Rick Mather David Scrase Foundation

Charity Number: 1200096

Annual Expenditure: £0.4M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £364,048 (2023-24)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation-only)
  • Decision Time: Varies (trustee discretion)
  • Grant Range: £12,500 - £150,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily UK
  • Application Method: Invitation only

Contact Details

Website: www.rmdsf.org.uk

Email: info@rmdsf.org.uk

Phone: 020 8350 3603

Registered Charity Number: 1200096

Overview

The Rick Mather David Scrase Foundation was established in 2022 as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, formed by merging funds from the estates of Rick Mather (1937-2013), an internationally renowned architect, and David Scrase (1949-2020), a distinguished art curator who served as Keeper of Paintings, Drawings and Prints at the Fitzwilliam Museum. The foundation honors their shared life and passions—they were among the first men to enter a civil partnership when UK law allowed it. With total income of £760,200 and annual grant-making of £364,048 in 2023-24, the foundation supports excellence across the arts, architecture, horticulture, and LGBT rights. The trustees' approach is described as “sympathetic, generous, wise, balanced and rigorous,” with approximately £200,000 available for distribution annually.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates entirely on an invitation-only basis. Trustees proactively identify and approach organizations that align with Rick and David's interests.

Grant Range: £12,500 - £150,000

  • Trustees can be flexible with support levels
  • Applications over £50,000 require “outstanding value”
  • Multi-year commitments are possible (e.g., £150,000 over five years for Great Dixter)

Priority Areas

Architecture & Built Environment

  • Maintaining Rick Mather's architectural legacy at UK museums he developed (Ashmolean Museum, National Maritime Museum, Dulwich Picture Gallery, Wallace Collection)
  • Internships and research fellowships in architectural practice
  • Support for the annual Rick Mather Lecture at the Barbican Centre focused on sustainability

Arts & Museums

  • Art acquisition by UK museums, particularly prints, drawings, and paintings
  • Digitization and preservation projects
  • Internships in curatorship of prints, drawings, and paintings
  • Museum conservation and infrastructure improvements

Performing Arts

  • Important recitals by major international artists at Wigmore Hall
  • Projects enhancing Dame Margot Fonteyn's legacy
  • Performances of ballets by Sir Frederick Ashton
  • Music preservation and digitization

Horticulture

  • Training and professional development opportunities
  • Research fellowships in horticulture
  • Support for outstanding young practitioners in the field

LGBT Rights

  • Projects promoting LGBT rights
  • Initiatives combating discrimination against LGBT+ individuals
  • Legal and advocacy work supporting LGBT communities internationally

Recent Grant Examples

  • Great Dixter: £150,000 over five years for the Rick Mather David Scrase Christopher Lloyd Scholarship in horticulture
  • Wigmore Hall Trust: £100,000 for Director's Fund + £150,000 for Vocal Series
  • Towner Gallery: £89,000 for solar panel installation
  • Chelsea Physic Garden: £81,000 for horticultural traineeships
  • Victoria and Albert Museum: £50,000 for acquisition of A.W.N. Pugin design drawings archive
  • Royal Ballet: £50,000 for Ashton ballet productions
  • Ashmolean Museum: £50,000 for digitization internship
  • National Gallery: £47,560 for research on Parmigianino painting
  • Frederick Ashton Foundation: £30,000 for ballet training scheme
  • Human Dignity Trust: £30,000 for LGBT rights legal work
  • The Courtauld: £26,696 for Mary Cassatt artwork purchase
  • Music Preserved: £23,160 for digitization and podcast production
  • Birmingham Royal Ballet: £12,500 for Ashton Classics showcase

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and only supports causes that directly reflect Rick Mather and David Scrase's documented interests.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Charlie Barclay - Architect, bringing professional understanding of Rick Mather's architectural legacy

Richard Jarman - Arts leadership background

Hugh Wilson - Solicitor and art enthusiast

Dr Catherine Whistler - Art historian and museum curator (formerly at the Ashmolean Museum)

The foundation notes the loss of former trustee Ros Savill, who was fundamental to the foundation's establishment.

Decision-Making Philosophy

The trustees have considerable discretion in their grant-making, with the charitable purpose being “to advance such charitable purposes as the charity trustees see fit from time to time.” Their approach emphasizes encouraging excellence in all fields they support and helping outstanding young practitioners start their careers. Trustees' views are characterized as “sympathetic, generous, wise, balanced and rigorous.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. Applications are accepted by invitation of the trustees only. The trustees proactively approach organizations that are likely to come forward with eligible requests.

