Jeans for Genes Campaign

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £350,000+ annually
• Grant Range: £3,000 - £10,000
• Decision Time: 6-8 weeks
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide
• Funding Rounds: Annual (typically February-March applications)

Contact Details

Website: www.jeansforgenes.org

Email: hello@jeansforgenes.org / grants@jeansforgenes.org

Phone: 0800 980 4800

Address: Nightingale House, 46-48 East Street, Epsom, Surrey, KT17 1HQ

Overview

Jeans for Genes Campaign (Charity No. 1194407) was registered in May 2021 as a charitable company to support the UK's genetic condition community. Building on the legacy of the iconic Jeans for Genes Day campaign that began in 1992, the charity has been part of a movement that has raised over £52.3 million across 30 years. The charity focuses on grant-making to small frontline genetic condition charities, advancing medical research into genetic disorders, and raising public awareness. The charity's strategic approach centres on making genetic condition charities “stronger, more resilient and sustainable” while ensuring that every individual in the UK living with a genetic condition can access appropriate support when they need it. Over recent years, the programme has made dozens of grants supporting thousands of individuals and families across the UK genetic condition community.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Standard Grants: £3,000 - £5,000

• Flexible, unrestricted funding for organisational needs
• Helps small charities build resilience and sustainability
• Online application process with annual deadline

Spotlight Grants: Up to £10,000 (pilot programme)

• Larger grants for building closer partnerships
• Includes storytelling and awareness-raising components
• Open to all applicants regardless of size

Priority Areas

• Supporting frontline genetic condition charities serving families and individuals affected by genetic disorders
• Strengthening organisational capacity and resilience of small charities
• Enabling access to vital support services for people living with genetic conditions
• Community-building and awareness-raising for rare and ultra-rare genetic conditions
• Direct services including family support, information provision, advocacy, and peer networks

Grant recipients have included charities supporting conditions such as Down Syndrome, Dravet Syndrome, Ectodermal Dysplasia, Huntington's Disease, immunodeficiencies, inherited metabolic disorders, nystagmus, Smith-Magenis Syndrome, and many other rare genetic conditions.

What They Don't Fund

• Organisations that are not UK registered charities
• Charities younger than 18 months old
• Very large charities (specific income thresholds vary by funding round)
• CICs and Social Enterprises
• Organisations based outside the UK
• General disability organisations or multi-purpose charities where genetic condition beneficiaries are just one cohort among many
• Individual grants to families or patients
• Organisations without appropriate safeguarding policies (for those working with children/vulnerable adults)
• Organisations holding more than one year's expenditure in unrestricted funds without justification (considered lower priority)

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

• Geoffrey Creamer - Appointed March 2023
• Chikai Lai - Appointed February 2021 (also trustee of The Chronic Granulomatous Disorder Society)

The charity operates with a small team. Recognised by HMRC for Gift Aid, the charity maintains policies on complaints handling, conflict of interest management, staff payment, and risk management.

How to Apply to Jeans For Genes Campaign

How to Apply

Applications are accepted annually through an online application portal. The application form and detailed Guidance for Applicants document are made available on the Jeans for Genes website at the start of each funding round.

Typical Timeline:

• Applications typically open: Early February
• Application deadline: Typically early-to-mid March
• Funds distributed: Typically May

All applications are acknowledged by email upon submission. The grant panel reviews applications and assigns funding based on strength of application and relative need.

Decision Timeline

From the application deadline to fund distribution represents approximately 6-8 weeks for the complete decision-making process. This includes:

• Grant panel review and assessment
• Decision-making
• Notification of outcomes (successful and unsuccessful)
• Processing of successful grants

Success Rates

The programme receives a large volume of applications annually and is competitive. The charity distributes funding widely across different rare genetic conditions, awarding grants to multiple charities each year. While specific application numbers and success rates are not publicly disclosed, the competitive nature means strong applications that clearly meet eligibility criteria have the best chance of success.

