The Barbara Ward Children's Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £472,860 (2023)
• Success Rate: 6% (19 of 337 applications approved in 2022)
• Decision Time: Variable (may involve site visit)
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £15,000
• Geographic Focus: UK and international (18 countries supported)

Contact Details

Address: c/o Weightmans LLP, 100 Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L3 9QJ

Phone: 0345 073 9900

Email: info@bwcf.org.uk

Website: www.bwcf.org.uk

Charity Number: 1089783

Overview

The Barbara Ward Children's Foundation was established in December 2001 and has since become a significant supporter of smaller children's charities worldwide. Since registration, the Foundation has reviewed over 7,000 grant requests and authorized grants exceeding £11.4 million to more than 450 organizations. The Foundation's mission is to support smaller non-religious charities serving severely disadvantaged children anywhere in the world where grants are likely to make a real difference. In 2023, the Foundation awarded 82 grants totaling £472,860, ranging from £1,000 to £13,000. The Foundation maintains a strong financial position with total income of £541,066 in 2024, primarily from investments (£388,100) and donations (£150,560).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Core Grants: £1,000 - £15,000 (applications accepted on rolling basis)
• Written applications accepted at any time
• No fixed deadlines
• Site visits may be conducted as part of approval process

Priority Areas

The Foundation welcomes applications from organizations supporting:

• Children who are seriously or terminally ill
• Underprivileged and disadvantaged children
• Children with special needs
• Mentally handicapped adults

Recent funding has supported organizations working in:

• Health and wellbeing
• Sport, play and leisure
• Support, care and respite

The Foundation has made grants throughout the UK and internationally in Barbados, Belarus, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Kosovo, Malawi, Nepal, the Philippines, Romania, Russia, Thailand, Uganda, Ukraine, and Zambia.

What They Don't Fund

• Religious charities (explicitly excluded)
• Organizations receiving statutory funding
• Organizations with high administration overheads
• Charities with annual income exceeding £2 million
• Organizations that are not financially healthy

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

The Foundation is governed by 9 trustees, all unpaid volunteers:

• Barbara Irene Ward (Chair, appointed 2001) - The Foundation's founder who established the charity at age 67
• Brian Michael Walters (appointed 2001)
• Christopher Geoffrey Brown (appointed 2014)
• David Christopher Bailey (appointed 2008)
• John Christopher Banks (appointed 2001)
• Kenneth Ralph Parker (appointed 2001)

All trustees are retired professionals who bring extensive experience to the Foundation's grant-making decisions.

How to Apply to The Barbara Ward Children's Foundation

How to Apply

Applications must be made in writing and should include:

1. Detailed description of the specific purpose for which the grant is requested
2. Copy of the applicant's latest Annual Report and Accounts

Send applications to:

The Trustees

Barbara Ward Children's Foundation

c/o Weightmans LLP

100 Old Hall Street

Liverpool, L3 9QJ

Or via email to: info@bwcf.org.uk

Applications can be submitted at any time throughout the year - there are no fixed deadlines.

Decision Timeline

• Applications accepted on rolling basis
• No specific timeline provided
• The Foundation's approval procedures may involve making a site visit to prospective beneficiaries, which will extend the decision timeline
• Successful applicants will be notified directly

Success Rates

The Foundation is highly selective in its grant-making:

• In 2022: 337 applications received, 19 approved (5.6% success rate)
• Over the Foundation's history: approximately 7,000 applications reviewed with 450+ organizations funded (6-7% historical success rate)
• In 2023: 82 grants were awarded totaling £472,860

The largest single grant in 2023 was £13,000 to REACT (Rapid Effective Assistance for Children with potentially Terminal illness).

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly documented. Given the rolling application process, unsuccessful applicants may wish to contact the Foundation directly for guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

The Foundation has clearly stated what they prioritize in their funding decisions:

Financial Health: The Foundation explicitly states it "focuses its support on financially healthy children's charities where funding is not forthcoming from statutory bodies, where incomes and fund balances are constantly put to good use and where administration overheads are kept to a minimum."

Demonstrating Impact: Applications must detail the specific purpose for which the grant is requested, suggesting that clarity about intended outcomes is crucial. The Foundation wants to see how grants will “make a real difference” for severely disadvantaged children.

Appropriate Size: With an income cap of £2 million for eligible organizations, the Foundation is specifically targeting smaller charities where their grants can have meaningful impact.

Evidence of Good Governance: By requiring the latest Annual Report and Accounts, the Foundation assesses organizational management, financial sustainability, and efficiency of operations.

Target Beneficiaries: Successful applications clearly demonstrate work with children who are seriously or terminally ill, underprivileged, disadvantaged, or have special needs.

Low Overhead Costs: The Foundation explicitly seeks organizations that keep administration overheads to a minimum, suggesting that demonstrating efficient operations is important.

Secular Focus: As the Foundation does not fund religious charities, applications should focus on the charitable purpose rather than any religious affiliation.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Highly competitive: With only a 6% success rate, applications must be exceptionally strong and well-aligned with the Foundation's priorities
• Financial efficiency matters: Demonstrate low administration costs and efficient use of resources - this is explicitly stated as a selection criterion
• Be specific about purpose: The Foundation requires detailed explanation of the specific purpose for the grant, not general operating support
• No religious affiliation: Ensure your organization is clearly non-religious in nature
• Size matters: Only organizations with income under £2 million are eligible - don't waste time if you exceed this threshold
• Include comprehensive documentation: Latest Annual Report and Accounts are mandatory - ensure these are professionally prepared and demonstrate financial health
• Prepare for potential site visit: The Foundation may visit prospective beneficiaries, so be ready to demonstrate your work in person

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Alan Sugar Foundation
• The Greenslade Family Foundation
• Edwin Fox Foundation
• Ernest Hecht Charitable Foundation
• The Geoff & Fiona Squire Foundation
• The Macfarlane Family Foundation
• Masonic Charitable Foundation
• The John S Cohen Foundation
• Clara E Burgess Charity
• The A.d. Charitable Trust

References

• Barbara Ward Children's Foundation official website, www.bwcf.org.uk
• Charity Commission Register entry for charity 1089783, https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1089783
• Barbara Ward Children's Foundation grant application page, https://www.bwcf.org.uk/grantapps
• Multiple funding directories including Funding Scotland, Funding for All, and Bath and North East Somerset Council funding finder
• Financial data from Charity Commission accounts for year ending 31 December 2023 and 2024