The Canada-uk Foundation

Quick Stats

• Charity Number: 1168630
• Annual Income: £7,012 (2024)
• Annual Expenditure: £110,330 (2024)
• Grant Range: £1,500 - £2,000+ per award
• Geographic Focus: United Kingdom (primarily England and Wales)
• Application Status: Not currently accepting unsolicited applications
• Legal Structure: Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO - Foundation)

Contact Details

Address: Canada House, 5 Trafalgar Square, London SW1Y 5BJ

Email: admin@canadaukfoundation.org

Phone: 07432650487

Website: www.canadaukfoundation.org

Alternative Contact: info@mapleleaftrust.com (Maple Leaf Trust operations)

Overview

THE CANADA-UK FOUNDATION (operating as the Canada-UK Foundation and Maple Leaf Trust) was registered as a charity on 5 August 2016, with its constitution last amended on 30 August 2024. The Foundation celebrates 50 years of promoting Canada in the United Kingdom through education, having evolved from The Foundation for Canadian Studies in the United Kingdom (charity number 267927), which transferred funds to the organization in September 2020.

The Foundation's mission is to broaden perspectives and encourage new thinking and collaboration on issues that build stronger links between Canada and the United Kingdom. Led by CEO Wanda Hamilton, FRSA, MCIOF, the Foundation takes a strategic approach to creating partnerships linking academic and non-academic worlds to foster understanding of Canada and its contributions across a wide range of subjects.

With annual expenditure of £110,330 against income of £7,012 (as of July 2024), the Foundation operates primarily through partnerships and strategic relationships. The organization maintains 12 trustees and 14 volunteers, with no paid staff receiving remuneration. In 2020, the Foundation formalized its working relationship with the Canada Memorial Foundation, sharing staff resources and co-developing education and academic strategies.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Doctoral Studentships

• Award: £2,000 per annum for full-time students (pro-rata for part-time)
• Duration: Renewable up to 3 years full-time (or equivalent part-time)
• Purpose: Support doctoral research containing a substantial Canadian element at UK universities
• Application: Through university nomination only - individual applicants cannot apply directly
• Requirements: Appropriate Canadianist supervision and resources must be available at the institution

2. Research Visit Awards

• Purpose: Assist faculty and doctoral students pursuing Canadianist research requiring a visit to Canada
• Duration: Minimum one-week research visit to Canada
• Eligibility: UK-salaried academic staff or registered postgraduate students at UK universities
• Application: Not currently accepting unsolicited applications

3. Conference Support Grants

• Award: Maximum £1,500
• Purpose: Supplementary funding for conferences concentrating on Canadian themes or examining such themes in comparative perspective with the UK and/or EU
• Application: Not currently accepting unsolicited applications

4. Seed Funding

• Award: Up to £2,000
• Purpose: Early-stage grants to help organizations grow and flourish in their efforts to promote Canada and Canadian cultures and values in the UK
• Application: Occasional, not currently accepting unsolicited applications

5. Eccles Centre Canada-UK Foundation Fellowship

• Management: Administered by the Eccles Centre at the British Library
• Purpose: Supports two researchers to use Canadian collections at the British Library
• Coverage: Flights, accommodation, and research time at the Library
• Eligibility: Academic researchers and creative practitioners working on scholarly research or artistic/cultural projects
• Application: Check both Foundation and British Library websites for funding windows

6. Cambridge Postdoctoral Fellowship for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

• Management: Managed by the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (OPdA) at University of Cambridge
• Launched: June 2018
• Purpose: Develop skills for postdoctoral researchers to become successful innovators and entrepreneurs
• Focus: Science, technology, and entrepreneurship exchanges between UK and Canadian centers of excellence
• Eligibility: Postdoctoral staff with current contracts at University of Cambridge or partner institutions
• Benefits: International expert network connections and entrepreneurial facilitation in Canada and UK

7. Partnership with Canada Memorial Foundation

• Post-doctoral fellowships
• Scholarships for Canadian students studying in the UK
• Awards promoting life-changing educational journeys

Priority Areas

• Canadian studies and Canadianist research
• Education about Canada's culture, heritage, history, and Indigenous groups
• Environmental and climate sustainability (including Arctic Alive program)
• Innovation and entrepreneurship in science and technology
• Comparative studies examining Canadian themes in UK/EU context
• Building academic and cultural bridges between Canada and the UK
• Support for Canadian veterans and their families in the UK

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the Foundation's narrow focus suggests they do not fund:

• Research or projects without a substantial Canadian element
• Applications from individuals not affiliated with UK universities (for academic awards)
• Projects outside their educational and Canadian studies mandate
• Organizations or projects with no connection to Canada-UK relations