Reapplication Policy

Previously funded organisations can reapply provided they meet current eligibility criteria. The charity does not specify any waiting period or restrictions preventing unsuccessful applicants from reapplying in subsequent funding rounds. While comprehensive feedback can be challenging due to high application volumes, Jeans for Genes will do their best to provide feedback upon request.

Application Success Factors

Key Alignment Factors:

• Being a genetic condition-specific charity (not a multi-purpose disability organisation)
• Having at least 18 months operational history with published accounts
• Demonstrating direct service delivery to genetic condition communities
• Being a small-to-medium sized charity serving the genetic condition community
• Having appropriate safeguarding policies where relevant
• Not holding excessive unrestricted reserves (more than one year's expenditure)

What They Value:

• Organisations serving the genetic condition community to become “stronger, more resilient and sustainable”
• Projects enabling individuals and families to “access the right support at the time they need it”
• Direct frontline services and support
• Charities willing to raise awareness about Jeans for Genes and share impact stories
• Organisations committed to displaying partnership logos and celebrating the relationship

Presentation Tips:

• Download and carefully review the Guidance for Applicants document
• Ensure all eligibility criteria are clearly met
• Provide a clear explanation of how funding will be used and what impact it will have
• Keep contact details updated throughout the process
• Be prepared to demonstrate how funding will strengthen organisational resilience or improve service access

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Genetic condition focus is essential - This is strictly for genetic condition-specific charities, not broader disability organisations
• Size matters - They target small frontline charities; very large organisations are not eligible
• Competitive but achievable - The charity distributes funding widely across rare conditions, but applications need to be strong due to high volumes
• Quick turnaround - 6-8 weeks from deadline to funding is relatively fast for a grant programme
• Partnership mindset - They value grant holders who will champion the Jeans for Genes campaign and share their stories
• Reserve levels count - Organisations with excessive unrestricted reserves will be deprioritised
• Annual opportunity - Applications open once per year (typically February-March), so timing is critical
• Programme structure may vary - Check the current year's guidance as grant amounts and programme structure can change between funding rounds

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The O'sullivan Family Charitable Trust
• Masonic Charitable Foundation
• Lloyds Bank Foundation For England & Wales
• The A.d. Charitable Trust
• The Britford Bridge Trust
• The Barbara Ward Children's Foundation
• The Will Charitable Trust
• The Yapp Charitable Trust
• The Stanley Grundy Foundation Limited
• The Geoff & Fiona Squire Foundation

References

1. Charity Commission Register - Jeans for Genes Campaign (Charity No. 1194407), accessed via https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5177115/full-print
2. Jeans for Genes Grant Programme main page - https://www.jeansforgenes.org/jeans-for-genes-grant-programme
3. Jeans for Genes Grant Programme FAQs - https://www.jeansforgenes.org/jeans-for-genes-grant-programme/frequently-asked-questions
4. Jeans for Genes “Who We Are” - https://www.jeansforgenes.org/who-we-are
5. Jeans for Genes Funding in Action - https://www.jeansforgenes.org/funding-in-action
6. 2025 Jeans for Genes Grant Charities - https://www.jeansforgenes.org/funding-in-action/2025grants
7. 2023 Jeans for Genes Grant Charities - https://www.jeansforgenes.org/funding-in-action/2023-jeans-for-genes-grant-charities
8. “Jeans for Genes at 30: A Milestone Year for a National Campaign” - BusinessMole, 2025
9. "Fundraising campaign 'Jeans for Genes' celebrates 30 years" - National World, 2025
10. Wikipedia - Jeans for Genes - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeans_for_Genes
11. Jeans for Genes Grant Programme 2026 - GrantFinder - https://grantfinder.co.uk/jeans-for-genes-grant-programme-2026/ (2026)
12. Jeans for Genes Grant Programme 2026 - Action Together - https://www.actiontogether.org.uk/jeans-genes-grant-programme-2026 (2026)