The Churchill Foundation

Charity Number: 1164320

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £231,287 (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: £50 - £2,000 (Small Grants Programme); up to £200,000+ (Partnership Programme)
  • Geographic Focus: UK-wide

Contact Details

  • Website: www.churchillfoundation.co.uk
  • Email: enquiries@churchillfoundation.co.uk
  • Phone: 0800 377 7912 / 01425 462100
  • Address: Churchill House, Parkside, Ringwood, Hampshire BH24 3SG
  • Charity Number: 1164320

Overview

The Churchill Foundation was established in 2015 as the charitable arm of Churchill Living Group, a leader in the UK retirement housing sector. Since its inception, the Foundation has raised over £3 million and supported more than 330 charities across the UK. With an annual expenditure of £231,287 (2024), the Foundation operates through two distinct funding streams: a Small Grants Programme offering donations of £50-£2,000 to local charities, and a Partnership Programme that provides significant multi-year grants to 2-3 selected national charities annually. The Foundation is governed by four trustees, all of whom are senior executives within the Churchill Living Group, and benefits from support by 235 volunteers. No trustees receive remuneration from the charity.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Grants Programme: £50 - £2,000

  • One-off donations available on a rolling basis throughout the year
  • Applications accepted at any time
  • Critical requirement: Applicants must have a referral from a colleague, owner, or member of the Business Partner Scheme connected to Churchill Living, Churchill Estates Management, or Careline

Partnership Programme: £200,000+

  • Trustees select 2-3 main partner charities each year
  • Provides multi-year financial support and awareness-raising opportunities
  • Recent example: Hourglass (Safer Ageing) - £200,000 in 2025 with commitment of further £200,000 over next two years (total £400,000 over three years)
  • Partners benefit from engagement with Churchill Living's colleagues, customers, and business partners

Priority Areas

The Foundation supports charities aligned with at least one of three core investment areas:

  1. Relief of sickness, disease and human suffering - Including hospices, cancer care organizations, and medical support charities
  2. Promotion of health amongst the elderly - Including organizations supporting safer ageing, dementia support, and elderly care
  3. Support and wellbeing of the young - Including children's hospices, youth homelessness, and child bereavement support

Examples of Previously Supported Charities:

  • Hope House Children's Hospice
  • Newbury Cancer Care
  • Oakhaven Hospice
  • Sage House Dementia Support
  • The Honeypot Children's Charity
  • Winston's Wish
  • Hourglass (Safer Ageing) - major partnership

What They Don't Fund

Not explicitly stated, but charities must align with at least one of the three core priority areas. Organizations outside these focus areas are unlikely to be supported.

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Governance and Leadership

Emma McCarthy - Foundation Director

Managing Director of Churchill Estates Management. Has worked in the charitable sector since 2010, previously serving as Director at Quintessentially Foundation where she raised over £5 million.

Spencer J McCarthy - Trustee

Chairman and CEO of Churchill Living. Co-founder of Churchill Living who was the driving force behind establishing the Churchill Foundation in 2015. Actively participates in fundraising challenges including skydives and fashion shows.

Clinton McCarthy - Trustee

Managing Director of Churchill Living and co-founder of Churchill Retirement Living. Passionate about advancing the charity's goals with involvement in charitable campaigns.

Suzanne Revell - Trustee

Group Sales and Marketing Director at Churchill Living. Trustee since 2015, focused on driving colleague participation in the Foundation's various events.

Lindsay Matthews - Trustee

Director of Financial Control at Churchill Living. Team member since 2002, overseeing financial regulatory compliance and colleague engagement initiatives.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Small Grants (£50 - £2,000):

  • A colleague (employee) of Churchill Living, Churchill Estates Management, or Careline
  • An owner (homeowner) at a Churchill Living development
  • A member of the Churchill Foundation Business Partner Scheme
  1. Download application form - Available from the Foundation's website at churchillfoundation.org.uk/grants/how-to-apply/
  1. Review grant application guidelines - A PDF guide is available on their website
  1. Submit application - Applications can be submitted at any time on a rolling basis

For Partnership Programme (major grants):

There is no public application process. Trustees select 2-3 partner charities each year based on strategic alignment with the Foundation's goals and potential for impact. Selection appears to be by invitation or trustee discretion.