Organizations cannot submit unsolicited applications. The foundation operates through trustee discretion, identifying and inviting proposals from organizations working in their areas of interest.

Getting on Their Radar

While there is no public application process, organizations working in the foundation's priority areas may be noticed through:

Connections to Rick Mather's Architectural Legacy: Organizations associated with museums Rick Mather designed (Ashmolean Museum Oxford, National Maritime Museum Greenwich, Dulwich Picture Gallery, Wallace Collection) may be considered for support related to maintaining or celebrating his work.

Excellence in Priority Fields: The foundation seeks to support “outstanding young practitioners” and “excellence in all fields of endeavour” within their areas of interest. Organizations with demonstrable track records in architecture, curatorship, horticulture, performing arts, or LGBT rights may attract trustee attention.

Established Cultural Institutions: The foundation's grant history shows support for well-known institutions including Wigmore Hall, Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, major UK museums, and respected horticultural organizations like Great Dixter and Chelsea Physic Garden.

Sector Visibility: Organizations that are visible and respected within their sectors—particularly those fostering emerging talent or advancing excellence in architecture, visual arts, performing arts, horticulture, or human rights—may be on the trustees' radar.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly documented, as the foundation operates on a trustee-directed model rather than fixed application cycles. Given the invitation-only nature, the process is likely to be bespoke for each organization approached.

Success Rates

Not applicable—there is no competitive application process. All grants result from trustee-initiated conversations with selected organizations.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates exclusively by invitation, traditional “application success factors” do not apply. However, examining their funded projects reveals clear patterns that may explain why certain organizations are invited:

Alignment with Founders' Passions: Every funded project connects directly to Rick Mather's or David Scrase's documented interests. Rick Mather was known for sensitive, sustainable museum architecture; David Scrase was an Italian art specialist at the Fitzwilliam Museum. Organizations working in these specific areas receive support.

Emphasis on Emerging Talent: Many grants specifically support young practitioners—internships, traineeships, scholarships, and fellowships. The foundation states its aim “to help outstanding young practitioners as they start working in their chosen field.” Projects that combine excellence with career development opportunities appear particularly valued.

Institutional Excellence: Funded organizations include leading UK institutions: Wigmore Hall, Royal Ballet, V&A, National Gallery, Ashmolean Museum, Great Dixter. The foundation gravitates toward established organizations with demonstrable track records.

Multi-Year Impact: The £150,000 grant to Great Dixter over five years demonstrates willingness to make sustained commitments to transformative programs. The foundation values depth over breadth, supporting “a number of projects” rather than scattering resources widely.

Sustainability and Legacy: Several grants support environmental sustainability (Towner Gallery solar panels) or preservation/digitization (Ashmolean digitization, Music Preserved). Projects that ensure lasting impact align with the foundation's legacy-building ethos.

LGBT Rights: As one of the first same-sex couples to enter civil partnership, Rick and David's commitment to LGBT rights is honored through support for organizations like Human Dignity Trust. Projects addressing discrimination or advancing LGBT equality internationally receive consideration.

Outstanding Value: For grants exceeding £50,000, trustees explicitly seek “outstanding value”—suggesting they evaluate potential impact, reach, and transformative capacity relative to investment.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation cannot be approached with unsolicited proposals. All grants result from trustee-initiated invitations.
  • Highly Focused Interests: Grants strictly reflect Rick Mather's (architecture, museums, design) and David Scrase's (art curatorship, particularly Italian drawings, horticulture, ballet, LGBT rights) specific interests.
  • Investment in Emerging Talent: Significant funding supports internships, scholarships, and fellowships for outstanding young practitioners in architecture, curatorship, and horticulture.
  • Flexible Grant Sizes: Awards range from £12,500 to £150,000, with multi-year commitments possible. Trustees can adjust support levels based on project value.
  • Quality Over Quantity: With approximately £200,000 distributed annually, the foundation supports a select number of high-impact projects rather than many small grants.
  • Established Institutions Preferred: Grant history shows preference for respected cultural institutions and organizations with proven track records.
  • Relationship-Driven Model: Success depends not on application quality but on being within the trustees' awareness and alignment with their mission—relationships and sector visibility matter more than proposal writing.

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