Jeans For Genes Campaign

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £350,295 (2024)
• Grant Range: £5,000 - £20,000
• Decision Time: 6-8 weeks
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide
• Funding Rounds: Annual (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. With an annual income of £406,618 (2024), 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. In the last three years alone, they have made 62 grants supporting approximately 18,662 individuals and families.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Core Cost Funding: £5,000 single-year grants

• Unrestricted funding for organizational core costs
• Helps small charities build resilience and sustainability
• Online application process with annual deadline

Project Funding: Up to £20,000 single-year grants

• Supports defined project activities for service delivery
• Can include staff costs and up to 15% overhead allocation
• Rolling basis within annual application window

Priority Areas

• Supporting frontline genetic condition charities serving families and individuals affected by genetic disorders
• Strengthening organizational 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

Recent grant recipients (2025) include 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

• Organizations that are not UK registered charities
• Charities younger than 18 months old
• Organizations with annual income above £1 million (project funding) or above £300,000 (core cost funding)
• CICs and Social Enterprises
• Organizations based outside the UK
• General disability organizations or multi-purpose charities where genetic condition beneficiaries are just one cohort among many
• Individual grants to families or patients
• Organizations without appropriate safeguarding policies (for those working with children/vulnerable adults)
• Organizations 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 including one employee in the £60,000-£70,000 salary bracket (2024). Recognized by HMRC for Gift Aid, the charity maintains policies on complaints handling, conflict of interest management, staff payment, and risk management.

Application Process and Timeline

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.

2025 Timeline:

• Applications open: 3rd February 2025
• Application deadline: 15th March 2025
• Funds distributed: May 2025

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 in mid-March to fund distribution in May 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

In 2023, the programme awarded 41 charities with a total of £35,000 in grants. In 2025, 18 charities received funding (with additional recipients potentially announced). While specific application numbers are not publicly disclosed, the charity acknowledges receiving “a large volume of applications” annually, suggesting a competitive process.

Reapplication Policy

Previously funded organizations 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 organization)
• Having at least 18 months operational history with published accounts
• Demonstrating direct service delivery to genetic condition communities
• For core cost applications: annual income between £20,000-£300,000
• For project applications: annual income under £1 million
• Having appropriate safeguarding policies where relevant
• Not holding excessive unrestricted reserves (more than one year's expenditure)

What They Value:

• Organizations 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
• Organizations 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
• For project funding: provide a clear, defined set of activities with associated costs
• Keep contact details updated throughout the process
• Be prepared to demonstrate how funding will strengthen organizational 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 organizations
• Size matters - They target small frontline charities; larger organizations (over £1m income for project grants, over £300k for core costs) are not eligible
• Competitive but achievable - With 41 grants awarded in 2023 and high application volumes, applications need to be strong but the charity distributes funding widely across rare conditions
• 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 - Organizations with excessive unrestricted reserves will be deprioritized
• Annual opportunity - Applications open once per year (February-March), so timing is critical

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The YAPP Charitable Trust
• Masonic Charitable Foundation
• THE A.D. CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Will Charitable Trust
• The Britford Bridge Trust
• THE GEOFF & FIONA SQUIRE FOUNDATION
• Lloyds Bank Foundation for England & Wales
• Schroder Charity Trust
• The Grand Charity (Masonic Charitable Foundation)
• The Beatrice Laing Trust

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