St Lukes College Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Approximately £50,000 in personal awards annually
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 8 weeks (notification by June 30th, applications close May 1st)
• Grant Range: Not specified - varies by individual circumstances
• Geographic Focus: UK national with preference for South-West England

Contact Details

• Website: www.StLukesCF.org.uk
• Email: director@StLukesCF.org.uk
• Phone: 01803 782031
• Address: Correspondence to the Director

For application enquiries, contact the Director with brief details about yourself and your plans.

Overview

St Luke's College Foundation (Charity Number 306606) was established in 1977 following the closure of St Luke's College, Exeter in 1976. The proceeds from the sale of the college premises were used to endow this Church of England grant-making trust. The Foundation advances higher and further education in Religious Education and Theology through three main activities: maintaining St Luke's Chapel and providing Anglican Chaplaincy at the University of Exeter (in partnership with the Diocese of Exeter), making personal awards to individuals for postgraduate studies and research, and providing corporate awards to universities and institutions. The Trustees earmark more than a quarter of the Foundation's annual income—approximately £50,000 per annum—for personal grants. With total annual income of £239,862 (2023-24), the Foundation is governed by 12 trustees who meet twice yearly and is a member of the Association of Church College Trusts.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Personal Awards

• For postgraduate studies in Theology or Religious Education
• Support for Masters degrees and PhD research
• Primary focus on serving clergy, ministers, church workers, and RE teachers
• Limited support available for full-time PhD students
• Normally only available to UK-based students at UK institutions
• Application method: Annual cycle, rolling applications accepted January 1st - May 1st

Corporate Awards

• Small, short-term grants to university theology and RE departments
• Focus on “pump-priming initiatives” that can demonstrate success to attract longer-term funding
• Support for enhancing institutional capacity in theological and religious education
• Application method: Annual cycle, same timeline as personal awards

St Luke's-Farmington Scholarships

• Jointly awarded with the Farmington Institute
• For RE teachers or associated subjects in secondary schools
• For primary school RE coordinators
• Must be located in South-West England
• Covers tuition, essential local travel, and replacement teacher salary (up to point 6 of main pay scale)
• Requires two years at current school and written head teacher support
• Application method: Separate application through Farmington Institute website

Priority Areas

• Postgraduate research and taught qualifications in Theology
• Postgraduate studies in Religious Education
• Professional development for serving clergy and church workers
• RE teacher development and training
• University-level theological education initiatives
• Pump-priming projects that can attract future funding
• South-West England regional benefit (preferred)

What They Don't Fund

• Buildings or capital projects
• Institutional bursaries for administration
• Direct support to schools (though teachers taking eligible studies are supported)
• International students
• PGCE Secondary RE qualifications
• Undergraduate studies
• Studies in subjects other than Theology or Religious Education
• First-come-first-served applications (quality-based assessment only)

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Governance and Leadership

Chair of Trustees: Revd Professor Gina Radford

Governance Structure:

• 12 Trustees who meet twice yearly
• Day-to-day management delegated to the Director
• Small group of “Scrutineers” (trustees elected in rotation) review applications and make grant recommendations
• Investments managed through CCLA Investment Management Limited
• Regulated by the Charity Commission under a Scheme sealed on 17 February 1977

Leadership Philosophy:

The Trustees do not predetermine the kinds of studies or initiatives they are prepared to support; rather, they review all applications which appear to be within the charitable Object, in order to be aware of unmet needs and respond to the quality of the application. Regarding the recently completed St Luke's Chapel renovation project, Professor Radford “offered sincere thanks to all those involved in bringing the project to its glorious fruition, and to the University for its collaboration.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: From January 1st annually, email Director@St-Lukes-Foundation.org.uk with:

• Brief details about yourself
• Your study/research plans
• Your postal address

Step 2: Receive Application Pack (not sent after April 10th)

Step 3: Complete and return application by May 1st deadline

Step 4: Applications reviewed by Scrutineers

Step 5: Receive notification by June 30th

Note: Only one round of awards is made each academic year. Awards are normally tenable from September 1st.

