Rothschild Foundation

Rothschild Foundation is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1138145).

Rothschild Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales whose primary aim is to support and develop Waddesdon Manor for the benefit of the general public, and which also supports activity in the arts, the environment and general social welfare. It works as an operating charity responsible for the care and management of Waddesdon Manor near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, and runs a more general grants programme primarily in the Arts & Humanities, alongside a small grants programme focused on Buckinghamshire and the communities local to Waddesdon. In its most recent reported year it paid £8,250,000 in grants and awarded £13,815,000.

Priority Areas

It supports resilient organisations that offer opportunities and deliver excellence in the arts, locally in Buckinghamshire and nationally. Its community funding supports local initiatives that build resilience, foster inclusion and promote wellbeing, with a particular focus on underrepresented groups. Its environmental funding supports sustainable practices that restore nature and nourish communities, contributing locally and regionally to addressing climate change. It also supports activity in general social welfare. Grants are for not-for-profit organisations delivering activity that is legally charitable and for public benefit; its Community Fund supports organisations, charities and groups. Its approach is to create opportunities and positive change through arts, community and environmental funding.

Themes

• Arts
• Community wellbeing
• Environment
• Social welfare

Geographic Focus

Buckinghamshire; London; UK. Not funded: Milton Keynes.

Applicants to the Community and Strategic Funds should read the guidance for the relevant Fund, create an account on the grants portal and submit the online form.

Deadlines:

• Applications under £30,000 have annual deadlines on 27th January, 18th April, 27th August and 18th November.
• Applications over £30,000 have annual deadlines on 31 March and 1 September.

Application windows:

• Buckinghamshire Arts and Community Growing
  • Applications under £30,000 have a deadline on 27 January each year.
  • Applications under £30,000 have a deadline on 27 August each year.
  • Applications over £30,000 have a deadline on 31 March each year.

Who can apply:

• Buckinghamshire Arts and Community Growing
  • Not-for-profit organisations providing a service in Buckinghamshire can apply.
  • Organisations registered with a regulating body, such as the Charity Commission or Companies House, can apply for a grant for up to 3 years.
  • Groups, societies and organisations not registered with a regulator can apply for a grant for 1 year only.
  • Newly established organisations that do not yet have a set of annual accounts may apply for a grant for 1 year only.
• We fund not-for-profit organisations which deliver activity that is legally charitable and for public benefit.
• Organisations which are formally constituted but not listed with a regulator, such as the Charity Commission or Companies House, can apply for smaller one year grants. Organisations registered with a regulating body can apply for grants for up to three years.
• Funded organisations must hold a bank account in their own name.

What to send:

• Buckinghamshire Arts and Community Growing
  • Safeguarding policy
  • Health and Safety policy
  • Equality policy
  • GDPR policy
  • Environmental Sustainability policy (if the application is over £5k)
  • Governing document or constitution demonstrating three Directors or Trustees
  • Management accounts
  • A full project budget, or an organisational budget if applying for core costs (if the application is over £5k)
  • Proof of your organisation’s bank account
• A governing document or constitution for their organisation.

Applying again: Buckinghamshire Arts and Community Growing: You can apply again at any time, but it’s a good idea to speak with a Grants Manager beforehand.

What the charity says:

• The Foundation is particularly interested in partners who understand local communities and can show evidence of making a difference in the county.
• It encourages organisations to work closely together and develop a coordinated approach to supporting local communities.
• Conversations with potential partners are a key part of how the Foundation identifies new projects to fund.
• The Foundation checks applicants’ governance and financial management for stability and accountability.
• The Foundation assesses how well proposed activity aligns with its priorities using clear and consistent criteria.
• National Arts organisations are proactively approached by the Grants Team.
• Funded organisations share an annual written report about delivery, outcomes, beneficiaries and learning.