Richard Reeve's Foundation

Charity Number: 1136337

Annual Expenditure: £1.2M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £1,200,000
  • Success Rate: 20% (based on recent programme data)
  • Decision Time: Multi-stage process (initial applications narrowed to second stage)
  • Grant Range: £40,000 - £200,000 (typically over 3 years)
  • Geographic Focus: London Boroughs of Camden, Islington, and City of London only

Contact Details

  • Website: www.richardreevesfoundation.org.uk
  • Email: clerk@richardreevesfoundation.org.uk (Clerk: Andrew Fuller)
  • Enquiries: enquiries@richardreevesfoundation.org.uk
  • Phone: 020 8323 2662
  • Address: 13, Elliott's Place, London, N1 8HX

Overview

Richard Reeve's Foundation, established in 1706, is one of England's oldest educational charities. Founded from Richard Reeve's estate (which consisted mainly of investments in the East India Company and the Bank of England), the Foundation has been supporting education for over 300 years. With an annual income of approximately £1.6 million and annual grant distribution of £1.2 million, the Foundation supports students at 62 schools, further education colleges, and City University. The Foundation takes a strategic, partnership-based approach to funding, making grants to a small number of carefully selected organisations for up to three years to maximise effectiveness and impact. The charity operates exclusively within the London Boroughs of Camden, Islington, and the City of London, remaining true to Richard Reeve's original intentions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation operates several distinct programmes:

Careers Education and Guidance Programme: £40,000 - £120,000

  • Strengthens careers provision in Camden and Islington secondary schools
  • Recent grants include £120,000 to Career Ready and £60,000 to London Borough of Camden for training Careers Leaders
  • Supports schools working toward the Quality in Careers Standard
  • Application: Invitation-based following strategic programme announcements

Earn While You Learn Programme: £40,000 - £75,000 over 3 years

  • Increases opportunities for young people aged 16-24 through part-time jobs, paid work experience, traineeships, internships, and apprenticeships
  • Recent grants: £74,784 to Inspire! and £40,000 to Leadership Through Sport & Business
  • 20% success rate (4 grants from 20 initial applications, narrowed to 10 second-stage applications)
  • Application: Two-stage process when programme is open

Literacy and Numeracy Support: Amounts vary

  • Year 5 Tuition: Small group tuition in maths and literacy for pupils who may not otherwise have access
  • GCSE Maths: Funding for dedicated additional staff at select secondary schools
  • Intensive tuition for financially disadvantaged students affected by lost learning time
  • Provided to 38 schools in recent years

Child and Family Support Workers: Multi-year grants

  • Long-standing programme funding support workers in primary schools
  • Builds and strengthens community links within schools

Hardship Grants and Bursaries: Distributed annually

  • Nearly 900 eligible students receive support each year
  • Distributed via Camden and Islington councils through schools and colleges directly
  • Annual grants to students at City & Islington College and City University
  • Annual grant to Christ's Hospital

Priority Areas

The Foundation's current strategic themes focus on:

  1. Literacy and Numeracy - Especially for children up to Key Stage 2
  2. Preparation for Work - Young people in further education or long-term unemployed, particularly aged 16-24
  3. Protection and Development - Supporting vulnerable young people through education and training

Age Range: People up to age 25

Geographic Requirement: Beneficiaries must live, work, or study in the London Boroughs of Camden, Islington, or the City of London

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the Foundation:

  • Does not accept unsolicited applications (funding strategy set in-house)
  • Only funds within their specific geographic area (Camden, Islington, City of London)
  • Focuses exclusively on education and training for young people (not other charitable purposes)
  • Primarily funds schools directly, though may fund charities and organisations operating in the area
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Governance and Leadership

The Foundation is governed by a Board of Governors who serve as Trustees for charity law purposes and as directors of the charitable company. The Board meets at least four times a year. No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Key Personnel:

  • Andrew Fuller - Clerk and Company Secretary
  • Angelo - Governor, primary school governor and Chair of board at secondary school in Islington; Islington Local Authority Councillor
  • Gerald - Governor (joined 2014), Founding Partner of Vermeer Investment Management
  • Mark - Governor (joined 2011), sits on Investment & Finance Committee and Grants Committee
  • Nick - Governor, self-supporting minister at Holy Sepulchre church; CFO and Head of Compliance for a FinTech
  • Alistair - Governor (joined 2019), Chair of Investment and Finance Committee
  • Kate - Governor, retired headteacher from Eleanor Palmer Primary School in Camden; awarded OBE in 2017 for services to education

Committee Structure:

  • Investment & Finance Committee - meets at least four times annually
  • Strategy Committee - meets at least four times annually
  • Grants Committee
  • Ad-hoc sub-committees and working groups as required

The performance of the Clerk is reviewed annually by the Chairman in consultation with the Chairman of the Investment & Finance Committee.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Important: The Foundation is not currently open to unsolicited applications and sets its funding strategy in-house. However, organisations can express interest in future funding opportunities.

