Graham Rowlandson Foundation

Quick Stats

• Charity Number: 802446
• Annual Income: £319,000 (2024/25)
• Annual Expenditure: £287,359 (2024/25)
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £70,000+
• Charities Supported: Almost 100 over 20 years
• Geographic Focus: Hertfordshire
• Application Method: No public application process (trustee discretion)

Contact Details

Email: richard.rowlandson@rogroup.co.uk

Phone: 01707 601400

Charity Commission: Register entry for charity 802446

Note: This foundation does not have a dedicated website. Contact is through the RO Group.

Overview

The Graham Rowlandson Foundation was registered on November 29, 1989, and is now in its twentieth year of operation. Named after Sir Stanley Graham Rowlandson (1908-1986), the founder of the RO Group, this family charity is now managed by the third generation of the Rowlandson family. The foundation has supported almost 100 charities across Hertfordshire with grants ranging from a few thousand pounds to amounts exceeding £70,000.

With an annual income of £319,000 and expenditure of £287,359 (2024/25), the foundation's mission is to “support a wide range of local causes with its primary focus on social welfare.” The charity operates as the philanthropic arm of the RO Group, a multi-sector investment and trading business with a long heritage of investing in local economies across the UK. Under the leadership of Chairman Richard Rowlandson OBE, the foundation embodies the RO Group's family values and commitment to supporting local Hertfordshire communities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with fixed application cycles. Instead, grants are awarded at trustee discretion based on alignment with the foundation's charitable themes.

Grant amounts: £1,000 to £70,000+

Distribution method: Trustee discretion, based on relationships and awareness of local needs

Priority Areas

The foundation addresses three broad charitable themes:

1. Education - Supporting educational opportunities and initiatives in Hertfordshire
2. Disability - Funding projects that support individuals with disabilities
3. Social Deprivation - Addressing poverty, homelessness, and social exclusion

Example projects funded:

• Hospices in Hertfordshire (to broaden public understanding and awareness of hospice care)
• Furniture upcycling charities providing purpose and opportunity to individuals recovering from addiction and mental illness
• Herts Young Homeless (received £9,500 from RO Group fundraising event)

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's focus on Hertfordshire-based charities suggests they do not fund:

• Organizations operating outside Hertfordshire
• Individual applicants
• Non-charitable activities

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The foundation is governed by two trustees from the Rowlandson family:

• Mr Richard Graham St John Rowlandson - Chairman of RO Group, OBE
• Mrs Susan Margaret Younghusband - Family member
• Mr Edward Thomas Morton Rowlandson - Family member

No trustees receive remuneration from the charity. The foundation has no employees.

Leadership Philosophy

Richard Rowlandson OBE, Chairman of the RO Group, has stated: “We have been running our annual quiz for 16 years and in that time we have raised in excess of £50,000 for various good causes.” This reflects the family's hands-on approach to charitable giving and community engagement.

The RO Group's values statement emphasizes “embracing family values” through “appreciation for their dedicated team of staff and their committed support of local charities in Hertfordshire.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The Graham Rowlandson Foundation operates through trustee discretion, meaning grants are awarded based on the trustees' awareness of local charitable needs and their existing relationships within the Hertfordshire charitable sector. There is no application portal, formal deadlines, or published application guidelines.

Grants appear to be identified through:

• The trustees' direct knowledge of Hertfordshire charities
• Connections through the RO Group's business activities
• Fundraising events organized by the RO Group
• Personal relationships within the local community

Getting on Their Radar

The RO Group hosts an annual charity quiz night that has been running for 16 years and has raised over £50,000 for various causes. This event serves as one way the foundation identifies beneficiaries. Charities that participate in or connect with this event may gain visibility with the trustees.

The foundation's contact is through the RO Group, and Richard Rowlandson can be reached at richard.rowlandson@rogroup.co.uk or 01707 601400. Given the family's emphasis on local engagement and their connection to the Hertfordshire business community, organizations might consider:

• Building relationships within Hertfordshire's charitable sector where the trustees are active
• Connecting with other charities the foundation has supported who might provide introductions

Decision Timeline

No information is publicly available about decision timelines, as grants are awarded on a discretionary basis rather than through scheduled funding rounds.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's discretionary approach, the following factors appear important:

1. Geographic location: Must be operating in Hertfordshire
2. Alignment with core themes: Projects should clearly address education, disability, or social deprivation
3. Local impact: The foundation values charities making tangible differences in Hertfordshire communities
4. Practical, purposeful projects: Based on examples like furniture upcycling for addiction recovery, the foundation appears to favor projects that provide both practical support and dignified opportunities
5. Awareness-building: Projects that broaden public understanding of important issues (like hospice care) resonate with the foundation's values
6. Family values alignment: The RO Group emphasizes family values and community commitment - projects reflecting these principles may be favored

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process: This is an invitation-only/relationship-based funder - traditional grant applications are not accepted
• Hertfordshire focus: Only Hertfordshire-based charities appear to be supported
• Significant grant potential: With grants ranging to over £70,000, this foundation makes substantial awards when they identify the right fit
• Three core themes: Education, disability, and social deprivation - projects must align with at least one
• Family foundation: Now in its third generation, the Rowlandson family personally directs all giving decisions
• Business connection: The foundation operates through the RO Group, suggesting business and community connections may facilitate awareness
• Annual quiz night: This 16-year tradition serves as a community engagement and fundraising vehicle that may offer networking opportunities

References

1. Charity Commission for England and Wales - Graham Rowlandson Foundation (Charity 802446). Register of Charities.. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?subid=0&regid=802446

1. RO Group website - Values page. Information about Graham Rowlandson Foundation's 20-year history and support of almost 100 charities.. https://www.rogroup.co.uk/our-values

1. Herts Young Homeless - “RO Group Quiz Night Raises £9,500 For HYH.” News article featuring quote from Richard Rowlandson OBE about 16 years of annual quiz nights.. https://www.hyh.org.uk/about-us/latest-news/406-ro-group-quiz-night-raises-9-500-for-hyh

1. London Wiki - Stanley Graham Rowlandson entry. Information about the founder of RO Group (1908-1986).. https://london.fandom.com/wiki/Stanley_Graham_Rowlandson

1. National Portrait Gallery - Sir (Stanley) Graham Rowlandson. Biographical information about foundation namesake.. https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp78703/sir-stanley-graham-rowlandson