Kingston Giving

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £151,528 (year ending March 2024)
• Total Income: £179,585 (year ending March 2024)
• Success Rate: Approximately 52% (52 grants awarded from average 36 applications monthly over 12 months)
• Decision Time: End of each month for rolling applications
• Grant Amount: £750 per grant
• Maximum Grants Per Year: Up to 3 grants per organization
• Geographic Focus: Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, London

Contact Details

Website: www.kingstongiving.org.uk / www.kingstoncf.org.uk

Email: hicky@kingstoncf.org.uk

Phone: 020 8255 6056

Address: Siddeley House, 50 Canbury Park Road, Kingston upon Thames KT2 6LX

For Grant Enquiries:

Justine Belcher, Community Lead and Grants Manager

Email: justine@kingstoncf.org.uk

For Impact Stories:

Shelley Heath, Impact Reporting Lead & Marketing Manager

Email: shelley.heath@kingstoncf.org.uk

Overview

Kingston Giving (charity number 1190241) was registered on 3 July 2020 to address local need in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. With annual expenditure of £151,528 (year ending March 2024), the organization has become a vital part of the London Funders movement, supporting local charities and volunteer organizations that tackle inequalities across Kingston. The foundation awarded 52 grants to local charitable organizations in the most recent 12-month period, benefiting over 54,000 local people. Their vision is clear: “a resilient community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.” Kingston Giving has secured continuation funding for a fifth year from City Bridge Foundation's Bridging Divides grant, demonstrating their sustained impact. The organization is currently preparing to launch innovative Catalyst Grants designed to empower individuals to create meaningful positive changes in their lives.

Funding Priorities

Current Grant Program

• Small Grants Programme: £750 per grant
• Average of 3 grants available each month
• Rolling basis with applications considered at month's end
• Organizations can receive up to 3 grants per year (separate applications required)
• Application method: Online form via Kingston Charitable Foundation Grants Application Form

Priority Areas

Kingston Giving champions equity and particularly focuses on:

• Nourishing meals and food support
• One-to-one support for stress and isolation
• Safe spaces for community connection
• Practical assistance for individuals/families facing hardship

Funding Focus

• Direct support for individuals and families facing hardship
• Projects run by charitable organizations
• Initiatives that alleviate community hardship
• Programs creating "care & connection" in the community
• Support addressing immediate survival needs

Eligibility Requirements

• Work must be legally charitable
• Must support residents of the Borough of Kingston upon Thames
• Organizations do NOT need to be registered charities
• Must provide an organizational bank account
• Income restrictions:
• Under £250,000 annual income: Can apply for project support OR individual/family hardship grants
• Over £250,000 annual income: Can ONLY apply for grants to directly support individuals/families facing hardship

What They Don't Fund

• Applications from individuals/families directly (must come through a charitable organization)
• Organizations not supporting Kingston upon Thames residents
• Work that is not legally charitable

Upcoming Programs

• Catalyst Grants: New innovative program launching soon, designed to empower individuals to create meaningful positive changes

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Governance and Leadership

Staff Team

• Hicky Kingsbury, CEO (hicky@kingstoncf.org.uk)
• Justine Belcher, Community Lead and Grants Manager (justine@kingstoncf.org.uk)
• Shelley Heath, Impact Reporting Lead & Marketing Manager
• Lucie Moore, Development Manager

Board of Trustees (8 trustees total)

• Nikki Earthrowl, Chair of Trustees - leads board meetings and guides organizational goals
• Sam Page, Trustee
• Lucy Richards, Trustee
• Paul Greensmith, Trustee
• Tony Mills, Trustee - over 30 years of experience in life sciences industries

The organization recently expanded its board with four new trustees in 2024, demonstrating growth and strengthened governance.

Patrons

• Sir Edward Davey, MP
• Julie Pickering
• Paul Cox
• Chris Hirsch

Financial Transparency

“90p in every £1 you donate goes to support local causes” - demonstrating strong commitment to direct impact and low overhead costs.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

1. Complete the Kingston Charitable Foundation Grants Application Form (online)
2. Applications accepted on a rolling basis
3. Contact Justine Belcher at justine@kingstoncf.org.uk with any questions before applying

Decision Timeline

• Applications considered at the end of each month
• Rolling programme with monthly decision points
• Average of 3 grants awarded per month

Success Rates

Based on recent data:

• 52 grants awarded in the most recent 12-month period
• Average of 3 grants per month = approximately 36 grants annually at current rate
• With monthly applications, estimated success rate of approximately 50-60%
• Note: 45 grants were awarded in the previous year, showing consistent activity

Post-Award Requirements

If successful, recipients are asked to:

• Provide impact stories, photos, and testimonials
• Tag Kingston Giving on social media when announcing the grant
• Share how the funding made a difference in the community

Reapplication Policy

• Organizations can receive up to 3 grants per year
• Each grant requires a separate application
• No published waiting period between applications for unsuccessful applicants
• Contact justine@kingstoncf.org.uk for guidance on reapplying after an unsuccessful application

Application Success Factors

What Makes Applications Stand Out

Direct Impact Focus: Kingston Giving prioritizes projects that directly address immediate needs. Their funded example - Kingston Churches Against Homelessness - provided sleeping bags, underwear, and socks for 80 people, with the impact quote emphasizing these goods “provided warmth, comfort and hygiene to people in need and in the most extreme cases at -5 temperatures they may well have saved lives.”