To Make an Enquiry:

  • Email: enquiries@richardreevesfoundation.org.uk
  • Organisations wishing to make the Foundation aware of projects that meet their objectives may send enquiries

When Programmes Are Open (based on past rounds):

  • Two-stage application process
  • Stage 1: Initial application form
  • Stage 2: Invited applicants complete detailed second-stage application
  • Applications reviewed by Grants Committee

Typical Applicants: Schools, colleges, and partner organisations (including charities) operating in and for the benefit of residents and students in Camden, Islington, and the City of London

Decision Timeline

  • Multi-stage review process
  • Initial applications reviewed and shortlisted (approximately 50% progress to second stage based on recent data)
  • Second-stage applications undergo detailed assessment
  • Board meets at least quarterly; decisions made at Board meetings
  • Specific timeline varies by programme

Success Rates

Earn While You Learn Programme (most recent data available):

  • 20 initial applications received
  • 10 invited to complete second-stage application (50% progression rate)
  • 4 grants awarded
  • Overall success rate: 20%

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly stated. Given the Foundation's closed application approach and strategic, invitation-based funding model, organisations should contact the Foundation directly regarding reapplication possibilities.

Application Success Factors

Foundation's Approach

The Foundation seeks to “fulfil its charitable objects by making grants to a small number of partner organisations to deliver benefits to people in our area of benefit through projects that maximise value for our beneficiaries through education and training.”

Key Success Factors:

  1. Strategic Alignment: Projects must align precisely with current Foundation themes (literacy/numeracy, preparation for work, protection and development)
  1. Geographic Specificity: Absolute requirement that beneficiaries live, work, or study in Camden, Islington, or City of London
  1. Age Appropriateness: Focus on young people up to age 25, with particular emphasis on Key Stage 2 children and 16-24 year-olds
  1. Multi-Year Impact: Projects typically funded for up to three years to increase effectiveness and impact - demonstrate how longer-term funding will create sustainable change
  1. Value for Beneficiaries: Emphasis on “maximising value” suggests cost-effectiveness and demonstrable impact are critical
  1. Partnership Approach: Foundation works with “a small number of partner organisations” - suggests they value established relationships and track records

Recent Funded Projects (Examples)

  • London Borough of Camden (£60,000) - Facilitated exchange of learning across schools, training for Careers Leaders, specialist support for seven schools working toward Quality in Careers Standard
  • Career Ready (£120,000) - Employability masterclasses delivered by employers to students in seven schools
  • New River College, Islington (£55,555) - Enhanced Alternative Work Skills Curriculum to motivate and build work readiness
  • Inspire! (£74,784 over 3 years) - Earn While You Learn programme
  • Leadership Through Sport & Business (£40,000) - Earn While You Learn programme
  • 38 schools received intensive tuition funding following pandemic learning loss

Language and Terminology

The Foundation uses specific language that applicants should mirror:

  • “Empower young people through education and training”
  • “Maximise value for beneficiaries”
  • “Increase effectiveness and impact”
  • “Protection and development”
  • “Preparation for work”

Standing Out

Given the 20% success rate and highly selective approach:

  • Demonstrate evidence-based programme design
  • Show clear outcomes and impact measurement
  • Highlight partnerships with schools/colleges in the three boroughs
  • Evidence how three-year funding will create sustainable change
  • Show understanding of local context in Camden, Islington, or City of London
  • Focus on financially disadvantaged young people
  • Align with the Foundation's 300+ year history of supporting education in these specific areas

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Closed Application Process: The Foundation is not currently open to unsolicited applications but accepts enquiries - building relationships and awareness of your work is essential before formal funding opportunities arise
  1. Hyper-Local Focus: The geographic restriction to Camden, Islington, and City of London is absolute - do not apply if beneficiaries are outside these three boroughs
  1. Partnership Model: With only £1.2m distributed annually across 62 institutions, the Foundation takes a strategic, relationship-based approach - they fund “a small number of partner organisations” for multi-year grants
  1. Three-Year Funding Cycles: Projects typically funded for up to three years to maximise impact - demonstrate long-term sustainability and progressive outcomes
  1. Competitive Process: 20% success rate in recent programmes with a two-stage application process - applications must be exceptionally strong and perfectly aligned
  1. Strategic Themes: Current focus on literacy/numeracy, preparation for work (especially ages 16-24), and protection/development - ensure perfect alignment with one of these themes
  1. Multiple Routes: Different programmes exist (careers education, earn while you learn, tuition support, hardship grants) - understand which programme best fits your work and wait for that specific opportunity

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