The Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £12.5+ million (Dec 2023 round alone)
• Success Rate: Not disclosed
• Decision Time: Applications reviewed at quarterly grants meetings
• Grant Range: £5,000 - £2,250,000
• Geographic Focus: England, Wales, Isle of Man, Republic of Ireland

Contact Details

Website: www.albertgubayfoundation.org

Phone: 0161 703 7992

Email: enquiries@theagfoundation.org

Address: 3 Denmark Street, Altrincham WA14 2SS

Overview

Established in 2008 by Welsh businessman Albert Gubay and registered as a charity in 2021, The Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation has become one of the UK's major grant-making organizations. Following Gubay's death in 2016, his £500 million property empire was bequeathed to generate perpetual charitable income. Since receiving its assets in 2016, the Foundation has awarded over 770 grants totaling more than £88 million to registered charities across England, Wales, the Isle of Man, and the Republic of Ireland. The Foundation's mission focuses on “changing the lives of people most in need” through strategic grant-making, with particular emphasis on supporting vulnerable populations and the Roman Catholic Church.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation operates three distinct funds:

• General Fund: £5,000 - £2.25 million (currently closed until October 2025, rolling basis when open)
• British Church Fund: For Roman Catholic charities in England, Wales, and Isle of Man (application by invitation)
• Irish Church Fund: Currently closed to applications

Most grants typically range from £20,000 to £50,000, with some larger multi-year grants available.

Priority Areas

Current funding focuses on:

• Victims of modern slavery (journey to independent living)
• Victims of domestic abuse (emergency safety and support)
• Ex-offenders and families (supporting return to work)
• Homelessness (especially young people)
• Medical research (AMRC member charities)
• Terminal illness and life-limiting conditions
• Care leavers
• Drug and substance misuse recovery
• Intellectual disability support
• Amateur sport
• Elderly care
• Worship and community outreach

What They Don't Fund

• Individual applicants or single-person benefit projects
• Non-registered organizations
• Work primarily the responsibility of statutory bodies
• Political organizations
• Animal welfare charities
• Organizations with annual expenditure over £10 million (General Fund)
• Charities currently holding a grant or applied within last 12 months

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Governance and Leadership

The Foundation is governed by trustees with “absolute discretion” over funding decisions. The trustee structure includes The Albert Gubay Trustee Limited, with senior staff costs representing 8% of total spending and the highest pay band at £150,000-£200,000. Trustees balance current and future beneficiary needs while maintaining investment strategies for long-term sustainability.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

1. Complete online eligibility test at www.albertgubayfoundation.org
2. If eligible, receive Salesforce digital application link with deadline
3. Submit completed application before grants meeting deadline
4. Undergo assessment and discussion with grants team
5. Decision made at quarterly grants meeting
6. If successful, grant agreement drawn up with monitoring procedures

Applications must be submitted digitally - postal or email applications are not accepted.

Decision Timeline

• Quarterly grants meetings for decision-making
• Specific timelines provided after passing eligibility test
• Assessment period includes discussion with grants team before trustee review

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. The December 2023 round received over 50 applications for £12.5 million distributed among 20+ organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations cannot reapply within 12 months of their last application or while holding an existing grant.

Application Success Factors

Key Success Elements Based on Recent Awards:

• Clear demonstration of supporting vulnerable populations
• Strong track record of service delivery
• Projects enabling independent living and self-sufficiency
• Measurable outcomes and impact reporting capability
• Alignment with current priority areas, particularly modern slavery and domestic abuse support

Recent Successful Projects:

• SHAPE (£40,000): Women's homelessness support with independence-building focus
• Down Syndrome Cheshire (£60,000): Employment training for individuals with disabilities
• St Patrick's Church (£498,456): Community hub repairs serving people in poverty

Application Language: The Foundation values projects that “develop and maintain inspiring work” and focus on “changing lives of people most in need.”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Complete eligibility test thoroughly - this is the crucial first gateway
• Emphasize independence-building outcomes - particularly relevant for modern slavery and domestic abuse priorities
• Target vulnerable population support - align with current priority areas for strongest consideration
• Demonstrate measurable impact - Foundation tracks outcomes across its £88 million in grants awarded
• Ensure charity registration compliance - must be registered with appropriate regulators in target regions
• Plan for monitoring requirements - successful applicants must comply with grant agreement reporting procedures
• Consider multi-year funding - larger grants may include funding for up to 3 years

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• Edith Murphy Foundation
• Medical Research Council
• Garfield Weston Foundation
• The Scottish Government
• Awards for All
• THE BRIDGE TRUST
• BENEFACT TRUST LIMITED
• The Liz and Terry Bramall Foundation
• Medical Research Foundation
• Fight for Sight
• The Thompson Family Charitable Trust
• THE HOSPITAL SATURDAY FUND
• The Alborada Trust
• THE ZOCHONIS CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Edward Gostling Foundation
• BBC Children in Need
• THE HDH WILLS 1965 CHARITABLE TRUST
• National Lottery
• HELP FUND
• GET OUT

References

• Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation official website (www.albertgubayfoundation.org)
• Quarterly Funding Report December 2023, Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation
• Charity Commission for England and Wales, Charity Details 1193970
• Action Together funding database entry for Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation
• Bath and North East Somerset Council funding finder information
• National Churches Trust support organization listings
• Accessed: September 26, 2025