The Allen Lane Foundation

Charity Number: 248031

Annual Expenditure: £0.7M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £736,729 (2023/24)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 2-6 months
  • Grant Range: £500 - £15,000
  • Average Grant: £5,000 - £6,000
  • Geographic Focus: UK-wide (excluding Greater London)
  • Application Cycle: Rolling basis (trustees meet February, June, October)

Contact Details

Address: York, YO30 7XZ

Website: www.allenlane.org.uk

Email: info@allenlane.org.uk

Phone: 01904 613223

Pre-application Support: Email encouraged if unsure about eligibility or have queries about making an application

Overview

The Allen Lane Foundation is a family trust established in 1966 by Sir Allen Lane, founder of Penguin Books. In 2023/24, the Foundation committed £736,729 across 146 grants, with total funds of approximately £22 million. The Foundation focuses exclusively on funding small organizations working with specific groups that experience marginalization and/or discrimination. They operate seven targeted funding programmes and pride themselves on offering flexible, meaningful support including core and unrestricted funding. The Foundation aims to make a lasting difference to people's lives, reduce isolation, stigma and discrimination, and encourage marginalized groups to share in community life. They are particularly interested in unusual, imaginative or pioneering projects which have perhaps not yet caught the public imagination, supporting “unpopular” causes that might not attract funding elsewhere.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation operates seven distinct funding programmes:

  1. Asylum Seekers and Refugees - Supports refugees, asylum seekers and refused asylum seekers, including those held in detention, with focus on women-only projects. Funds practical and emotional support, English classes, destitution support, hosting/accommodation projects, and drop-in costs.
  1. Violence and Abuse - Supports people who are, or have in the past been, affected by violence or abuse including rape and sexual abuse, domestic abuse, stalking, trafficking, prostitution and modern slavery, honour-based abuse, female genital mutilation, and forced marriage.
  1. Criminal Justice - Funds groups working with offenders in prisons and in the community, with focus on women.
  1. Gypsy, Roma & Traveller Communities - Supports groups from within these communities and organizations that work to benefit them.
  1. Older People - Focused on projects that benefit isolated elderly people (generally aged 70+) including those with dementia.
  1. Mental Health - Funds mental health charities and projects that benefit people with moderate or severe mental health issues. Includes befriending and mentoring projects, peer support and self-help groups, therapeutic arts activities, gardening and horticulture projects, and provision of advice, information and advocacy.
  1. Young People (ages 12-21) - Focuses on those persistently absent from school, those leaving school with no qualifications, and children and young people in/leaving care.

Grant Details:

  • Maximum grant: £15,000 (can be over 1, 2, or 3 years)
  • Average grant: £5,000 - £6,000
  • Minimum observed: £500
  • Application method: Rolling basis via online portal with eligibility quiz

Priority Areas

Within their seven programmes, the Foundation prioritizes work that:

  • Makes a lasting difference to people's lives (not just alleviating symptoms)
  • Reduces isolation, stigma and discrimination
  • Encourages marginalized groups to share in the life of the whole community
  • Supports “unpopular” causes that may not attract funding elsewhere
  • Is unusual, imaginative or pioneering
  • Addresses root causes rather than symptoms

The Foundation strongly supports core and unrestricted funding to enable organizations to have flexibility, security and longevity, though they can also contribute to project costs or salaries.

Eligibility Requirements

Organization Size:

  • Local groups (village, estate, or town): annual income/expenditure under £100,000
  • County-wide, regional or UK-wide groups: annual income under £250,000

Organization Type:

  • Registered charities
  • Constituted voluntary groups
  • Some Community Interest Companies (CICs)
  • Not individuals or statutory bodies

What They Don't Fund

Organization Types:

  • Individuals
  • Schools, colleges, universities
  • NHS bodies
  • Town/city/county councils
  • Single nationality community groups

Activities and Costs:

  • Addiction and substance misuse
  • Animal welfare
  • Annual/one-off events or festivals
  • Capital grants
  • Children and young people (except through Young People's Programme ages 12-21)
  • Endowments or contributions to other grant-making bodies
  • General arts, cultural, or language projects
  • General health or healthcare
  • Holidays, play-schemes, or day-trips
  • Medical research
  • Museums or galleries
  • One-to-one counseling or therapy
  • Overseas travel
  • Physical or learning disabilities
  • Private/mainstream education
  • Property purchase or refurbishment
  • Publications
  • Historic building restoration
  • Sports and recreation
  • University or post-graduate education
  • Vehicle purchases
  • Work deemed the responsibility of the state
  • Retrospective work (already completed before grant agreed)
  • Work solely within Greater London
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

Fredrica Teale (Chair) - Grand-daughter of Allen Lane, voice coach and medieval historian. Trustee since 2002.

Zoë Teale - Eldest grand-daughter of Allen Lane, trustee since early 1990s. Studied at Oxford University and London School of Economics. Published writer.

Clara Mulcare - Great-granddaughter of Allen Lane, Marketing Executive. Studied Education and Psychology with particular interest in teenage mental health.

Amberley Carter - 30 years experience in education, Volunteer Coordinator for The Bank of Dreams and Nightmares.

Michael Firth - Investment management experience, managed Foundation's investments from 2010-2021. Economics degree from UCL.

Maurice Frankel OBE - Director of Campaign for Freedom of Information since 1987. Received OBE for services to open government in 2004.

