The Calleva Foundation

Charity Number: 1078808

Annual Expenditure: £5.7M
Geographic Focus: Throughout England

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £5,664,000 (2023)
  • Total Income: £21,920,000 (2023)
  • Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
  • Geographic Focus: London and Hampshire (UK), with selective international projects
  • Application Method: By invitation only - does not accept unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Address: PO Box 22554, London W8 5GN

Phone: 020 8638 8653

Email: contactcalleva@btopenworld.com

Note: The foundation does not accept applications from individuals or unsolicited applications.

Overview

The Calleva Foundation (Charity No. 1078808) is a private family trust established by Stephen and Caroline Butt. As of 2023, the foundation had total income of £21.92 million, primarily from donations and legacies (£21.75 million), and made charitable grants totaling £5.66 million. The foundation is committed to the advancement of a wide range of community-based projects with a specific interest in Arts, Culture, Science, and Heritage, particularly as applied to conservation. The trust operates with a highly selective approach, focusing on local community projects in London and Hampshire while also supporting international initiatives in archaeology, health sciences education, and humanitarian mapping. With retained reserves of £16.26 million as of 2023, the foundation maintains significant capital while making strategic targeted investments in organizations and projects aligned with its mission.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

The Calleva Foundation supports projects across multiple sectors:

  • Arts, Culture, Heritage, and Science: Principal supporter of the University of Reading's Silchester Iron Age Project, which has led to groundbreaking archaeological discoveries including the largest Iron Age house ever found in Britain
  • Education and Training: Funding bursaries in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Cape Town since 2006, with recent expansions to the program
  • Humanitarian Aid: Supporting organizations like MapAction for humanitarian mapping work, including funding a South Sudan data package project for COVID-19 vaccine delivery
  • Health and Saving Lives: Medical education support and health-related initiatives
  • Environment and Conservation: Heritage conservation projects
  • Disability Support
  • Overseas Aid: Selective international development projects
  • Animal Welfare

Geographic Focus

  • Primary: Local community-based projects strictly limited to London and Hampshire
  • Selective International: University of Cape Town (South Africa), humanitarian mapping projects, archaeological research

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals: The foundation explicitly states “NO APPLICATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS”
  • Unsolicited applications: Operates on an invitation-only basis
  • Projects outside London/Hampshire: Unless aligned with specific international strategic partnerships already established
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Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by 3 trustees who serve without remuneration. Stephen and Caroline Butt are the founders and primary drivers of the foundation's strategic direction, with a particular focus on heritage, conservation, and science.

The foundation operates as a small family trust with no employees receiving benefits over £60,000, and maintains a lean operational structure focused on strategic grantmaking.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Important: The Calleva Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications or applications from individuals. The foundation operates by identifying and approaching organizations directly for support.

There is no public application portal, fixed deadlines, or open application process. The foundation works through established relationships and strategic partnerships.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Given the private nature of the trust and its invitation-only approach, decision timelines are likely determined on a case-by-case basis.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept open applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation operates by invitation only.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's closed application process, success factors for potential partners include:

  • Strategic Alignment: Projects that demonstrate clear alignment with the foundation's interests in arts, culture, science, heritage, and conservation
  • Geographic Relevance: Being based in or serving communities in London or Hampshire for local projects
  • Established Relationships: The foundation appears to work with organizations it has identified through its networks
  • Scale and Impact: Projects with significant potential for discovery or impact, such as the Silchester Iron Age Project's groundbreaking archaeological findings
  • Long-term Commitment: The foundation supports multi-year initiatives (e.g., UCT bursaries since 2006, ongoing Silchester excavations)
  • Innovation in Heritage/Science: Projects that advance understanding or preservation of heritage and scientific knowledge

Known Funded Projects

  • University of Reading - Silchester Iron Age Project: Principal support for major archaeological excavation exploring Iron Age settlements across 100 square kilometers, leading to discovery of Britain's largest Iron Age house
  • MapAction: Humanitarian mapping support, including funding for the South Sudan Integrated Humanitarian Data Package for COVID-19 vaccine rollout
  • University of Cape Town Trust: Multi-year bursary program for health sciences students since 2006

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-Only Model: Do not submit unsolicited applications - the foundation identifies and approaches potential partners directly
  • Family Trust Structure: Decisions reflect the personal interests and values of Stephen and Caroline Butt, particularly in heritage, conservation, archaeology, and science
  • Long-term Strategic Partnerships: The foundation prefers sustained relationships over one-off grants (UCT support since 2006)
  • Scale of Commitment: With £5.66 million in annual giving and £16.26 million in reserves, the foundation has capacity for significant multi-year commitments
  • Geographic Specificity: For local projects, London and Hampshire focus is strictly enforced
  • Heritage and Discovery Focus: Strong preference for projects that advance knowledge, particularly in archaeology, heritage conservation, and scientific discovery
  • Quality Over Quantity: Selective approach suggests preference for fewer, larger, more impactful grants over many small grants
  • Network-Based: If your organization works in aligned areas, building connections with current or past grantees may be the only pathway to consideration

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