Paul Hamlyn Foundation
Charity Number: 1102927
Contact Info
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Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: £35-40 million annually
- Success Rate: 10-12% (Youth Fund, typical across funds)
- Decision Time: 4 months
- Grant Range: £20,000 - £400,000+ (depending on fund and organization size)
- Geographic Focus: UK-wide (some international migration work)
Contact Details
Website: www.phf.org.uk
Phone: 020 7812 3300
Email: information@phf.org.uk
Online Applications: Available through their website portal
Accessibility Support: Up to £750 bursary available if online portal is inaccessible due to disability
Overview
Founded in 2004 by publisher Paul Hamlyn, the Paul Hamlyn Foundation has distributed over £500 million in grants to charitable causes. As one of the UK's largest independent foundations, it works collaboratively with organizations and individuals building a just society. The foundation focuses on arts, education and learning, migration, and young people, with a commitment to becoming anti-racist and championing truly inclusive culture. Recent strategic developments include prioritizing racial justice (with race equity organizations receiving 10% larger average grants than others) and collaborative funding initiatives. The foundation has signed the Funder Commitment on Climate Change, demonstrating environmental responsibility alongside social justice priorities.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
- Arts Fund: Up to 50% of annual turnover (minimum £60,000 turnover required), typically £30,000-£400,000+ over 1-3 years
- Ideas and Pioneers Fund: £20,000 grants for individuals aged 18-30 exploring social change ideas (rolling applications)
- Youth Fund: Long-term grants for organizations working with young people aged 14-25 (20 grants annually)
- Migration Fund: Long-term grants for organizations supporting migration justice
- Awards for Artists: £60,000 awards (10 annually - 5 visual artists, 5 composers)
- Teacher Development Fund: Support for arts-based teaching in primary education
Priority Areas
- Social justice and systemic change
- Arts access and participation, particularly for underrepresented communities
- Supporting young people facing complex transitions to adulthood
- Migration justice - ensuring freedom of movement and protection from forced migration
- Racial justice and equity initiatives
- Arts-based learning in formal education settings
What They Don't Fund
- Work starting within 4 months of application
- Multiple concurrent grants to same organization
- Reapplications within 12 months of rejection
- Statutory responsibilities (education services, social care, waste collection, etc.)
- Grants exceeding annual turnover
- Endowment building (except by invitation)
- Work benefiting people outside UK (except specific programs)
- Capital/property projects
- Organizations without safeguarding policies
- Unincorporated groups (except Migration and Ideas & Pioneers funds)
Governance and Leadership
Chair: Jane Hamlyn (Paul Hamlyn's daughter)
CEO: Moira Sinclair (also chairs London Mayor's Cultural Leadership Board)
Vice Chair: Tom Wylie
Recent trustee appointments include Bernard Dallé (Senior Advisor to P1 Ventures), Marcus Davey, and Martha MacKenzie (former Head of Global Humanitarian Advocacy at UNICEF). The foundation's senior leadership team was strengthened in 2024 with appointments of Liz Winder and Paula Gay as Director of People and Culture.
Leadership Quote: "We're working towards a just future in which everyone, especially young people, can realise their full potential and enjoy fulfilling and creative lives."
Application Process & Timeline
How to Apply
- Online application system through www.phf.org.uk/funding
- Multi-stage process for most funds
- First stage: Initial application form
- Second stage: Assessment meetings with grants managers for shortlisted applicants
- Final decision by panel of trustees and advisors
Decision Timeline
- Standard timeline: 4 months from application to decision
- Arts Fund: Decisions on first stage by 31 May, final decisions by 31 July
- Teacher Development Fund: Applications by 14 January, decisions by end March
- Applicants notified of outcomes at each stage
Success Rates
- Youth Fund: 10-12% success rate (20 grants from approximately 200+ applications annually)
- Highly competitive across all funds
- Foundation rated in top 15% of funders for helpful selection processes
Reapplication Policy
- Must wait 12 months after rejection before reapplying
- Cannot hold multiple grants simultaneously
- Previous unsuccessful applicants can reapply with different projects after waiting period
Application Success Factors
Foundation's Direct Advice:
- “We look for work that seeks to create wider systemic change rather than just direct service delivery”
- Organizations must demonstrate how their work advances social justice
- Strong emphasis on lived experience and community-led approaches
- Importance of showing potential for wider impact beyond immediate beneficiaries
Recent Funding Examples:
- Organizations working on racial justice initiatives received priority consideration
- Collaborative projects addressing systemic inequalities
- Arts organizations creating new models of access and participation
- Youth organizations developing innovative approaches to supporting complex transitions
Key Success Factors:
- Clear alignment with social justice mission
- Evidence of systemic change approach rather than service delivery
- Strong safeguarding policies for work with vulnerable groups
- Demonstrated understanding of the communities you serve
- Financial sustainability and appropriate grant request size
- Clear theory of change showing path to wider impact
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- Mission Alignment Critical: Must demonstrate clear connection to social justice and systemic change goals
- Size Appropriately: Request no more than 50% of annual turnover; ensure minimum thresholds are met
- Emphasize Systemic Impact: Show how work creates change beyond immediate beneficiaries
- Lead Time Essential: Apply at least 4 months before project start date
- One Grant at a Time: Cannot apply for multiple grants simultaneously
- Relationship Building: Foundation values collaborative approach and long-term partnerships
- Racial Justice Priority: Organizations advancing racial equity receive preferential consideration
- Process is Thorough: Multi-stage assessment with meetings for shortlisted applicants - prepare accordingly
Similar Funders
These funders frequently fund the same charities:
- The Arts Council Of England
- Garfield Weston Foundation
- Backstage Trust
- The A B Charitable Trust
- Bbc Children In Need
- Esmee Fairbairn Foundation
- The Foyle Foundation
- The Henry Smith Charity
- Henry Smith
- The Bridge Trust
References
- Paul Hamlyn Foundation website (www.phf.org.uk) -
- “Working Together for Social Change” Annual Review 2023-24 - Paul Hamlyn Foundation
- “Key Findings and Recommendations from Paul Hamlyn Foundation Grantee and Applicant Survey” - 2022
- Grant awards announcements March 2024, September 2024 - Paul Hamlyn Foundation
- General Exclusions guidance - Paul Hamlyn Foundation website
- Trustee announcements and leadership updates - Paul Hamlyn Foundation 2024
- 360Giving GrantNav database entries for Paul Hamlyn Foundation