Motability Foundation

Charity Number: 299745

Annual Expenditure: £16.7M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: ??50 million over 3 years (2022-2025)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not specified
  • Grant Range: ??100,000 - ??4,000,000 (organizational grants)
  • Geographic Focus: UK-wide

Contact Details

  • Website: www.motabilityfoundation.org.uk
  • Phone: 01279 635999
  • Email: communications@motability.co.uk
  • Individual Grants: www.motabilityfoundation.org.uk/charitable-grants/
  • Organizational Grants: www.motabilityfoundation.org.uk/grants/

Overview

The Motability Foundation (Charity Number: 299745) was established to help disabled people make journeys by providing access to transport and working to make transport more accessible. The foundation operates as the charitable arm of the wider Motability organization, overseeing Motability Operations to deliver the Motability Scheme while providing both individual grants to disabled people and substantial funding to charities and organizations. With ??50 million committed over three financial years ending March 2025, they represent one of the UK's most significant funders in disability mobility. The foundation has recently awarded ??23.2 million to 43 organizations, supporting 221,000 disabled people. Under the leadership of Chair Andrew Miller MBE, the foundation takes a strategic approach combining immediate practical solutions with long-term systemic change in transport accessibility.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • Organizational Grants: ??100,000 - ??4,000,000 over 3-year funding cycles
  • Individual Scheme-Related Grants: Financial assistance for Motability Scheme customers for vehicles and adaptations
  • Individual Access to Mobility Grants: Support for disabled people outside the Motability Scheme
  • Research and Innovation Funding: Evidence-based projects for systemic change

Priority Areas

Six current organizational grant programs are available:

  • Community Transport: Improving community transport services for disabled people
  • Wheelchair Sector: Advancing wheelchair technology, services, and accessibility
  • Research: Funding research leading to practical solutions or systemic change
  • Active Travel: Making walking, cycling, and other active travel accessible
  • Travelling with Confidence: Building confidence for independent travel
  • Reducing Barriers to Driving: Removing barriers to learning and continuing to drive

What They Don't Fund

  • Projects not directly related to disability mobility and transport
  • Applications from individuals who don't meet specific eligibility criteria
  • Requests outside their strategic focus areas
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Governance and Leadership

Chair: Andrew Miller MBE brings extensive experience in disability rights and accessibility advocacy. The foundation operates with a structured board governance system and works closely with Motability Operations for scheme delivery.

The foundation's strategic approach focuses on “making all journeys accessible for disabled people” through evidence-based funding decisions that demonstrate measurable impact on disabled people's mobility and transport access.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

  • Individual Grants: Online application system via foundation website
  • Organizational Grants: Application details available for each specific program
  • Assessment: All applications are means-tested to ensure support reaches those most in need

Decision Timeline

  • Specific timelines not publicly disclosed
  • Applications assessed following “thorough consideration of information submitted”
  • All grant awards are final except where additional compelling information is provided

Success Rates

  • Success rates not publicly disclosed
  • Applications not meeting funding priorities will not receive funding
  • Recent funding: 43 organizations supported from ??23.2 million allocation

Reapplication Policy

  • Grant awards are final except in cases with additional compelling information
  • Specific reapplication policies not clearly outlined

Application Success Factors

  • Strategic Alignment: Projects must directly advance mobility needs of disabled people
  • Evidence-Based Approach: Applications should demonstrate clear potential for measurable impact
  • Means Testing: Individual grants require demonstration of financial need
  • Comprehensive Information: Thorough consideration given to all submitted information
  • Focus on Impact: Projects supporting systemic change or practical solutions preferred
  • Geographic Reach: UK-wide focus with emphasis on reaching underserved communities

Recent successful projects include:

  • Keystone Development Trust: ??500,000 for supporting disabled people to access apprenticeships through digital connectivity
  • Travel training programs helping young people across the UK
  • Community transport initiatives improving access to essential services

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Substantial Funding Available: With ??100,000-??4,000,000 grants, this represents significant funding opportunity in the disability sector
  • Strategic Focus Essential: Applications must clearly demonstrate how they advance disabled people's mobility and transport access
  • Evidence of Impact Required: Foundation seeks projects with measurable outcomes and potential for systemic change
  • Long-term Commitment: Three-year funding cycles suggest preference for sustainable, strategic initiatives
  • Comprehensive Application Approach: Thorough information submission is emphasized in their assessment process
  • Align with Priority Programs: Applications should clearly fit within one of their six current grant programs
  • Consider Innovation: Foundation values both practical solutions and research leading to longer-term change

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