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Governance and Leadership

Chief Executive Officer

Wanda Hamilton, FRSA, MCIOF

• CEO of the Canada-UK Foundation
• Canadian by birth, Londoner by choice
• Over 25 years in the charitable sector with senior leadership positions in Canadian and British charities
• Early career in communications, media relations, and as special assistant/advisor to two Canadian Cabinet Ministers
• Graduate of Carleton University, Ottawa
• Recognized by Said Business School, Oxford University as an Outstanding Alumna (2019) following completion of their Advanced Management and Leadership programme (2015)

Quote: “By sharing the best of Canada, and the best of the UK, the Foundation plays a critical role in building bridges between nations... Bridges which ultimately lead to greater understanding, collaboration, and healthy thriving communities.”

Board of Trustees

William Swords - Chair, Board of Trustees and Executive Committee

Matthew Grisoni - Executive Director at CGI and member of its UK Cabinet

Jonathan - Professor of Comparative Pathology at the University of Cambridge

Steven Lowe - CEO of Lowe Strategic Inc

Simon Anderson - Ex Officio (observer) to Board of Trustees; Public Programmes Officer at the High Commission of Canada in the United Kingdom

Additional Team Members: Gabrielle Shaw, Sandy Di Yu (London-based Canadian writer, artist and PhD researcher)

The charity maintains 12 trustees total, none of whom receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The organization operates with 14 volunteers and no paid employees.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Important: The Canada-UK Foundation is not currently accepting unsolicited applications.

For Doctoral Studentships: Universities must nominate candidates. Individual applicants cannot apply directly. Contact your UK university's graduate school or funding office about the nomination process. Any PhD degree-granting institution in the UK may apply for a studentship, provided appropriate Canadianist supervision and resources are available.

For Other Programs: The Foundation operates primarily through:

• Partnership programs (Eccles Centre, Cambridge, Canada Memorial Foundation)
• Strategic relationships and collaborations
• Invitation and nomination processes

Partnership Program Applications:

• Eccles Centre Fellowship: Check both the Canada-UK Foundation website and British Library website for funding window announcements
• Cambridge Fellowship: Apply through the University of Cambridge Office of Postdoctoral Affairs when calls are open

Getting on Their Radar

While the Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, organizations and researchers interested in their support should consider:

For Academic Institutions:

• Ensure you have appropriate Canadianist supervision and research resources
• Develop relationships with the Foundation through Canadian studies programs
• Contact the Foundation to discuss potential studentship nominations before applying

For Researchers:

• Work through your UK university's funding office for doctoral studentship nominations
• Monitor partner institutions (British Library Eccles Centre, University of Cambridge) for fellowship opportunities
• Engage with Canadian studies networks and conferences in the UK

For Organizations:

• The Foundation seeks partnerships that promote Canada and Canadian values in the UK
• Focus on educational impact and building understanding between Canada and the UK
• Consider how your work aligns with their 50-year history of promoting Canadian-UK collaboration

Key Contact: The High Commission of Canada in the United Kingdom maintains connections to the Foundation through Simon Anderson (Public Programmes Officer), who serves as an observer to the Board of Trustees.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly available as the Foundation does not currently operate rolling or fixed deadline application processes for most programs. Partner programs (Eccles Centre, Cambridge) maintain their own timelines:

• Eccles Centre Fellowship: Announced periodically - check websites for current cycle
• Cambridge Fellowship: Historic deadline example was June 2018; check OPdA for current cycles

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available. The Foundation's low income relative to expenditure (£7,012 income versus £110,330 expenditure in 2024) suggests they operate primarily through strategic partnerships and targeted support rather than open competitive processes.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the current “not accepting unsolicited applications” status. For partnership programs, reapplication policies would be set by the partner institutions (British Library, University of Cambridge).

Application Success Factors

Given the Foundation's closed application process, success factors relate primarily to strategic positioning and partnership development:

For University Nominations (Doctoral Studentships):

• Substantial Canadian Element: Research must have clear, significant Canadian focus - not peripheral or tangential
• Institutional Resources: Universities must demonstrate appropriate Canadianist supervision and research resources
• Research Quality: Well-qualified applicants conducting rigorous doctoral research
• Strategic Timing: Contact your university's funding office early in your PhD planning process

For Partnership Program Applications:

