Robert Luff Foundation Limited

Charity Number: 273810

Annual Expenditure: £1.6M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £1,629,188 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not specified (rolling applications)
  • Grant Range: Small to large grants (specific amounts not published; historical example: £450,000 over 3 years)
  • Geographic Focus: UK national

Contact Details

Address: Waters Edge Ferry Lane, Moulsford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 9JF

Email: rpjprice@gmail.com

Phone: 01491 652204

Note: The foundation does not have a website. Further information is available on the Charity Commission website (Charity Number: 273810).

Overview

Established in 1977, the Robert Luff Foundation Limited is a significant UK grant-making charity focused exclusively on medical research and related healthcare causes. Named after Robert Charles William Luff (CBE), a theatre producer and impresario who dedicated his resources to supporting medical advancement, the foundation operates from Oxfordshire with substantial assets generating significant investment income. In the financial year ending August 31, 2024, the foundation had total income of £954,664 (primarily from investments) and distributed £1.63 million in charitable expenditure. The foundation's mission centers on distributing funds to other charitable institutions with particular reference to medical research, including support for hospices and teaching hospitals engaged in advancing medical knowledge and patient care.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation offers both small and larger grants to UK charitable institutions. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis - applications may be made at any time in writing. There is no online portal or fixed deadline system.

Historical Grant Example:

  • In 2015, the foundation awarded £450,000 over three years to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust for research into Mycobacterium abscessus infections

Priority Areas

The foundation makes grants predominantly to UK registered charities engaged in:

  • Medical research across all areas and disciplines
  • Hospices providing end-of-life care
  • Teaching hospitals conducting research
  • Specific medical causes including:
  • Respiratory research (lung disease, cystic fibrosis, lung transplantation)
  • Cancer research
  • Research at major teaching hospitals

Historical Recipients Include:

  • Royal Brompton Hospital
  • Middlesex Hospital
  • British Lung Foundation
  • Cystic Fibrosis Trust
  • St John Ambulance
  • Various cancer research projects
  • A funded chair in medicine at London University

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's focus is exclusively on medical research and related healthcare causes within the UK charity sector. This suggests they do not fund:

  • Non-medical charitable activities
  • International organizations without UK charity registration
  • Individual applications (only registered UK charities)
  • General operating costs unrelated to medical research
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Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by 6 trustees who also receive payments or benefits for services to the charity:

Current Trustees (as of 2024):

  • Richard Peter Jeremy Price (Solicitor) - Also serves as Company Secretary
  • Lady Margaret Ruth Bodey (Retired Nurse)
  • Sir Paul James Duke Coleridge KT
  • Melanie Clare Lydiate Condon (Travel Agent)
  • Helen Elizabeth Hughes
  • Reverend Matthew Tomlinson (Vicar)

The foundation was established by Robert Charles William Luff CBE, who was made an honorary fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in 1992 and appointed CBE in 1995 for his services to medical research.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications must be made in writing to the foundation at their Oxfordshire address. There is no website, online application portal, or downloadable application form.

Contact for Applications:

Robert Luff Foundation Limited

Waters Edge Ferry Lane

Moulsford, Wallingford

Oxfordshire, OX10 9JF

Email: rpjprice@gmail.com

Phone: 01491 652204

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not published. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis at any time throughout the year, suggesting that decisions are made periodically as trustees meet to review applications.

Success Rates

Success rates and application statistics are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly available. Applicants should inquire directly with the foundation.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's history and funding patterns, successful applications likely demonstrate:

Strong Alignment with Medical Research:

  • The foundation has shown particular interest in respiratory research, including substantial multi-year grants for cystic fibrosis research
  • Support for research at established teaching hospitals and research institutions
  • Projects addressing serious medical conditions with significant patient impact

Examples of Funded Projects:

  • £450,000 over three years (2015) for research into Mycobacterium abscessus infections in cystic fibrosis patients
  • Research into lung transplantation techniques, specifically lung reconditioning to increase suitable donated lungs
  • Support for research units at Royal Brompton Hospital
  • Cancer research projects
  • Medical research chairs at universities

Key Success Factors:

  • Be a registered UK charity with medical research focus
  • Demonstrate clear research objectives with potential for significant medical advancement
  • Show strong institutional credibility and research track record
  • Articulate patient impact and clinical relevance
  • Projects addressing serious or life-threatening conditions appear particularly well-aligned

Application Approach:

  • Given the lack of standardized forms, applications should be comprehensive written proposals
  • Include clear research objectives, methodology, timeline, and budget
  • Demonstrate organizational credibility and researcher qualifications
  • Explain expected outcomes and patient benefits
  • The foundation's history suggests openness to both major multi-year grants and smaller awards

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Medical research exclusive: The foundation funds only medical research, hospices, and teaching hospitals - ensure your organization and project fit squarely within this remit
  • Written applications only: No online portal or standard form; prepare a comprehensive written proposal sent by post or email
  • Rolling deadlines: Apply at any time throughout the year, offering flexibility in application timing
  • Range of grant sizes: The foundation offers both “small and larger grants” and has awarded substantial multi-year grants (e.g., £450,000 over 3 years)
  • UK charities only: Must be a registered UK charity to be eligible
  • Respiratory research alignment: Historical funding shows strong interest in lung disease, cystic fibrosis, and respiratory conditions
  • Patient impact matters: Funded projects demonstrate clear clinical relevance and potential to improve patient outcomes
  • Significant resources: With £1.63 million in annual charitable expenditure, this is a substantial funder in the medical research space

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