Claire Hitchcock - Corporate responsibility and philanthropy leader. Previously Director of Global Health Programmes at GSK.

Philip Walsh - CFO at Mind. Chartered accountant with background in museum financial leadership (Design Museum, RAF Museum, Wallace Collection).

Five of the eight trustees are members of Sir Allen Lane's family.

Staff

Gill Aconley (Director) - Joined Foundation in 2001. Previous roles in London and Manchester. Lives in North Yorkshire Moors.

Foundation Philosophy

The Foundation views charities as “the experts in what they do” and tries to offer flexible and meaningful grants. As stated in their guidance: they aim to support “important work that might not attract funding elsewhere” and focus on helping organizations "make a lasting difference to people's lives“ while reducing ”isolation, stigma and discrimination."

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Online Application System:

  1. Complete the online eligibility quiz on the Foundation's website (www.allenlane.org.uk/applying-for-funding/)
  2. If eligible, you will be directed to the online application form
  3. Applications can be saved and returned to multiple times
  4. Apply as soon as ready - applications processed year-round

Support Available: If unable to use the online system or have queries, applicants are encouraged to email info@allenlane.org.uk for clarification.

Application Timing: Rolling basis - you can apply anytime throughout the year. The Foundation processes applications continuously.

Decision Timeline

  • Initial response: Within 2 weeks (either progressing application or providing update)
  • Total processing time: 2-6 months from submission to decision
  • Trustee meetings: Three times per year, generally February, June, and October
  • Notification: Applicants receive updates throughout the process

Success Rates

While specific success rates are not publicly disclosed, the Foundation received 535 applications in 2023/24 and made 146 grants, suggesting an approximate 27% success rate. However, this figure should be treated cautiously as it may include applications deemed ineligible at the initial stage.

2023/24 Statistics:

  • Applications received: 535
  • Grants awarded: 146
  • Total value: £736,729
  • Average grant: £5,046

Reapplication Policy

If your application is refused, you must leave a 12-month gap before applying again.

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Foundation

The Foundation emphasizes applicants should:

  • "Thoroughly read through the grant-makers' information... to ensure that they fit the criteria"
  • Check their list of exclusions carefully
  • Review case studies on their website to understand their funding history
  • Email if unsure about eligibility rather than submitting an ineligible application
  • Apply as soon as ready rather than waiting for a specific deadline

What the Foundation Values

The Foundation stated they are looking for work that:

  • Makes a "lasting difference to people's lives" rather than simply alleviating symptoms
  • Supports “unpopular” causes that may struggle to secure funding elsewhere
  • Is “unusual, imaginative or pioneering” and may not yet have caught public imagination
  • Addresses root causes of marginalization and discrimination
  • Enables organizations to become sustainable

Recent Funded Projects (Examples)

Asylum Seekers and Refugees: After 18, Conversation over Borders, Stockport Refugee Group, Doulas Without Borders, Asylos, Crossings, Open Hearts Open Borders

Mental Health: The Black Dog Music Project, East Fife Mental Health Befriending Project, Benefit Advice Shop, We are Aware, Men's Advice Recovery Support BPD Group

Violence and Abuse: Meadows Children and Family Wing, The Saffires Project, Action Against Stalking, Male Survivors Partnership

Key Language and Terminology

The Foundation uses terms like:

  • “Marginalized groups”
  • “Unpopular causes”
  • “Lasting difference”
  • “Reducing isolation, stigma and discrimination”
  • “Share in the life of the whole community”
  • “Core/unrestricted funding”

Applicants should demonstrate how their work aligns with these concepts.

Standing Out

  • Emphasize the marginalization of your beneficiary group and why the work may be “unpopular” or difficult to fund
  • Focus on systemic change and lasting impact rather than temporary relief
  • Highlight how you're addressing root causes
  • Demonstrate clear fit with one of their seven programmes
  • Be specific about beneficiary demographics (the Foundation has very targeted criteria)
  • Request core/unrestricted funding if appropriate - the Foundation actively supports this
  • Show how you'll help beneficiaries “share in the life of the whole community”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Size matters: Only organizations under £100,000 income (local) or £250,000 (national) are eligible. Ensure you meet these thresholds before applying.
  1. Fit within the seven programmes: Your work must clearly align with one of the seven specific beneficiary groups. The Foundation is very targeted in its focus.
  1. Think long-term impact: Emphasize how your work creates lasting change and addresses root causes rather than symptoms. Avoid projects that simply alleviate temporary need.
  1. Embrace the “unpopular”: If your cause faces discrimination or struggles to attract funding, make this explicit. The Foundation actively seeks work others won't fund.
  1. Request core funding: Don't be afraid to ask for unrestricted/core costs. The Foundation explicitly values this type of support and wants to help organizations become sustainable.
  1. Check exclusions thoroughly: The Foundation has an extensive exclusions list. Review it carefully - many otherwise strong applications fail due to falling into excluded categories.
  1. Geographic restriction: Remember the Greater London exclusion. If any of your work is in London, you're ineligible.
  1. Apply when ready: Don't wait for a deadline. Applications are processed continuously, so apply as soon as you're ready. Initial feedback comes within 2 weeks.
  1. Use the eligibility quiz: Complete the online quiz before investing time in a full application. This filters out ineligible applications early.
  1. Wait 12 months if rejected: Plan accordingly if you receive a refusal, as you cannot reapply for one full year.

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