Decision Timeline

• Application window opens: January 1st
• Last date to request Application Pack: April 10th
• Application deadline: May 1st
• Notification date: June 30th
• Award starts: September 1st (typically)
• Total timeline: Approximately 8 weeks from deadline to notification

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. The Foundation reviews all applications that appear to be within their charitable objectives, focusing on quality rather than predetermined quotas.

Reapplication Policy

Not explicitly stated. No information available on whether unsuccessful applicants can reapply or any waiting periods between applications.

Application Success Factors

Strategic Advice from the Funder

The Foundation emphasizes that “Trustees do not predetermine the kinds of studies or initiatives they are prepared to support; rather, they review all applications which appear to be within the Object, in order that they may be aware of unmet needs, and respond to the quality of the application.” This suggests applications should focus on demonstrating quality and alignment with the charitable object rather than fitting predetermined criteria.

Key Success Factors

Priority is given to:

• Serving clergy, ministers, church workers, and RE teachers undertaking studies linked to their professional role
• Pump-priming initiatives that can demonstrate success and attract longer-term funding from other bodies
• Projects with South-West regional benefit
• Postgraduate-level research and taught programmes

Application should demonstrate:

• Clear alignment with Theology or Religious Education at postgraduate level
• How the study/research connects to applicant's professional ministry or teaching role
• Quality and merit of the proposed research or study programme
• Potential impact on the field or the applicant's professional practice
• For corporate awards: how the initiative can lead to sustainable longer-term outcomes

Standing Out

• Frame applications around unmet needs in theological or RE education
• Demonstrate how funding will enable professional development that directly benefits your ministry or teaching
• For corporate awards, show clear path to future sustainability and additional funding
• Emphasize regional benefit to South-West England where applicable
• Articulate quality and academic rigour of proposed studies

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Annual cycle only: With just one funding round per year and a tight window (January-May), plan well ahead and don't miss the April 10th cutoff for requesting application materials.

• Quality-based assessment: The Foundation explicitly does not use predetermined criteria but assesses quality—focus your application on demonstrating excellence and clear alignment with Theology/RE advancement rather than ticking boxes.

• Professional context matters: Personal awards prioritize serving clergy, ministers, church workers, and RE teachers—applications should demonstrate how studies connect to professional ministry or teaching practice.

• Think pump-priming for institutions: Corporate awards favour initiatives that can demonstrate success and attract longer-term funding from other sources, not ongoing operational support.

• Regional preference exists: While not an absolute requirement, benefit to the South-West region is expected and may strengthen applications.

• Strict subject boundaries: The Foundation only funds Theology and Religious Education at postgraduate level—closely related subjects like church history or ethics must be clearly framed within these disciplines.

• No predetermined quotas: Since trustees don't set quotas for types of studies, strong applications in any area within the Object have a chance—don't self-select out if your proposal is high quality.

References

1. St Luke's College Foundation Official Website - About Page. https://stlukescf.org.uk/about/

1. St Luke's College Foundation Official Website - Awards Page. https://stlukescf.org.uk/awards/

1. St Luke's College Foundation Official Website - St Luke's/Farmington Scholarship. https://stlukescf.org.uk/2023/01/st-lukes-farmington-scholarship/

1. St Luke's College Foundation Official Website - St Luke's Chapel Project. https://stlukescf.org.uk/2023/04/st-lukes-chapel-project/

1. UK Charity Commission Register - ST LUKES COLLEGE FOUNDATION (306606). https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/306606

1. Religious Education Council - St Luke's College Foundation Member Profile. https://religiouseducationcouncil.org.uk/member/st-lukes-college-foundation/

1. Postgraduate Studentships - St Lukes College Foundation Opportunities. https://www.postgraduatestudentships.co.uk/opportunity/st-lukes-college-foundation/13301

1. Farmington Institute - St Luke's-Farmington Scholarships. http://www.farmington.ac.uk/index.php/st-lukes-farmington-scholarships/