Oliver Ford Foundation

Charity Number: 1026551

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £170,857 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: £1,000 - £10,000
  • Geographic Focus: England and Wales

Contact Details

Address: MacFarlanes LLP, 20 Cursitor Street, London, EC4A 1LT

Phone: 020 7831 9222

Email: Not available

Website: None

The Foundation does not have a website. Applications should be made in writing to the address above.

Overview

The Oliver Ford Foundation (Charity Number 1026551) was established following the death of Oliver Frederick Ford (1925-1992), a distinguished interior designer who served as decorator to the Queen Mother after receiving Royal Warrant in 1974. Upon his death, Ford left his Grade I listed home, Bewley Court in Lacock, Wiltshire, its contents and gardens, to “The Oliver Ford Charitable Trust” with all proceeds dedicated to supporting people with learning difficulties and disabilities, and to preserving knowledge of the decorative arts.

The Foundation is managed by three trustees and reported total income of £74,675 and total expenditure of £193,788 for the year ending 5 April 2024. In the previous year (2023), the Foundation distributed £170,857 in grants, compared to £139,095 in 2022. Grants are predominantly between £1,000 and £10,000 and include both new and repeat grants. The Foundation's charity reporting is up to date.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation operates a single grant program with rolling applications:

  • General Grants: £1,000 - £10,000 (generally up to £10,000)
  • Application Method: Rolling basis, applications accepted at any time in writing
  • Eligibility: UK registered charities only

Priority Areas

The Foundation provides grants for two distinct areas, reflecting Oliver Ford's legacy:

Learning Disabilities and Education

  • Education programs for children, young people and adults with learning difficulties
  • Housing for people with learning difficulties
  • Training programs for those with learning difficulties and learning disabilities

Decorative Arts and Heritage

  • Advancement of knowledge of interior decoration history and techniques
  • Fabric design education and research
  • Decorative materials study
  • Landscape gardening, including reference to the work of Oliver Ford

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the Foundation's narrow focus suggests they do not fund:

  • Causes outside their two main priority areas
  • Non-registered charities
  • Organizations outside England and Wales
  • Individual applicants (charities only)
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Governance and Leadership

The Foundation is governed by three trustees who receive no remuneration, payments or benefits:

Trustees:

  • Lady Alison Wakeham
  • Martin Philip Levy
  • Matthew Derek Pintus (solicitor, appointed 2017)

The Foundation has no employees earning over £60,000 and no trading subsidiaries.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications should be made in writing to:

The Trustees

Oliver Ford Foundation

c/o MacFarlanes LLP

20 Cursitor Street

London EC4A 1LT

Eligibility: UK registered charities operating in England and Wales

Application Deadlines: None - applications may be made at any time on a rolling basis

Application Requirements: Written application (no online portal or specific application form has been identified)

Decision Timeline

No specific information is publicly available about the Foundation's decision timeline or review process. Applicants should allow adequate time for trustee review.

Success Rates

The Foundation does not publicly disclose application numbers or success rates. In 2023, they made grants totaling £170,857, comprising a mixture of new and repeat grants, predominantly in the £1,000-£10,000 range.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy has been published. However, the Foundation awards both new and repeat grants, suggesting that organizations may apply multiple times.

Application Success Factors

Given the limited public information about the Foundation's decision-making process, applicants should focus on the following:

Demonstrate Clear Alignment

  • Ensure your project fits squarely within one of the two priority areas: learning disabilities/education OR decorative arts/heritage
  • Make the connection to Oliver Ford's legacy explicit if relevant (particularly for decorative arts applications)

Target Grant Amount Appropriately

  • The vast majority of grants fall between £1,000-£10,000
  • Requesting amounts within this range appears to be standard practice

Consider Multi-Year Relationship

  • The Foundation awards “repeat grants,” suggesting they value ongoing relationships with charities
  • First-time applicants should consider this as potentially the start of a longer funding relationship

Written Application Quality

  • With no formal application form or online portal, your written application is your only chance to make an impression
  • Be clear, concise, and specific about how the grant will be used and the impact it will achieve

Charity Registration Essential

  • Only UK registered charities are eligible - ensure your charity number is clearly stated

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • The Foundation has a dual focus: learning disabilities/education AND decorative arts/heritage - ensure perfect alignment with one area
  • Applications are accepted year-round on a rolling basis - no deadline pressure, but also no indication of when trustees meet
  • Grant amounts typically range from £1,000-£10,000 - position your request appropriately
  • The Foundation awards repeat grants - consider building a long-term relationship
  • No website or online application system - all contact must be via written correspondence to MacFarlanes LLP
  • The Foundation honors Oliver Ford's legacy as interior designer to the Queen Mother - decorative arts applications with historical significance may resonate
  • With only three trustees and relatively modest annual giving (£170,857), this is a small foundation where targeted, specific applications are likely to fare better than general requests

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