The Chartley Foundation

Quick Stats

• Registered Charity Number: 1154637
• Annual Income: £242,454 (2024)
• Annual Grants: £393,422 in commitments (2024), £285,024 paid
• Outstanding Commitments: £430,887
• Geographic Focus: National and local (England and Wales)
• Foundation Type: Private charitable company limited by guarantee
• Application Process: No public application process - established relationships

Contact Details

Address: 41 Eastgate Street, Stafford ST16 2LZ

Phone: 01785 503010

Email: tcf@sorbus.com

Administrative Services: Provided by Sorbus Partners LLP

Registered: 11 September 2013 (Companies House), 19 November 2013 (Charity Commission)

Overview

The Chartley Foundation is a private grant-making charitable foundation incorporated in England and Wales in September 2013. With annual grants exceeding £393,000 in 2024, the Foundation supports charitable work through its endowed investment portfolio, which generates income to fund its grant-making activities. The Foundation operates without employees, outsourcing all administrative, accounting, and investment services to Sorbus Partners LLP, a Stafford-based multi-family office. The trustees make grant decisions based on appropriate external advice, selecting beneficiaries from established relationships with national and local charities. The Foundation represents a traditional model of private philanthropy, with governance anchored by Lord Stafford and fellow trustees who receive no remuneration for their service.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation does not operate distinct grant programs but makes grants in furtherance of its charitable objectives. Grant amounts and frequency are determined by trustees on a case-by-case basis. In 2024, the Foundation made new grant commitments of £393,422 and paid out £285,024 in grants.

Priority Areas

The Chartley Foundation's charitable objects cover four main areas:

1. Arts and Culture: To promote the arts for the public benefit
2. Amateur Sport: To promote the playing of amateur sport by providing grants to encourage and improve community participation in sports which promote health by physical or mental exertion
3. Environment and Conservation: To promote for the benefit of the public the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment
4. General Charitable Purposes: Such charitable purposes for the public benefit as are exclusively charitable according to the laws of England and Wales as the trustees may from time to time determine

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but the Foundation works primarily with charities within their established network rather than responding to open applications.

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees/Directors

The Foundation is governed by up to four trustees who also serve as directors of the charitable company:

• Francis Melfort William Stafford, Lord - Trustee since 26 March 2015. Based at Chartley Hall, Stafford.
• David Edward Dunn Johnson - Trustee since incorporation (11 September 2013). Based at Chartley Hall, Stafford.
• Richard Edwin Poole - Trustee since 11 November 2019. Based at Chartley Hall, Stafford.
• Archibald Philip Thomas De Courcy Hunter - Trustee since 13 February 2024. Based at the Foundation's registered office.

Former Trustees

• Anthony Alan Reeves - Served from incorporation until resignation on 14 April 2022.

Governance Principles

No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity. The trustees obtain professional advice on asset allocation and investment management from Sorbus Partners LLP and on grant beneficiary selection and due diligence. The articles provide for not less than two nor more than four trustees.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Chartley Foundation does not have a public application process. The trustees have established relationships with national and local charities who are likely to receive ongoing grants from the Foundation. Decisions are made by trustees based on appropriate external advice, with grant due diligence provided by Sorbus Partners LLP.

The Foundation operates as a private charitable trust where grant recipients are selected by trustees rather than through competitive application rounds. This is a common model for family foundations and private charitable trusts in the UK.

Getting on Their Radar

Given the Foundation's private nature and established relationships model, there are limited documented pathways for new organizations to access funding. The connection to Stafford and Chartley Hall suggests a potential interest in Staffordshire-based charitable work, though the Foundation also supports national charities.

Organizations seeking to connect with the Foundation could:

• Contact the trustees directly via the provided email (tcf@sorbus.com) or phone (01785 503010) to introduce their work
• Consider that the trustees' connection to Chartley Hall and the Stafford area may indicate local interests
• Note that Sorbus Partners LLP provides grant due diligence services, suggesting that proposals reaching the trustees do undergo professional evaluation

However, it should be emphasized that the Foundation's model is built on established relationships rather than open solicitation of applications.

Decision Timeline

No public information is available about decision timelines, as the Foundation does not operate scheduled grant rounds. Decisions are made by trustees as appropriate throughout the year.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the Foundation does not accept open applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the Foundation works with established charity partners on an ongoing basis.

Application Success Factors

Understanding the Foundation's Model

The Chartley Foundation operates as a private charitable trust where the trustees proactively identify and support charities aligned with their charitable objects. Success in receiving funding appears to depend on:

1. Established Relationships: The Foundation's documentation explicitly states that “the trustees have established relationships with national and local charities who are likely to receive ongoing grants from the Foundation.”

1. Alignment with Charitable Objects: Organizations working in the arts, amateur sport, environmental conservation, or other charitable purposes recognized under English and Welsh law are within scope.

1. Professional Due Diligence: Sorbus Partners LLP conducts grant due diligence on behalf of the trustees (charging £14,614 for this service in 2024), indicating that proposals undergo professional scrutiny.

1. Geographic Considerations: While the Foundation supports both national and local charities, the trustees' connection to Chartley Hall and Stafford may suggest particular interest in Staffordshire-based work.

Financial Considerations

The Foundation's grant-making has increased significantly:

• 2023: £253,685 in grants paid
• 2024: £285,024 in grants paid, with £393,422 in new commitments

The Foundation maintains substantial outstanding commitments (£430,887 at year-end 2024), suggesting multi-year grant relationships with beneficiaries.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process: This Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and works through established charity relationships selected by trustees
• Private charitable model: The Foundation represents a traditional family-foundation approach to philanthropy, with governance centered on Lord Stafford and fellow trustees
• Significant grant-making: Despite its private nature, the Foundation commits nearly £400,000 annually to charitable causes
• Professional management: All administrative, investment, and due diligence services are outsourced to Sorbus Partners LLP, suggesting professional standards in grant evaluation
• Broad charitable scope: While focused on arts, sport, and environment, the fourth charitable object allows flexibility for other causes
• Multi-year commitments: Outstanding commitments of £430,887 suggest the Foundation makes substantial multi-year grants to beneficiary organizations
• Growing grant activity: Grant-making increased substantially from 2023 to 2024, indicating an active and expanding charitable program

For organizations seeking funding, the most appropriate approach would be to contact the Foundation directly to inquire whether their work might align with the trustees' current priorities and established relationships.

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Bamford Charitable Foundation
• THE MICHAEL MARSH CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Edward Cadbury Charitable Trust
• The Noel Sweeney Foundation
• THE HARDING TRUST
• J A Gillett Charitable Trust
• THE JAMES FREDERICK AND ETHEL ANNE MEASURES CHARITY
• Community Foundation for Staffordshire and Shropshire
• The Holroyd Foundation
• The John Booth Charitable Foundation

References

• UK Charity Commission Register of Charities, The Chartley Foundation (Charity No. 1154637): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5042166
• Companies House, THE CHARTLEY FOUNDATION (Company No. 08686083): https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08686083
• Find that Charity database, GB-CHC-1154637: https://findthatcharity.uk/orgid/GB-CHC-1154637
• The Chartley Foundation annual reports and accounts filed with the Charity Commission for financial years 2023 and 2024
• Sorbus Partners LLP company information: https://sorbus.com/