The Aldama Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £1,004,572 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Geographic Focus: National (UK) with emphasis on major cultural institutions

Contact Details

Address: 4th Floor, 7 Swallow Street, London, W1B 4DE

Email: charity@mfs.co.uk

Phone: 020 7907 2100

Charity Number: 1126791

Trustee: Dickinson Trust Limited

Note: No public website available. The foundation does not appear to have a formal public application process.

Overview

The Aldama Foundation is a UK registered charity (charity number 1126791) established on 19 November 2008. The foundation operates as a grant-making organization, with Dickinson Trust Limited serving as its sole trustee. With annual grant-making of approximately £1 million, the foundation focuses on supporting other charities and art foundations, particularly those involved in conservation and preservation work. The foundation does not undertake direct charitable activities but awards grants to a number of institutions. The foundation has emerged as a significant supporter of major UK cultural institutions, with particular emphasis on conservation projects at the National Gallery, Royal Academy of Arts, and other prestigious art organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through discretionary grant-making rather than structured application programs. Known funding streams include:

• Fellowship Funding: Multi-year support for specialized conservation and scientific fellowships at major institutions
• Conservation Projects: Support for important conservation and framing projects
• National Conservation Programme: Funding for conservation work at the National Gallery and publicly accessible collections across the UK

Priority Areas

The Aldama Foundation actively funds:

• Art Conservation: Conservation and preservation of paintings and artworks in publicly accessible collections
• Museum Fellowships: Creation of specialized fellowship positions for early career conservators and scientific researchers
• Cultural Heritage: Support for major UK cultural institutions including the National Gallery, Royal Academy of Arts, and National Portrait Gallery
• Arts Infrastructure: Framing acquisitions and technical examination of artwork
• Research and Training: Development opportunities for graduate students and early career professionals in conservation

Known beneficiaries include:

• National Gallery, London (National Conservation Programme, Aldama Conservation Fellow, Aldama Scientific Fellow)
• Royal Academy of Arts
• National Portrait Gallery
• CareTrade (charitable organization supporting autistic young people)
• Ulster Museum (conservation of Peruzzi's 'Nativity')
• Barber Institute (restoration of Frans Hals portrait)
• William Morris Gallery (conservation of 16th-century French panel)

What They Don't Fund

Based on the foundation's documented activities, they appear to focus exclusively on:

• Established cultural institutions rather than grassroots organizations
• Arts and conservation projects rather than other charitable sectors
• UK-based organizations (though operations note “national and overseas” in governing documents)

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Governance and Leadership

Trustee: Dickinson Trust Limited (incorporated 3 July 1926)

Registered Address: 4th Floor, 7 Swallow Street, London, W1B 4DE

The foundation operates with a single corporate trustee, Dickinson Trust Limited, which exercises “absolute and uncontrolled discretion” over grant-making decisions according to the foundation's charitable objects. The trustees receive payments or benefits for providing services to the charity.

Key Fellowship Holders:

• Silvia Tagliante, Aldama Conservation Fellow at the National Gallery - a graduate student in paintings and furniture conservation from the University of Turin with experience at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Rijksmuseum. Tagliante states: “Every morning I come into work thrilled by the opportunity of working on amazing pictures.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Aldama Foundation does not appear to operate a formal public application process. There is no website, online portal, or published application guidelines.

Based on the foundation's pattern of grant-making, support appears to be provided through:

• Proactive identification of projects by trustees
• Invitation-only relationships with major cultural institutions
• Strategic partnerships with established organizations

Organizations seeking funding should consider:

• Direct inquiry to charity@mfs.co.uk or the registered address
• Building relationships through the major cultural institutions already supported
• Networking through trustees or board members of known beneficiaries

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. The foundation makes grants both on a one-off and recurring basis.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The foundation does not disclose application numbers or success rates.

Reapplication Policy

Unknown. No public information available regarding reapplication policies or restrictions.

Application Success Factors

While the foundation does not publish application guidance, analysis of funded projects reveals key success factors:

Focus on Institutional Excellence: The foundation supports prestigious, well-established cultural institutions with national significance. Organizations should demonstrate:

• Strong institutional reputation and governance
• National or regional cultural significance
• Professional conservation standards and expertise

Conservation Impact: Successful projects emphasize:

• Preservation of culturally significant artwork for public benefit
• Professional conservation treatments using current best practices
• Enhancement of publicly accessible collections
• Research and technical examination contributing to conservation knowledge

Fellowship and Training Elements: The foundation shows particular interest in:

• Creating development opportunities for early career professionals
• Supporting graduate students in conservation disciplines
• Enabling specialized training at world-class institutions
• Building conservation capacity in UK cultural sector

Strategic Alignment: Recent projects suggest preference for:

• Work connected to major cultural events or celebrations (e.g., National Gallery Bicentenary)
• Collections lacking resources for conservation treatments
• Projects with cross-institutional benefits through the National Conservation Programme

Quote from Aldama Conservation Fellow Silvia Tagliante: “Every morning I come into work thrilled by the opportunity of working on amazing pictures” - suggesting the foundation values creating meaningful opportunities for emerging professionals.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Invitation-based funding: The foundation does not operate an open application process; support appears to be proactively identified by trustees or developed through strategic institutional partnerships
• Focus on major institutions: Track record shows exclusive support for nationally significant cultural organizations with established reputations
• Conservation specialization: Primary focus is art conservation, preservation, and technical examination of artwork in public collections
• Fellowship model: Strong interest in creating named fellowship positions that provide professional development for early career conservators and scientists
• Long-term partnerships: Evidence of recurring grant relationships suggests the foundation prefers sustained engagement over one-off funding
• Discretionary approach: With “absolute and uncontrolled discretion” in grant-making, trustees have complete flexibility in selecting beneficiaries
• Limited public information: Absence of website or published guidelines means research into past grants and networking with current beneficiaries is essential for understanding funding priorities

References

• Charity Commission for England and Wales, “THE ALDAMA FOUNDATION - Charity number 1126791,” Register of Charities, https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1126791&subid=0
• National Gallery, London, “The Aldama Foundation | The Gallery nationwide,” https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/about-us/the-gallery-nationwide/the-aldama-foundation
• Royal Academy of Arts, “Philanthropy,” https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/trusts-and-foundations
• Giving is Great, “THE ALDAMA FOUNDATION | Charity Factsheet,” https://givingisgreat.org/database/charity-factsheet/?regNo=1126791
• CareTrade, “Partners,” https://care-trade.org/partners/
• Iperion HS, “Aldama Scientific Fellow position at the National Gallery in London, UK,” https://www.iperionhs.eu/aldama-scientific-fellow-position-at-the-national-gallery-in-london-uk/
• National Portrait Gallery, “Supporters - Van Dyck,” https://www.npg.org.uk/whatson/van-dyck/supporters
• British Museum, “Aldama Foundation,” Collections Online, https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG182510