The Alchemy Foundation

Charity Number: 292500

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M

Geographic Focus: Throughout England And Wales

Stay updated on changes from The Alchemy Foundation and other funders

Get daily notifications about new funding opportunities, deadline changes, and programme updates from UK funders.

Free Email Updates

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: £159,000 (2023/24)
Success Rate: Not publicly available
Decision Time: Not specified (rolling applications)
Grant Range: Typically £1,000 average
Geographic Focus: UK and overseas (England and Wales registration)

Contact Details

Address:

Sir Richard Stilgoe OBE and Lady Annabel Stilgoe OBE

The Alchemy Foundation

Trevereux Manor

Trevereux Hill

Limpsfield Chart

Oxted, Surrey RH8 0TL

Phone: 01883 0000000

Website: None (the Foundation does not maintain a website)

Email: Not publicly available

Note: The Foundation does not maintain a website or public email. Further information is available on the Charity Commission website and in the Foundation's annual accounts.

Overview

The Alchemy Foundation was established as The Starlight Foundation in 1985 and renamed The Alchemy Foundation on 2 June 1987. Founded by Sir Richard Stilgoe OBE DL, the renowned songwriter, lyricist, musician and broadcaster, the Foundation is funded primarily through royalties from the American productions of Starlight Express and The Phantom of the Opera. With annual grant-making totalling £159,000 in 2023/24 and total income of £300,505, the Foundation focuses on making a lasting difference to young people while continuing to support causes it has helped in the past. The Foundation's income stream improved after COVID-19 but has not returned to former levels. Sir Richard Stilgoe was knighted in the 2012 Birthday Honours for charitable services through the Alchemy Foundation. The charity operates throughout England and Wales and is run day-to-day by Sir Richard Stilgoe and Lady Annabel Stilgoe OBE, both trustees.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Grants Programme

Capital and revenue grants averaging £1,000
Available for UK registered charities working in the UK and/or overseas
Applications accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year

The Alchemist Scheme (Flagship Programme)

The Foundation's primary initiative
Supports the costs of fundraisers assigned to other charities
Helps partner organizations with their fundraising efforts
Receives approximately half of the Foundation's available funding
Current recipients include Surrey Care Trust, Youth Music, WaterAid, and Child Rescue Nepal

Priority Areas

The Foundation's objectives are particularly focused on:

Disability: Particularly mobility, access, helplines and communications
Social Welfare: Work with young carers and social welfare organizations
Prisons and Penal Reform: Work with prisoners, especially young prisoners, and their families
Water Projects: Water and sanitation projects in the developing world (primarily through WaterAid)
Individual Enterprise: Supporting Raleigh International, Project Trust and similar organizations to give opportunities to young people according to need
Medical Research and Aid: Especially in areas of blindness and disfigurement
Young People: Current primary focus is on making a lasting difference to young people

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. However, applicants should note:

A substantial proportion of total funds are allocated as repeat grants for projects previously supported
The amount available for supporting new projects is therefore limited
No trustees receive remuneration, indicating focus on charitable distribution

Ready to write a winning application for The Alchemy Foundation?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The charity currently has 11 trustees, including:

Sir Richard Stilgoe OBE DL (Chair of Trustees) - Songwriter, lyricist, musician and broadcaster; knighted in 2012 for charitable services through the Foundation; also President of Surrey Care Trust in Woking
Lady Annabel Stilgoe OBE - Co-runs the day-to-day activities of the charity with Sir Richard
Professor Dr Jack Stilgoe
Rufus Stilgoe

Governance Policies

The Foundation has established comprehensive governance including:

Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Investing charity funds policy and procedures
Risk management procedures
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
Trustee expenses policy and procedures

No trustees receive any remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity. The Foundation meets regularly to review requests for grant support.

The charity operates under a trust deed dated 14th August 1985 and supplemental deeds of 2nd June 1987 and 17 June 1996.

Quote from Leadership

Sir Richard Stilgoe on founding the Foundation: "Like many people I saw Michael Buerk's report from Ethiopia in October 1984... So Annabel and I were in a position to support the Appeal, and we did."

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications may be made at any time in writing, addressed to:

Sir Richard Stilgoe OBE and Lady Annabel Stilgoe OBE

The Alchemy Foundation

Trevereux Manor

Trevereux Hill

Limpsfield Chart

Oxted, Surrey RH8 0TL

Important Notes:

The Foundation does not maintain a website or email address
Applications must be submitted in writing by post
UK registered charities only
Rolling application process (no fixed deadlines)

Decision Timeline

The Foundation meets regularly to review requests for grant support. Specific decision timelines are not publicly available.

Success Rates

Success rates and application statistics are not publicly available. However, applicants should be aware that:

A substantial proportion of total funds are allocated in the form of repeat grants for projects previously supported
The amount available for supporting new projects is limited
Competition for new grants is likely to be high given limited availability

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly specified. However, the Foundation's preference for repeat grants to previously supported projects suggests that successful grantees may have opportunities for ongoing support.

Application Success Factors

While the Foundation does not publish specific application guidance, research suggests the following factors may be important:

Alignment with Priority Areas:

Projects focused on young people are currently prioritized
Disability projects, particularly those addressing mobility, access, helplines and communications, align with core objectives
Water and sanitation projects in developing countries (the Foundation has a long-term relationship with WaterAid)
Prison and penal reform work, especially with young prisoners
Support for carers

Types of Organizations Funded:

The Foundation supports organizations that give opportunities to young people according to need (Raleigh International, Project Trust)
Partner charities through the Alchemist Scheme include Surrey Care Trust, Youth Music, WaterAid, and Child Rescue Nepal
Disability charities
Organizations working in prisoner education and rehabilitation

Realistic Expectations:

Average grant size is £1,000
Recognition that new applicants face competition from repeat funding commitments
Understanding that the Foundation's income has not fully recovered to pre-COVID levels

Personal Connection:

The Foundation is closely managed by the trustees (Sir Richard and Lady Annabel Stilgoe)
The personal involvement of the founders suggests applications that clearly demonstrate impact may resonate
Sir Richard's background in the arts and disability advocacy may be relevant context

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Focus on youth impact: The Foundation's current priority is “making a lasting difference to young people” - ensure your application clearly demonstrates this if applicable
Manage expectations on grant size: Average grants are £1,000, so this funder is best suited for smaller project costs or contributions to larger initiatives
Recognize repeat funding priority: Substantial funds go to repeat grants for previously supported projects, so new applicants face limited availability
Traditional application process: No website, email, or online portal - applications must be submitted by post, suggesting a more traditional, relationship-based approach
Align with specific priorities: Disability (especially mobility/access), water projects, prison reform, and support for carers are established funding areas beyond youth focus
Consider the Alchemist Scheme: If your organization needs fundraising capacity, the flagship Alchemist Scheme might be more relevant than a direct grant
Be patient and persistent: The Foundation's income has not fully recovered from COVID-19 impacts, but they continue to operate and support causes they value