Garfield Weston Foundation

Charity Number: 230260

Annual Expenditure: £102.0M
Throughout England And Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland

Contact Info

Website: www.garfieldweston.org

Phone: 020 7399 6565

Email: admin@garfieldweston.org

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £100 million
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Up to 4 months
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £10,000,000
  • Geographic Focus: UK national

Contact Details

  • Website: www.garfieldweston.org
  • Email: admin@garfieldweston.org
  • Phone: 020 7399 6565
  • Address: Weston Centre, 10 Grosvenor Street, London, W1K 4QY

Overview

Founded by Willard Garfield Weston, the Garfield Weston Foundation has become the UK's largest family grant-making foundation, distributing over £100 million annually and having awarded grants totaling over £1 billion since inception. The foundation is governed by eight trustees, all descendants of the founder, who bring diverse professional expertise from business, retail, and international philanthropy. In 2024, the foundation achieved a record year for donations, with 56% of grants supporting organizations' core costs and over 40% directed to community and welfare organizations. The foundation emphasizes transparency, flexibility, and straightforward grant-making processes.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • Regular Grants: Under £100,000 (rolling applications, reviewed in order received)
  • Major Grants: £100,000+ (reviewed at eight annual trustee meetings)
  • Grant types include core costs, project funding, and capital grants

Priority Areas

The foundation supports nine key sectors:

  • Community (largest recipient category in 2024)
  • Welfare (largest recipient category in 2024)
  • Arts
  • Education
  • Environment (record funding in 2023)
  • Faith
  • Health
  • Museums and Heritage
  • Youth

What They Don't Fund

  • Non-UK registered charities
  • Organizations without at least one year of audited accounts
  • Typically won't fund more than 10% of an organization's annual budget
  • Generally avoid being sole funders (prefer 10-20% of project costs)

Governance and Leadership

Chair: Sir Guy Weston (since 2000, former Managing Director at Associated British Foods)

Deputy Chair: Sophia Weston

The eight-trustee board includes:

  • George Weston: Current CEO of Associated British Foods
  • Alannah Weston: Former Creative Director of Selfridges, Chair of Galen & Hilary Weston Foundation
  • Geordie Dalglish: Real estate investment professional based in Toronto

The trustees apply “their knowledge and experience of charities and businesses to their grant-making” and are committed to “supporting organisations doing vital work across the UK.”

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

  • Online applications through foundation website
  • Eligibility quiz available to check suitability
  • Applications accepted year-round with no deadlines
  • Simple, straightforward application process

Decision Timeline

  • Regular Grants: Maximum 4 months from application receipt
  • Major Grants: Reviewed at eight annual trustee meetings
  • Applications processed in order received
  • No individual feedback provided due to high application volume

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed, though the foundation notes receiving a “high number of applications”

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applicants must wait one full year from the date of their rejection email before reapplying

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Foundation

  • Have approximately 50% of project funding secured before applying
  • Explain clearly what your organization does, why the work is needed, and the difference being made
  • Provide complete financial information including income plans and anticipated expenditure
  • Capital grants for local community projects likely to be under £30,000

Common Rejection Reasons

  • Similar work being delivered by other organizations in the same area
  • Missing financial information
  • Unclear applications that don't adequately explain purpose and impact
  • Large cash reserves without adequate explanation

Recent Funding Examples

  • Prostate Cancer UK: £1 million for TRANSFORM screening trial (2024)
  • Crystal Palace Park Trust: £500,000 for historic park regeneration
  • Foundation funded 15,367 recipient organizations according to 360Giving data

Strategic Approach

The trustees "don't take a 'one size fits all' approach“ but consider ”a broad range of factors" when assessing applications, emphasizing flexibility and understanding of diverse organizational needs.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Timing flexibility: No deadlines mean you can apply when ready, but allow 4 months for decisions
  • Realistic funding requests: Aim for 10-20% of project costs, with half the funding already secured
  • Clear impact narrative: Articulate precisely what you do, why it's needed, and the difference you make
  • Financial transparency: Provide complete financial information and explain any large reserves
  • Local vs. national scale: Capital grants for local projects typically under £30,000; larger grants available for major projects
  • Core costs welcome: 56% of 2024 grants supported running costs, showing openness to operational funding
  • Community focus valued: Foundation particularly supports grassroots, community-embedded organizations

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

References