Halcrow Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £261,138 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed (two-stage process)
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: UK, Africa (Ethiopia, Madagascar, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia) and Asia (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand)

Contact Details

Website: www.halcrowfoundation.org

Phone: 01672 515740

Email: Available through website contact form

Application Information: Initial applications submitted via brief online form at halcrowfoundation.org/apply/

Overview

The Halcrow Foundation was established in 2005 by staff at Halcrow, one of the UK's largest engineering consultancies, following their response to the 2004 Asian tsunami. Registered as a charity in England and Wales (number 1115729), the Foundation has spent nearly £3 million on projects since inception and has helped approximately 800,000 people live safer, healthier and more fulfilling lives. In the most recent year, the Foundation's funds sustainably improved life for more than 10,000 people in Africa, Asia and the UK. With annual expenditure of £261,138 (2024), the Foundation works in partnership with charitable organizations to provide financial resources to grassroots projects that make a real and lasting improvement to the lives of people suffering acute hardship. The Foundation's core values are Care, Empowerment, Trust, Equality, and Sustainability, with a strategic approach focused on sustainable community development and transformative change rather than crisis aid.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation operates a partnership-based grant-making model, working collaboratively with charitable organizations over multiple years to address defined community development needs. Specific grant amounts are not publicly disclosed, but the Foundation supports both infrastructure projects and livelihood development programs.

Application Method: Two-stage process - initial brief online form submission, followed by invitation to full application for shortlisted projects.

Priority Areas

Community Infrastructure

• Improving access to education (schools, learning facilities)
• Enhancing healthcare access (health centers, medical facilities)
• Developing safe water and sanitation facilities

Livelihood Development

• Increasing household food security
• Supporting income generation and economic empowerment
• Providing training and qualifications for employment
• Helping people gain skills to find dignified work

Geographic Focus

• UK: Supporting vulnerable populations including homeless individuals, domestic abuse survivors, and young people not in education
• Africa: Ethiopia, Madagascar, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia
• Asia: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand

The Foundation focuses on sustainable, transformative change that enables long-term improvement rather than short-term aid during crises.

What They Don't Fund

• Emergency or disaster relief (focus is on sustainable development, not crisis aid)
• Projects outside their geographic focus areas (UK, specified countries in Africa and Asia)

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees (5 members, all former Halcrow employees):

• David Kerr (Chair): Chartered civil engineer specializing in transportation planning with extensive overseas experience in developing economies including Iran, Hong Kong, Thailand and Indonesia. Previously a board director at Halcrow covering market development in Latin America and India, giving him insight into hardship and poverty challenges facing communities.

• James Billinghurst (Finance Director): Accountant with 25 years' experience at Halcrow.

• Anna Mann: Communications professional who led internal communications at Halcrow for nine years, managed the initial tsunami fundraising campaign, led the formation of the Halcrow Foundation, and serves as trustee with responsibility for communications.

• Malcolm Wallace: Chartered civil engineer with extensive experience in water resources and rural development studies and projects in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. After 40 years at Halcrow, continues as freelance consultant specializing in strategic planning and institutional development for river basins, notably the Mekong and Nile rivers.

• Andrew Yeoward: Civil engineer with background in bridge construction.

Staff:

• Lucy Mason: Communications Manager

No trustees receive remuneration, and the charity has no employees with benefits over £60,000.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Halcrow Foundation uses a two-stage application process:

1. Initial Application: Submit a brief online form via the contact page at halcrowfoundation.org/apply/
2. Review: Trustees review initial applications and decide whether to invite a full application
3. Full Application: Shortlisted organizations are invited to submit a detailed application

Application Requirements: The Foundation seeks to work with charitable organizations that can collaborate over multiple years to address clearly defined community development needs. Applicants must operate in a financially sound manner and align with the Foundation's values and ethical approach.

Monitoring & Reporting: The Foundation uses robust monitoring, evaluation and reporting measures to ensure projects are run effectively. Details of required project outcomes and indicators are provided during the application process.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. The Foundation operates a review process where trustees assess initial applications before inviting full applications from shortlisted organizations.

Success Rates

Application success rates are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly disclosed. For specific guidance, applicants should contact the Foundation directly.

Application Success Factors

Partnership Approach: The Foundation emphasizes working collaboratively with organizations over multiple years rather than one-off grants. They seek partners who share their values and with whom they can establish lasting relationships.

Alignment with Values: Organizations must demonstrate alignment with the Foundation's core values of Care, Empowerment, Trust, Equality, and Sustainability. They use transparent processes and only work with partners with similar values.

Due Diligence Requirements: The Foundation undertakes thorough due diligence on potential partners, ensuring they operate in a financially sound manner and in alignment with their ethical approach.

Sustainable Impact Focus: The Foundation prioritizes projects that create sustainable, transformative change rather than short-term interventions. Applications should demonstrate how the project will enable long-term improvement to communities.

Clear, Defined Needs: Successful applications address a “clear, defined set of community development needs” within the Foundation's priority areas of education, healthcare, safe water, or livelihood development.

Geographic Fit: Projects must operate in the Foundation's target geographies: UK, or in Africa (Ethiopia, Madagascar, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia) or Asia (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand).

Recent Funded Projects as Examples:

• UK: Groundswell's volunteer programme helping homeless individuals access healthcare (57 volunteers supported in 2016, with 28 moving on to training, employment or further volunteering, and 15 gaining paid employment)
• UK: Refurbishment of library and playroom for children who have escaped domestic abuse with their mothers
• UK: SPEAR project supporting people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, helping them develop skills for independent living
• India/Pakistan: Supporting 60,000+ marginalized women to gain skills and opportunities to find work
• India: Medicine and doctors' salaries at medical center treating 2,500+ patients per month
• Tanzania: Empowering women farmers to access tourism industry
• Sri Lanka: Five-year project improving lives and dignity of communities in Jaffna District
• Zambia: Education projects in rural areas

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Long-term partnership mindset: The Foundation seeks multi-year collaborative relationships, not one-off grants. Frame applications as potential long-term partnerships addressing sustained community needs.

• Sustainable development over crisis aid: Emphasize transformative, sustainable change rather than emergency relief. Show how your project will create lasting improvement.

• Values alignment is crucial: Demonstrate how your organization embodies the Foundation's values of Care, Empowerment, Trust, Equality, and Sustainability. Use transparent processes and ethical approaches.

• Two-stage process allows for relationship building: The initial brief form is your opportunity to make a strong first impression. Be clear and compelling about the defined community needs you're addressing.

• Geographic specificity matters: Ensure your project operates in one of their target countries (UK, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand).

• Financial soundness required: Be prepared for thorough due diligence. Have your financial records, governance structures, and operational policies in order before applying.

• Infrastructure or livelihoods: Position your project clearly within one of their two main funding streams—either community infrastructure (education, healthcare, water) or livelihood development (food security, income generation, skills training).

References

• Halcrow Foundation official website: https://halcrowfoundation.org/
• Halcrow Foundation “About” page: https://halcrowfoundation.org/about/
• Halcrow Foundation “Information for Applicants” page: https://halcrowfoundation.org/apply/
• UK Charity Commission Register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1115729
• Halcrow Foundation project case studies: https://halcrowfoundation.org/
• Fundraiso charity database: https://www.fundraiso.com/en/organisations/halcrow-foundation