Royal Female School Of Art Foundation

Charity Number: 1169925

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £200,000 (approximately)
  • Grant Range: £750 - £1,500 per student bursary
  • Application Method: Invitation only - no public application process
  • Geographic Focus: Greater London only
  • Partner Institutions: 9 educational organizations
  • Students Supported: 100-200 annually

Contact Details

  • Website: www.rfsafoundation.org
  • Email: admin@rfsafoundation.org
  • Phone: 020 3778 0677
  • For Organizations Seeking Funding: Contact the Foundation Secretary to discuss eligibility before applying

Overview

The Royal Female School of Art Foundation (charity number 1169925) was established to continue the legacy of the original Royal Female School of Art founded in 1842. The foundation operates as a charitable company limited by guarantee with total annual expenditure of approximately £208,932 (year ending July 2024). Rather than operating programs directly, the foundation awards grants to educational organizations across Greater London to provide bursaries for art and design students. The foundation specifically focuses on students who face financial barriers to education, with particular attention to those affected by pregnancy, childbirth, caring responsibilities, or parenthood. Over the past five years, the foundation has distributed £500,364 in grants and scholarships, supporting 100-200 students annually through 47 grants and 15 scholarship prizes.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates exclusively through partner educational institutions:

  • Student Bursaries: £750 - £1,500 per student (amounts vary by course intensity)
  • Certificate of Higher Education and Graduate Certificate: up to £750
  • 4-year BA programs: up to £1,125
  • 3-year accelerated BA programs: up to £1,500
  • Application Method: Annual invitation-only cycle (invitations sent March 1, deadline May 1, decisions in June, funds deployed in September)

Priority Areas

Eligible Students and Courses:

  • Vocational, BTEC, HND, foundation, and first-degree courses in arts and design
  • Informal learning that provides access into formal education for adults who face barriers
  • Exceptional circumstances: MA students (rarely funded)

What Funding Covers:

  • Student maintenance costs
  • Tuition fees
  • Travel expenses
  • Equipment, tools, and books
  • Support for students affected by pregnancy, childbirth, caring responsibilities, or parenthood
  • Skills development and professional experience

Geographic Requirement:

  • Beneficiaries must live or study in Greater London

What They Don't Fund

  • Direct grants to individuals (only through partner institutions)
  • Organizations outside Greater London
  • Major capital projects
  • Postgraduate study (except exceptional MA cases)
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Governance and Leadership

The foundation is overseen by 9 trustees who serve in a voluntary capacity with no remuneration. The charity has no employees earning over £60,000 annually, indicating a lean operational structure focused on maximizing grant distribution.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Applications are only accepted from organizations that have been invited to apply by the RFSA Foundation.

For New Organizations:

  • Contact the Foundation Secretary to discuss eligibility before attempting to apply
  • Review the foundation's funding criteria and priorities
  • Organizations must have beneficiaries who live or study in Greater London

Annual Funding Cycle (for invited institutions):

  • March 1: Invitations sent to approved organizations
  • May 1: Application deadline
  • June: Awards decided and applicants notified
  • September: Approved grants deployed for the academic year
  • October 1: Deadline for grant claim forms (submitted following the end of the academic year)

Current Partner Institutions

The foundation currently works with nine organizations across London:

  • Birkbeck University of London
  • City & Guilds of London Art School
  • City Lit
  • London Metropolitan University
  • Morley College London
  • Richmond and Hillcroft Adult Community College
  • University of Arts London
  • Working Men's College London
  • Mary Ward College

Decision Timeline

  • Invitation to Decision: Approximately 3 months (March invitation, June decision)
  • Decision to Fund Deployment: Approximately 3 months (June decision, September deployment)
  • Total Timeline: Applications submitted in spring cannot be deployed until the following September academic year, with claims processed the following winter

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly available. However, the foundation supported 100-200 students annually over the past five years through 47 grants to partner institutions.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation operates on an annual invitation cycle. Organizations that have previously received funding are typically invited to reapply each year in March.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates through an invitation-only model, the following factors are critical for organizations seeking to become partners:

For Educational Institutions Seeking Partnership:

  • Geographic Alignment: Must serve beneficiaries who live or study in Greater London - this is non-negotiable
  • Course Focus: Offer vocational, BTEC, HND, foundation, or first-degree courses in arts and design, or informal learning that provides access to formal education
  • Student Demographics: Demonstrate ability to identify and support students facing financial barriers, particularly those affected by pregnancy, childbirth, caring responsibilities, or parenthood
  • Administrative Capacity: Must be able to manage the grant application and claims process on behalf of students, including meeting strict deadlines (May 1 application, October 1 claims)

What the Foundation Values (based on student testimonials and stated priorities):

  • Programs that enable students to reduce working hours to focus on studies
  • Support that provides confidence and encouragement alongside financial assistance
  • Interventions that prevent students from having to leave their programs due to financial hardship

Student Testimonials Highlight Impact:

  • “The RFSA bursary gave me the confidence to reduce my working hours, making it possible for me to complete my degree this year.” - BA History of Art student, Birkbeck
  • “The bursary has made me appreciate the course more...I feel supported, encouraged and also wanted.” - Textile Foundation student, Morley College
  • “Before receiving the bursary my financial support was very limited as I lived on £30 a week. Now I am able to focus entirely on my course.” - Fashion Contour student, London College of Fashion

Claims Process Requirements:

  • Organizations must submit claim forms by October 1 following the academic year
  • The foundation provides guidance documents and lists of common omissions to help ensure successful submissions
  • Support is available from the Foundation Secretary for organizations needing help with claims

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-Only Model: This is not a funder you can apply to directly - organizations must be invited or contact the Foundation Secretary to discuss eligibility first
  • Geographic Restriction is Absolute: Only organizations serving beneficiaries in Greater London are eligible
  • Long Lead Time: Applications submitted in spring cannot be used until September, requiring significant advance planning
  • Student-Centered Focus: The foundation prioritizes removing financial barriers for students who might otherwise be unable to complete their studies
  • Administrative Readiness Required: Partner institutions must manage the application process on behalf of students and meet strict deadlines
  • Preference for Access and Equity: The foundation's historical mission focuses on supporting those who face barriers to arts education, particularly women and those with caring responsibilities
  • Modest Individual Grants, Broad Impact: While individual bursaries are relatively small (£750-£1,500), the foundation supports 100-200 students annually
  • Partnership Approach: The foundation works with a stable cohort of 9 partner institutions rather than constantly adding new partners
  • Contact Before Applying: Organizations not currently in the partnership should contact the Foundation Secretary as a first step rather than submitting unsolicited applications

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