John James Bristol Foundation

Charity Number: 288417

Annual Expenditure: £2.5M
Bristol City

Contact Info

Website: www.johnjames.org.uk

Phone: 0117 923 9444

Email: info@johnjames.org.uk

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £3,793,665 (2023/2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 2-4 weeks (applications considered at monthly trustee meetings)
  • Grant Range: £500 - £20,000 (majority); larger amounts for significant capital projects
  • Geographic Focus: Bristol only (typically BS1-BS16 postcodes)

Contact Details

Address: 7 Clyde Road, Redland, Bristol BS6 6RG

Phone: 0117 923 9444

Email: info@johnjames.org.uk

Website: www.johnjames.org.uk

For major capital projects exceeding £20,000, contact the Foundation before submitting an application to discuss the project.

Overview

The John James Bristol Foundation was established in December 1983 by John James CBE (1906-1996), a Bristol businessman and philanthropist who built the UK's largest independently owned chain of radio shops. Following his death, the Foundation merged with the Dawn James Charitable Foundation in 1998. The Foundation distributes approximately £3.8 million annually to charitable organisations benefiting Bristol residents. Its main areas of philanthropy follow James' original wishes: supporting the elderly, education, and health. In 2022/2023, the Foundation made 467 grants totalling £2.4 million, with a significant increase to £3.8 million in 2023/2024. The Foundation is particularly interested in projects with sustainable or transformative impact on people's lives, prioritising small organisations and local branches of national charities where grants will have meaningful impact. Led by Joan James, the founder's eldest daughter, the Foundation maintains a hands-on approach with 10 trustees and a small dedicated staff team.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Core and Project Funding (£500 - £5,000)

The majority of grants fall within this range, supporting both core running costs and specific project activities. Applications submitted by the 21st of the month are typically considered at the next monthly trustee meeting (meetings held every month except January and August). Online application via standard forms.

Community Projects (£1,000 - £20,000)

Grants for larger community-focused initiatives. Organisations must demonstrate co-funding and long-term sustainability plans. Rolling basis applications.

Capital Projects (£20,000+)

Significant capital projects may receive larger grants. Pre-application discussion with the Foundation is strongly recommended before submitting. Does not fund professional fees, building surveys, planning applications, or feasibility studies for capital projects.

Priority Areas

The Foundation's core priorities include:

  • Children & Young People: Educational enrichment, outdoor play facilities, activities in disadvantaged areas (£35,000+ annually to youth services; 6 primary schools funded for outdoor facilities in 2023/2024)
  • Health: Palliative care, bereavement services, equipment for people with disabilities (£66,000 to palliative care services in 2023/2024)
  • Older People: Social activities, theatre tickets, community clubs (12,300 older people supported through parties, 1,400 free theatre tickets in 2023/2024)
  • Community: Community centres, city farms, community spaces (£123,000 for running costs in 2023/2024)
  • Welfare: Support for refugees/asylum seekers, young carers, financial hardship advice (£65,000 to refugee support, £25,000 to young carers in 2023/2024)

Preference given to:

  • Bristol-based organisations using volunteers
  • Small organisations where grants have meaningful impact
  • Local branches of national charities based within Bristol
  • Projects demonstrating sustainable or transformative impact

What They Don't Fund

  • Work considered the responsibility of the state (e.g., statutory school salaries)
  • Heritage or conservation projects with no/limited community benefit
  • Work already completed before grant agreement
  • Professional fees, building surveys, planning applications, or feasibility studies for capital projects
  • Full project funding (co-funding always required)
  • Organisations with unrestricted reserves under 3 months or over 12 months
  • Applications from schools or educational providers (currently under review)
  • Salary costs (preference not to fund, though recognise may be unavoidable for service providers)

Governance and Leadership

Chair: Joan James - Eldest daughter of founder John James; worked alongside him for much of her life; leads the 10-member Board of Trustees

Trustees include:

  • David - Joan's son and John James' grandson; works as a life coach
  • Liz Chambers - Joan's daughter and John James' granddaughter; Chartered Accountant (formerly Ernst & Young), works part-time with a children's charity
  • Ben - Joan's nephew and John James' grandson; born and raised in Bristol
  • Peter - Read law at Oxford; acted for John James as Partner at Freshfields and later Bircham Dyson Bell until James' death
  • Julia - Former Chief Executive of the Foundation (retired 2017); appointed as Trustee in 2018
  • Nicola - Consultant Rheumatologist at North Bristol NHS Trust since 2005; responsible for day-to-day management of staff and the Foundation, accountable to Trustees

Staff: Small, highly experienced team of three part-time staff members, including Dominna who manages the party and theatre programme for older people.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are only accepted online using standard application forms available at www.johnjames.org.uk. There are separate forms for:

  • Charities and Community Interest Companies (CICs)
  • Voluntary and Community Social Enterprises

Required information:

  • Organisation details and governance structure
  • Project or activity description
  • Beneficiary information
  • Safeguarding policy
  • Published accounts from last financial year
  • Evidence of co-funding and sustainability plan
  • Demonstration that unrestricted reserves are between 3-12 months

For major capital projects exceeding typical grant ranges, contact the Foundation before applying.

