The Anthony V Martin Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £325,779 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not specified (applications considered at regular trustee meetings)
• Grant Range: Small to larger grants (examples: £10,000-£15,000)
• Geographic Focus: UK and international animal welfare (no geographic restrictions)

Contact Details

• Website: www.anthonyvmartinfoundation.org
• Email: theavmfoundation@gmail.com (for pre-application discussion with heading “Grant Application for [Your Charity Name]”)
• Phone: 020 8782 1600
• Registered Charity Number: 1085753

Overview

The Anthony V Martin Charitable Foundation (AVM Foundation) was established in March 2001 by Anthony Martin, a retired recruitment industry leader. Since its founding, the Foundation has raised and donated in excess of £8 million to charities and organisations working on animal rescue, treatment, rehabilitation, and education programmes. The Foundation is entirely self-funded by Anthony Martin and does not seek external donations. In 2022, Anthony Martin was awarded a CBE (Commander of the British Empire) for his charitable services to animal welfare. The Foundation's mission is to improve the lives of animals and prevent their suffering wherever possible, without restriction as to geography. In its 2023 financial year, the Foundation had an income of £194,723 and made grants totaling £325,779.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation offers grants on a rolling basis through an online eligibility quiz followed by a full application form. There are no fixed deadlines.

• Capital Projects: Primary funding preference - for buildings, vehicles, and equipment
• Education Programmes: Animal welfare education initiatives considered
• Running Costs: Occasionally funded, though not the preference

Grant amounts vary from small to larger grants. Recent examples include £10,000 to WECare Worldwide (Sri Lanka street dogs) and £15,000 to StreetVet (veterinary care for homeless people's pets).

Priority Areas

The Foundation funds UK registered charities working in the UK and/or overseas to:

• Improve the lives of animals and prevent their suffering
• Provide rescue, treatment, and rehabilitation services for animals
• Deliver animal welfare education programmes
• Support people to care for their animals
• Create mutually beneficial relationships between people and animals

Recent grants have supported projects including CNVR programmes, hedgehog rescue facilities, equine dental equipment, therapeutic horsemanship, horse rescue barns, and anti-rabies vaccination programmes across multiple countries including Thailand, Egypt, Sri Lanka, and Georgia.

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are listed on their application page, the Foundation has made clear that:

• Trustees prefer individual projects over ongoing operational costs
• They seek projects with “deliverable outcomes for the animals”
• For overseas work, they prefer organisations registered in the UK or with a partnership/association with a UK registered charity

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Governance and Leadership

Founder and Chair:

• Anthony Victor Martin CBE (appointed March 2001): Founder of the Foundation and retired recruitment industry leader. Inducted into multiple professional halls of fame. Awarded CBE in 2022 for charitable services. Received his CBE from King Charles III at Windsor Castle in February 2023.

Trustees:

• Peter Egan (appointed September 2017): British actor (Downton Abbey) and prominent animal rights activist. Longtime vegan and ambassador for Animals Asia Foundation, Saving Suffering Strays, and other animal welfare organisations. Also trustee of Saving Strays charity and Wildlife and Conservation Foundation.

• Jennifer (Jenny) Impey (appointed September 2023): Philanthropy and regulatory compliance expert with experience in grant-making.

• Carolyn Jane Trevivian (appointed December 2022): Third sector professional.

• Paul Faber (appointed June 2023): Managing partner at Landau Morley LLP Chartered Accountants.

Key Quote from Foundation:

“The Trustees are more sympathetic to individual projects rather than just supporting ongoing costs” - this ensures grant funding has deliverable outcomes for the animals.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The AVM Foundation accepts applications through a two-step online process:

1. Eligibility Quiz: Applicants must first complete an Eligibility Quiz on the Foundation's website (www.anthonyvmartinfoundation.org/apply-for-grant-funding)
2. Full Application: Eligible applicants are then given access to the Trust's application form

Pre-Application Discussion: Applicants are encouraged to discuss proposals before applying by emailing theavmfoundation@gmail.com with the heading “Grant Application for [Your Charity Name]”

Requirements:

• UK registered charities (or overseas organisations with UK charity partnerships/associations)
• New organisations must provide audited or independently examined accounts if they haven't yet submitted an annual return to the Charity Commission
• Applicants are expected to have applied to other grant-making trusts and organisations for financial support for their project

Decision Timeline

Applications are considered at regular meetings of the trustees. Specific timeframes from submission to decision are not publicly available.

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Applicants can only re-apply a minimum of 24 months from the date of the conclusion of the previous application process, except in exceptional circumstances subject to Trustees' approval. This is a strict policy designed to ensure fair access to funding.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Foundation's documented preferences and recent grant awards, key success factors include:

Project Focus:

• The Foundation strongly prefers capital projects (buildings, vehicles, equipment) over running costs
• Projects must demonstrate “deliverable outcomes for the animals” - tangible, measurable impact
• Individual, discrete projects are favoured over general operational support

Geographic Considerations:

• While the Foundation works globally, overseas projects should ideally be delivered by UK registered charities or through UK charity partnerships
• Recent grants show strong international reach (Thailand, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Georgia, Zimbabwe)

Types of Projects Funded:

Recent successful grants provide insight into Foundation priorities:

• CNVR (Catch, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return) programmes
• Infrastructure development (rescue facilities, barns, “hogspitals”)
• Specialist equipment (dental equipment for working animals)
• Veterinary care programmes (for street animals, homeless people's pets)
• Therapeutic animal programmes involving vulnerable people

Application Approach:

• Pre-application contact is welcomed - use it to test alignment before investing time in a full application
• Demonstrate evidence of broader fundraising efforts (requirement to have applied to other grant-makers)
• Provide proper financial documentation (audited/examined accounts for newer organisations)

What to Avoid:

• Applications solely for general running costs
• Organisations without clear UK charity registration or UK partnership (for overseas work)
• Reapplying within 24 months of a previous application conclusion

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Capital projects are king: Focus applications on buildings, vehicles, or equipment rather than running costs
• Show tangible outcomes: Trustees want to see deliverable results for animals - be specific about what will change
• Contact them first: Pre-application discussion is actively encouraged via email
• Think internationally: Despite UK registration, the Foundation has no geographic restrictions and actively funds global animal welfare
• Be patient: The 24-month reapplication restriction means you need to get it right first time or wait two years
• Demonstrate due diligence: Show you've approached other funders - they expect applicants to be proactive in fundraising
• UK connection matters: For overseas work, having UK charity status or a UK partner organisation is strongly preferred

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Beryl Evetts and Robert Luff Animal Welfare Trust Limited
• The Belforte Trust
• The Gerrick Rose Animal Trust
• Animal Rescue Foundation Limited
• The Patrick Rowland Foundation
• THE IVO TRUST
• The Ostacchini Family Charitable Trust
• C A Redfern Charitable Foundation
• The Blyth Watson Charitable Trust
• PERSULA FOUNDATION

References

• The Anthony V Martin Charitable Foundation official website: www.anthonyvmartinfoundation.org
• UK Charity Commission Register, Charity Number 1085753: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1085753
• Bath and North East Somerset Council Funding Finder: https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/funding-finder/anthony-v-martin-charitable-foundation
• Wendover News: "Tony Martin awarded CBE in Queen's Birthday Honours List" (2022)
• Bucks Herald: “Wendover man shares delight at meeting King Charles III after being awarded a CBE for animal welfare work” (2023)
• Financial data from UK Charity Commission returns for year ending 31 March 2023