Alignment with Priority Communities: Applications should clearly demonstrate support for their equity champions: communities experiencing racial inequity, people with disabilities, LGBT+ individuals, families in poverty, or people experiencing homelessness.

Mental Health and Wellbeing: Recent campaigns highlight their focus on mental health, belonging, and community connection. The “Mindful Space” initiative emphasizes projects that ease stress and strengthen wellbeing.

Practical Support: They value tangible assistance - one major grant for a Recycling Officer at Kingston Environment Centre aided 47,000 people by addressing local recycling needs, showing they support both crisis intervention and broader community improvement.

Working Family Awareness: Recognition that 75% of families experiencing poverty in Kingston are working families - demonstrate understanding of “in-work poverty” rather than assumptions about unemployment.

Language and Terminology They Use

• “Resilient community”
• “Tackle inequalities”
• “Championing equity”
• "Care & connection"
• “Hidden weight of poverty”
• “Opportunity to thrive”
• “Meaningful positive changes”
• “Alleviating hardship at the heart of our communities”

Recent Funded Projects Examples

1. Kingston Churches Against Homelessness - Winter shelter essentials (sleeping bags, underwear, socks for 80 people)
2. Kingston Environment Centre - Recycling Officer position (supported 47,000 people)
3. Various organizations through their “Everyone Deserves a Better Christmas” campaign focused on families experiencing poverty

Application Tips

• Keep applications simple - their process is “created to support local organisations who alleviate hardship”
• Focus on direct impact and specific beneficiaries
• Clearly state how your work supports Kingston residents
• If applying on behalf of individuals/families, explain your organization's existing relationship with them
• Don't hesitate to contact Justine Belcher with questions before applying
• After receiving a grant, share your impact story - this builds relationship for future applications

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Small but Accessible: £750 grants may be modest, but organizations can apply up to 3 times per year (maximum £2,250 annually), making this a reliable regular funding stream for ongoing work.

1. Equity Champions First: Applications clearly aligned with their four priority equity groups (racial equity, disability, LGBT+, poverty/homelessness) will be strongest. Don't just mention these groups - demonstrate how your work addresses barriers they face.

1. Monthly Opportunities: With rolling applications decided monthly, you can reapply relatively quickly if unsuccessful. This is a funder worth building a relationship with over time.

1. Direct Impact Over Innovation: Their funded examples show preference for practical, immediate assistance (sleeping bags, recycling services, food support) over complex theoretical change models. Focus on tangible outcomes.

1. Size Matters for Eligibility: If your organization has over £250,000 annual income, you can ONLY apply for grants supporting specific individuals/families, not general projects. This is a strict restriction to be aware of.

1. Relationship-Focused: They ask for photos, stories, and social media tags post-grant - this isn't bureaucracy, it's relationship building. Strong reporting on a first grant positions you well for future applications.

1. Strategic Timing: With the upcoming Catalyst Grants launch and their “Everyone Deserves a Better Christmas” campaign focus, monitor their website and news for new opportunities that may offer different funding amounts or priorities.

References

1. Kingston Giving official website - https://www.kingstongiving.org.uk - Accessed 30 October 2025
2. Kingston Charitable Foundation website - https://kingstoncf.org.uk - Accessed 30 October 2025
3. Kingston Giving grant application page - https://www.kingstongiving.org.uk/apply-for-a-grant - Accessed 30 October 2025
4. Charity Commission Register - Kingston Charitable Foundation (1190241) - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5149655 - Accessed 30 October 2025
5. Kingston Giving “Who We Have Supported” - Vital Goods for Homeless - https://www.kingstongiving.org.uk/who-we-have-supported/vital-goods-homeless - Accessed 30 October 2025
6. Kingston Giving Latest News - https://www.kingstongiving.org.uk/news - Accessed 30 October 2025
7. Giving is Great Charity Factsheet - KINGSTON CHARITABLE FOUNDATION - https://givingisgreat.org.uk/database/charity-factsheet/?regNo=1190241 - Accessed 30 October 2025
8. Kingston Nub News - “Kingston Charitable Foundation awarded an astonishing 45 grants last year” - https://kingston.nub.news/news/local-news/kingston-charitable-foundation-awards-an-astonishing-45-grants-last-year-232750 - Accessed 30 October 2025