The Borrow Foundation

Charity Number: 1060308

Annual Expenditure: £0.9M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £931,000 (charitable activities expenditure)
  • Success Rate: 21% (18 projects funded from 87 applications in 2022)
  • Decision Time: Up to 20 weeks (approximately 5 months from deadline)
  • Grant Range: Variable (£1 million awarded across 18 projects = average ~£55,000 per project)
  • Geographic Focus: International (focus on low- and middle-income countries)

Contact Details

Website: www.borrowfoundation.org

Email: enquiries@borrowfoundation.org

Phone: 023 9226 2222

Address: The Borrow Foundation, Padnell Grange, Padnell Road, Waterlooville, Hampshire, PO8 8ED

Overview

The Borrow Foundation was established in 1971 by Dr. Edgar Borrow, a farmer and mechanical engineer interested in delivering fluoride to children through milk fluoridation programmes. Originally focused on milk fluoridation as an alternative to water fluoridation, the Foundation has significantly expanded its scope over the past decade. The charity is now a globally-focused grant-making organisation with total annual income of £1.8 million and charitable expenditure of £931,000. The Foundation's mission is to promote the improvement of oral health, primarily in children, through the prevention of oral diseases, with a firm focus on population oral health and reducing inequalities within and between countries. In 2022, the Foundation awarded approximately £1 million across 18 projects in 12 countries, demonstrating its commitment to international oral health improvement.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation operates rolling calls for grant applications and has recently aligned its priorities with the WHO Global Oral Health Action Plan (2023-2030). In their most recent funding round (2022), they awarded £1 million across 18 projects selected from 87 applications.

Application Method: Rolling basis with periodic calls for applications

Priority Areas

The Foundation is particularly interested in proposals for:

  • Population-based programmes: Implementation and evaluation of sustainable programmes/projects targeted at areas of greatest need to reduce inequalities
  • Health policy development: Projects that could influence or inform the review and development of health policy and strategies, including oral health needs assessments
  • Prevention research: Research studies that strengthen the evidence base for preventing dental diseases, including clinical trials and population-based research
  • Fluoride interventions: Use of fluorides in preventing dental caries (remains a core priority)
  • Diet and nutrition: Prevention of oral disease through improved diet and nutrition
  • Implementation research: Projects aligned with the WHO Global Oral Health Action Plan, particularly for child population oral health in low- and middle-income countries
  • Capacity building: Developing dental public health capacity in underserved regions

Geographic Priority: Projects in low- and middle-income countries are prioritized, with recent grants awarded in Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Chile, Indonesia, Iran, Lithuania, Montenegro, Romania, Singapore, Switzerland, UK, and Vanuatu.

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the Foundation's focus is clearly on:

  • Prevention (not treatment)
  • Children's oral health (not general adult dentistry)
  • Population-level interventions (not individual clinical care)
  • Research and policy development (not service delivery alone)
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

  • Professor Andrew Rugg-Gunn (Chair) - Represents the Foundation at international meetings including WHO Global Oral Health meetings
  • Professor Lorna Macpherson - Active in Foundation representation
  • Professor Tim Newton
  • Professor Jukka Meurman
  • Mr. Nigel Borrow - Active in Foundation representation

The Foundation maintains political and financial independence in its grant-making decisions. The charity employs 10 staff members to support its operations.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Foundation announces periodic calls for grant applications on their website. Interested applicants should:

  1. Review current priorities on the Foundation website (www.borrowfoundation.org)
  2. Check the “Funding opportunities” page for active calls
  3. Submit applications by the published deadline
  4. Contact enquiries@borrowfoundation.org with questions

The Foundation welcomes innovative ideas to improve oral health through disease prevention, even beyond their stated priorities.

Decision Timeline

Based on the 2023 call:

  • Application deadline: November 1st
  • Decision notification: By March 31st (approximately 5 months/20 weeks later)
  • Typical timeline: Up to 20 weeks from deadline to decision

Success Rates

In 2022, the Foundation received 87 applications and funded 18 projects, representing a success rate of approximately 21%.

This competitive success rate reflects the Foundation's rigorous selection process and high standards for projects that can meaningfully advance oral health prevention.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly available. Unsuccessful applicants should contact the Foundation at enquiries@borrowfoundation.org for guidance on reapplying in future funding rounds.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with WHO Global Oral Health Action Plan

The Foundation has explicitly stated that applications aligned with the WHO global oral health strategy and action plan will be viewed favourably. Understanding the WHO's strategic objectives for 2025-2030 is critical for applicants.

Focus on Implementation and Evaluation

The Foundation prioritizes projects that don't just implement programmes but also evaluate their effectiveness, providing evidence that can inform future policy and practice.

Addressing Inequalities

Projects must clearly demonstrate how they target areas of greatest need and address oral health inequalities within or between countries. The Foundation has specifically supported initiatives allowing participation from least-developed countries.

Recent Projects Funded

Examples of Foundation-supported work include:

  • Milk fluoridation programmes in Chile and Thailand
  • Longitudinal oral health surveys in Cambodia
  • Early childhood caries research in Cambodia
  • The Lancet Commission on Oral Health (27 experts from 16 countries)
  • Global Consortium for Oral Health Birth Cohort Studies (GLOBICS)
  • Digital oral health survey covering 86 countries
  • Scoping review of upstream policy interventions (UCL)

Strategic Partnerships

The Foundation values collaboration with established organizations including:

  • WHO (World Health Organization)
  • FDI (World Dental Federation)
  • IADR (International Association for Dental, Oral and Craniofacial Research)
  • EADPH (European Association of Dental Public Health)
  • National health agencies and academic institutions

Application Language and Terminology

Use terminology that emphasizes:

  • Prevention over treatment
  • Population health over individual care
  • Reducing inequalities and addressing disadvantaged groups
  • Evidence-based approaches
  • Sustainability of interventions
  • Policy influence and systems change

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Competitive but achievable: With a 21% success rate, applications must be exceptionally well-aligned with Foundation priorities
  • Think globally: International projects, especially in low- and middle-income countries, are strongly preferred
  • Align with WHO: Explicitly connect your project to the WHO Global Oral Health Action Plan strategic objectives
  • Focus on children: While the Foundation has expanded its scope, children's oral health remains the primary focus
  • Emphasize prevention: Treatment projects are unlikely to be funded; focus on preventing oral diseases through population-level interventions
  • Build evaluation in: Projects must demonstrate clear evaluation methodologies to strengthen the evidence base
  • Plan for the long term: The Foundation values sustainable programmes that can inform policy and be scaled up
  • Don't ignore fluoride: While the Foundation has expanded beyond fluoride, it remains a priority intervention area
  • Allow sufficient time: With a 5-month decision timeline, plan your project timeline accordingly

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