• Alignment with Canadian Studies: Projects must foster understanding of Canada and its contributions
• Academic or Creative Excellence: Both scholarly research and artistic/cultural projects are considered
• Transnational Approach: Comparative perspectives between Canada, UK, and/or EU are valued
• Clear Connection to Collections/Resources: For Eccles Centre, demonstrate how British Library Canadian collections support your work

Strategic Considerations from Foundation Leadership:

• Wanda Hamilton emphasizes building bridges between nations for “greater understanding, collaboration, and healthy thriving communities”
• The Foundation values partnerships that link academic and non-academic worlds
• Projects should demonstrate broad strategic focus across subjects, not narrow specialization
• Innovation and entrepreneurship in science and technology are priority areas (evidenced by Cambridge partnership)
• Climate and environmental sustainability (Arctic Alive program) represent emerging priorities

Working with the Foundation:

• The Foundation operates with minimal income but significant expenditure, suggesting reliance on endowments and strategic partnerships
• With no paid staff, relationships and networks are critical to their operation
• The Canada Memorial Foundation partnership demonstrates their collaborative approach
• The 2020 merger with The Foundation for Canadian Studies shows they consolidate resources strategically

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Not Currently Open: The Foundation explicitly states they are not accepting unsolicited applications - do not submit proposals directly
• Work Through Institutions: For doctoral studentships, your UK university must nominate you; build relationships with your graduate school funding office
• Partnership Focus: The Foundation operates through strategic partnerships (Cambridge, British Library, Canada Memorial Foundation) rather than open grant-making
• Canadian Element Essential: All programs require substantial Canadian content - this is non-negotiable for eligibility
• Modest Award Amounts: Individual awards range from £1,500-£2,000, with doctoral studentships at £2,000 annually - this is supplementary funding, not full support
• Monitor Partner Sites: If interested in fellowship opportunities, watch the British Library and University of Cambridge websites for funding cycles
• Long-Term Strategy: With 50 years of history and recent organizational consolidation, the Foundation takes a strategic, relationship-based approach to funding
• Leadership Values: CEO Wanda Hamilton's emphasis on “building bridges” and “collaboration” suggests applications should demonstrate bilateral benefits and partnership potential

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Maple Leaf Trust
• HUO FAMILY FOUNDATION (UK) LIMITED
• THE CLIVE RICHARDS FOUNDATION
• THE WINSTON CHURCHILL MEMORIAL TRUST
• Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851
• THE GREAT BRITAIN SASAKAWA FOUNDATION
• The Aldgate and Allhallows Foundation
• The British Academy for the Promotion of Historical Philosophical and Philological Studies
• Cambridgeshire Community Foundation
• Gilchrist Educational Trust

References

1. Charity Commission Register of Charities - THE CANADA-UK FOUNDATION (Charity Number 1168630)

https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5075386

Accessed: January 2026

1. Canada-UK Foundation Official Website

https://www.canadaukfoundation.org/

Accessed: January 2026

1. Canada-UK Foundation - What We Fund

https://www.canadaukfoundation.org/our-award-programmes

Accessed: January 2026

1. Canada-UK Foundation - Our Mission

https://www.canadaukfoundation.org/our-mission

Accessed: January 2026

1. Canada-UK Foundation - Our Team

https://www.canadaukfoundation.org/our-team-1

Accessed: January 2026

1. Canada-UK Foundation - Eccles Centre Canada-UK Foundation Fellowship

https://www.canadaukfoundation.org/eccles-centre-canada-uk-foundation-fellowship

Accessed: January 2026

1. Canada-UK Foundation - Cambridge Postdoctoral Fellowship Launch

https://www.canadaukfoundation.org/events/the-canada-uk-foundation-launches-postdoctoral-fellowship-for-innovation-and-entrepreneurship-with-the-university-of-cambridge

Accessed: January 2026

1. University of Cambridge - Canada UK Postdoctoral Fellowships for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

https://www.opda.cam.ac.uk/career-development/CanadaUK-fellowships

Accessed: January 2026

1. British Library - Eccles Centre Canada-UK Foundation Fellowship

https://blogs.bl.uk/americas/

Accessed: January 2026

1. Charici - The Canada-UK Foundation Overview

https://www.charici.org/the-canada-uk-foundation

Accessed: January 2026

1. PRWeb - The Canada UK Foundation Launches Postdoctoral Fellowship for Innovation and Entrepreneurship with the University of Cambridge

https://www.prweb.com/releases/the_canada_uk_foundation_launches_postdoctoral_fellowship_for_innovation_and_entrepreneurship_with_the_university_of_cambridge/prweb15568604.htm

Accessed: January 2026

1. Maple Leaf Trust Website

https://www.mapleleaftrust.com/

Accessed: January 2026