The Carman Family Foundation

Charity Number: CUSTOM_C7FA3FCA

Annual Expenditure: £0.3M

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Quick Stats

  • Charity Number: SC048053
  • Annual Giving: £225,000-£525,000 (varies significantly year to year)
  • Grant Range: Small local grants to major donations (£500,000 largest known)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Dunblane and Stirling area; selective national environmental projects
  • Decision Time: Not publicly specified (informal application process)
  • Established: January 2018

Contact Details

Address: Ault Wharrie, Ardnablane, Dunblane, FK15 0NU

Email: carman.foundation@gmail.com

Website: None

Note: The Foundation does not have a formal website or online application portal. Contact should be made directly via email.

Overview

The Carman Family Foundation is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) established in January 2018, originally registered as “BC Sport, Education and Conservation” before changing its name in November 2018. The Foundation is based in Dunblane and operates across multiple local authority areas in Scotland. Since mid-2018, the Foundation has owned Holmehill, a 13-acre greenspace in central Dunblane overlooking the cathedral, which serves as their flagship biodiversity project.

The Foundation's primary mission is to improve the environment in public areas, with a strong emphasis on enhancing biodiversity and encouraging public knowledge and enjoyment of enhanced natural spaces. While the Foundation has a local focus on Dunblane-area projects, they have also made significant contributions to major environmental initiatives across Scotland and Wales, most notably pledging £500,000 to the Langholm Moor Community Buyout in 2020—one of Scotland's largest community land acquisitions for nature restoration.

The Foundation's expenditure has varied significantly: £214,321 (2021), £524,075 (2022), £225,765 (2023), and £361,693 (2024), reflecting their approach of supporting both small community projects and major strategic conservation initiatives.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation operates an informal grant-making approach without structured programs or fixed deadlines. Known funding activities include:

  • Local Dunblane Environmental Grants: Small to medium grants for community groups, charities, and others working to improve public areas for wildlife in Dunblane (grant amounts not specified but described as covering “justified costs”)
  • Major Strategic Donations: Significant one-off contributions to major land acquisition and conservation projects (e.g., £500,000 to Langholm Moor)
  • Application Method: Rolling basis via email expression of interest to carman.foundation@gmail.com

Priority Areas

Environmental Enhancement & Biodiversity

  • Improving public areas to benefit wildlife (insects, birds, amphibians, mammals)
  • Creating or restoring meadows, woodland, and wetland habitats
  • Planting trees and native species
  • Creating ponds and water features
  • Land acquisition for nature reserves and conservation

Community Engagement with Nature

  • Projects that combine biodiversity enhancement with public access and education
  • Initiatives that help people gain knowledge and enjoyment from enhanced natural spaces
  • Community-led environmental improvements

Climate and Nature Crisis Response

  • Nature restoration projects
  • Community buyouts of land for conservation purposes
  • Tackling climate breakdown through nature-based solutions

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, based on their charitable purposes and funding patterns, the Foundation appears to prioritize:

  • Projects outside their geographic focus areas (primarily Dunblane/Stirling for small grants)
  • Projects without clear biodiversity or environmental benefits
  • Individual benefit rather than community/public benefit
  • Projects that don't involve volunteers or community engagement
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees: Bill Carman and Celia Carman

The Foundation is trustee-managed with a hands-on approach to their projects. Bill Carman, speaking about the Langholm Moor buyout, stated: "We're delighted to be helping bring this special area into the ownership of people who take biodiversity – both flora and fauna – seriously." This quote reflects the Foundation's values of supporting committed conservation practitioners and evidence-based nature restoration.

The trustees live in Dunblane and have direct involvement in their flagship project at Holmehill, demonstrating a preference for projects where they can see tangible local impact.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Foundation operates an informal, relationship-based application process:

  • What you want to do
  • Where the project is located
  • What the benefits would be (especially for biodiversity)
  • Estimated costs with justification
  1. Volunteer Involvement: The Foundation strongly prefers work done by volunteers to reduce overall costs, though they will cover other justified costs including machinery hire
  1. Public Benefit: Applications must clearly demonstrate public benefit
  1. No Formal Application Portal: There is no online application system or formal application forms

Decision Timeline

Not publicly specified. The informal nature of the application process suggests decisions are made on a case-by-case basis rather than through regular funding rounds.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. The Foundation does not publish data on application volumes or success rates.

Reapplication Policy

Not specified. Given the informal application process and relationship-based approach, unsuccessful applicants should contact the Foundation directly to discuss future opportunities.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Foundation's stated priorities and funded projects, successful applications likely demonstrate:

1. Clear Biodiversity Benefits

The Foundation has explicitly stated they want to “improve those areas so wildlife (insects, birds, amphibians, mammals) will follow.” Successful projects should articulate specific, measurable benefits for wildlife.

2. Public Access and Education

The Foundation was established “to assist with projects that both enhance biodiversity and encourage people to gain knowledge and enjoyment from the newly enhanced land.” Projects combining conservation with community engagement are favored.

3. Community and Volunteer Involvement

The Foundation explicitly prefers “work done by volunteers, so reducing the cost overall.” Strong volunteer engagement appears to be a key selection criterion.

4. Strategic Conservation Impact

The Foundation's support for major projects like Langholm Moor (£500,000) and Pentwyn Farm demonstrates willingness to fund ambitious, transformative conservation initiatives that address the nature and climate crises at scale.

5. Commitment to Long-term Nature Restoration

Bill Carman's statement about supporting “people who take biodiversity – both flora and fauna – seriously” suggests the Foundation looks for evidence-based approaches and genuine conservation commitment rather than token green projects.

Examples of Funded Projects:

  • Langholm Moor Community Buyout (£500,000): 10,500-acre land acquisition to create nature reserve, tackle climate breakdown, and support community regeneration
  • Pentwyn Farm, Radnorshire Wildlife Trust: Support for 164-acre upland farm purchase for nature restoration
  • Holmehill, Dunblane: 13-acre greenspace owned and managed by the Foundation

Suggested Project Types for Local Dunblane Grants:

  • Turning grassy areas into meadows
  • Planting trees to increase environmental value
  • Creating ponds

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Geographic Focus Matters: Small to medium grants appear focused on Dunblane/Stirling area, while major strategic funding extends nationally for exceptional conservation opportunities
  1. Keep Initial Contact Simple: Start with a single paragraph expression of interest covering what, where, benefits, and costs—don't overwhelm with detailed proposals initially
  1. Emphasize Biodiversity Outcomes: Be specific about how your project will benefit wildlife (insects, birds, amphibians, mammals) with measurable outcomes where possible
  1. Demonstrate Volunteer Engagement: Show how volunteers will be involved to keep costs down while building community ownership
  1. Think Long-term: The Foundation owns and manages Holmehill as an ongoing project, suggesting they value sustained impact over short-term interventions
  1. Consider Strategic Partnerships: The Langholm Moor and Pentwyn Farm projects show the Foundation will support major land acquisitions and community buyouts that create lasting conservation assets
  1. No Deadline Pressure: The rolling application process means you can approach the Foundation when your project is ready, but also means competition may be ongoing

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References