trustees in Bristol, London, the East Midlands, or through Christian service communities
• If you do establish contact, emphasise your organisation's Christian foundation, commitment to serving marginalised communities, and need for core/capacity funding
• Be prepared for a long-term partnership model (typically 3 years) rather than one-off project grants
• Demonstrate strong governance and administration even as a small organisation – they value organisational effectiveness
• Articulate a clear roadmap to sustainability and how their support would multiply your impact
• If invited to discuss funding, be open to receiving strategic guidance, coaching, and networking support alongside financial grants

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Milk And Honey Trust
• The Dow Clewer Foundation
• The Neon Foundation
• The Dulverton Trust
• The Alice Ellen Cooper-dean Charitable Foundation
• The Michael And Betty Little Trust
• The South Street Green Room Foundation
• Heb Ffin (without Frontier)
• Philip King Charitable Trust
• The Gibbs Charitable Trusts

References

• Charity Commission for England and Wales, “FIFTYFOUR TWO FOUNDATION (54:2 FOUNDATION) - 1180441,” Register of Charities, https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5125584 (accessed 31 March 2026)
• 54:2 Foundation official website, https://www.fiftyfourtwo.org/ (accessed 31 March 2026)
• 54:2 Foundation, “Trustees,” https://www.fiftyfourtwo.org/trustees (accessed 31 March 2026)
• Charity Commission accounts and annual returns for charity 1180441, including financial year ending 30 September 2024
• Find that Charity database, “Fiftyfour Two Foundation (54:2 Foundation),” https://findthatcharity.uk/orgid/GB-CHC-1180441 (accessed 31 March 2026)
• Captive Insurance Times, "Dalziel retires from London & Capital," http://www.captiveinsurancetimes.com/captiveinsurancenews/article.php?article_id=6052