Decision Timeline

Monthly trustee meetings: Held every month except January and August

Application deadline: Submit by the 21st of the month for consideration at the next meeting

Typical timeline: 2-4 weeks from submission to decision (applications received by the 21st are considered at the following month's meeting)

Notification: Applicants notified of decisions following trustee meetings

Success Rates

The Foundation does not publicly disclose success rates. In 2022/2023, 467 grants were awarded totalling £2.4 million, indicating a significant volume of successful applications.

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applicants must wait 12 months from the date of original application before reapplying.

The Foundation does not provide individual feedback for unsuccessful applications.

Application Success Factors

Critical Requirements

  1. Reserves Policy Compliance: Organisations must have unrestricted reserves between 3-12 months. This is a firm eligibility criterion demonstrating financial stability without excessive reserves.
  1. Geographic Specificity: Only Bristol residents (typically BS1-BS16) can benefit. Applications supporting Bristol branches of national organisations are acceptable if beneficiaries are Bristol-based.
  1. Sustainability Demonstration: The Foundation states organisations “will need to demonstrate they have a viable plan for long term sustainability.” Short-term projects without continuation plans are less competitive.
  1. Co-Funding Evidence: “In all cases, they expect organisations to contribute towards costs and will not fully fund projects.” Show matched funding or organisational contribution.

Recent Funded Projects (2023/2024 Examples)

  • £66,000 to palliative care and bereavement services
  • £65,000 to refugee and asylum seeker support organisations
  • £56,000 to charities supporting children with disabilities (equipment, enrichment, independent living skills)
  • £138,000 to secondary schools for enrichment and attainment initiatives
  • £123,000 to community centres, city farms, and community spaces for running costs
  • £35,000 to youth clubs in disadvantaged areas
  • £25,000 to young carer support and respite breaks
  • Outdoor play area improvements for 6 primary schools
  • Financial hardship support to 9 advice organisations

Strategic Guidance

Priority Focus: The Foundation particularly values:

  • Small organisations where their grant makes a meaningful difference
  • Use of volunteers in delivery
  • Projects with "sustainable or transformative impact on people's lives"
  • Bristol-based organisations (as opposed to external organisations working in Bristol)

Language to Use: Emphasise how your project will have:

  • Sustainable impact (not just short-term benefit)
  • Transformative effect on beneficiaries' lives
  • Direct benefit to Bristol residents
  • Community engagement and volunteer involvement where applicable

Common Pitfalls:

  • Applying outside the reserves policy range (under 3 months or over 12 months)
  • Requesting full project funding without co-funding
  • Projects benefiting people outside Bristol postcode areas
  • Work already completed before application
  • Heritage/conservation projects without clear community benefit
  • Insufficient demonstration of long-term sustainability

Application Tips

  • For larger capital projects: Always contact the Foundation before applying to discuss feasibility
  • Timing: Submit before the 21st of the month for fastest turnaround
  • Core funding: The Foundation explicitly welcomes core funding requests from “well-managed organisations working in Bristol”
  • Salaries: While not preferred, salary costs are acceptable for service providers when unavoidable - be transparent and justify necessity
  • Avoid January/August: Trustees don't meet these months, so applications will face longer waits

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Geographic precision is non-negotiable: Only Bristol BS1-BS16 residents can benefit. Clearly evidence beneficiary postcodes and Bristol focus throughout your application.
  1. Reserves matter significantly: Before applying, ensure your organisation has unrestricted reserves between 3-12 months. This is explicitly stated as an eligibility criterion and likely causes automatic rejection if not met.
  1. Sustainability is paramount: The Foundation prioritises “sustainable or transformative impact.” Show your project's long-term viability, continuation plan beyond grant funding, and lasting change for beneficiaries.
  1. Co-funding is mandatory: Never request full project costs. Demonstrate matched funding, organisational contribution, or other income sources. The Foundation “will not fully fund projects.”
  1. Think small to medium: While larger capital grants are possible, the sweet spot is £1,000-£20,000 for community projects and £500-£5,000 for core/project costs. Position your request accordingly.
  1. Fast turnaround if timed right: Submit by the 21st of the month for consideration at the next monthly meeting - potentially 2-4 week decisions. Plan submissions around January/August when trustees don't meet.
  1. Core funding is welcomed: Unlike many funders, this Foundation explicitly considers core funding requests for well-managed organisations. Don't be afraid to request operational support if it fits their priorities.

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References