Getting on Their Radar

Since small grant applications require a referral from someone connected to Churchill Living, Churchill Estates Management, or Careline, charities should consider:

Join the Business Partner Scheme:

Businesses that work with Churchill Living can join the Business Partner Scheme by contributing 0.75% of their invoices to Churchill to the Foundation. Members can then provide referrals for charities. Contact: enquiries@churchillfoundation.co.uk

Current Business Partners include:

  • Norcon Construction
  • Appello Group
  • Britannia
  • Blocc Interiors
  • Devcomms
  • Paul Basham Associates
  • RM Contractors
  • Roofing South East
  • Sicuro UK
  • Stormking Plastics
  • Tetra Tech
  • Wooldridge

Connect with Churchill Living homeowners:

Churchill Living operates retirement developments across the UK. Building relationships with residents at these developments could provide access to the referral pathway, as “owners” can provide referrals.

Engage with Churchill Living employees:

Churchill Living employees (“colleagues”) can provide referrals. Organizations working in areas where Churchill Living has developments or corporate offices may have networking opportunities with staff members.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. The Foundation acknowledges receiving substantial application volumes but does not specify processing timeframes or notification procedures.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. With annual expenditure of £231,287 and grants ranging from £50-£2,000 in the Small Grants Programme, the Foundation likely awards between 100-200+ small grants per year alongside 2-3 major partnerships.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly disclosed.

Application Success Factors

While the Foundation does not publish detailed application guidance, the following factors appear critical based on their stated priorities and funding patterns:

Alignment with Core Areas:

Applications must clearly demonstrate how the charity's work addresses at least one of the three core investment areas. The Foundation emphasizes supporting charities focused on sickness relief, elderly health, and youth wellbeing.

Geographic Reach:

The Foundation supports both local community organizations and national charities. Local charities should highlight their community impact, while national charities should demonstrate strategic alignment with the Foundation's focus areas.

Referral Quality:

Since a referral is mandatory for small grants, ensure your referrer understands your charity's work and can advocate for its alignment with the Foundation's priorities.

Clear Impact Potential:

Given the small grant amounts (£50-£2,000), applications should clearly articulate what specific impact the grant will achieve. One-off donations appear designed for specific projects or purchases rather than core operating costs.

Partnership Programme Considerations:

For charities aspiring to partnership status, evidence of:

  • Strategic alignment with elderly health, youth support, or sickness relief
  • Capacity to engage with Churchill Living's colleagues, customers, and business partners
  • National or significant regional reach
  • Multi-year impact potential

Examples of Funded Work:

The Foundation's support of organizations like Hope House Children's Hospice, Newbury Cancer Care, Oakhaven Hospice, and Hourglass (elder abuse prevention) demonstrates preference for direct service delivery charities with clear beneficiary groups within their priority areas.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Referral is non-negotiable: Without a connection to Churchill Living, Churchill Estates Management, Careline, or a Business Partner, you cannot apply for small grants. Invest time in building these connections before applying.
  • Small grants are for specific needs: With a maximum of £2,000, position your application for a specific project, purchase, or activity rather than general operating support.
  • Partnership opportunities exist: For charities with strong strategic alignment (particularly around elderly health given Churchill Living's retirement housing focus), the Partnership Programme offers significantly larger, multi-year funding.
  • Churchill Living connection is strategic: All trustees are Churchill Living executives, and the Foundation was created as the company's charitable arm. Understanding Churchill Living's business (retirement housing) helps identify natural alignment points.
  • Elderly health has clear synergy: Churchill Living serves elderly residents in retirement housing. Charities working on elderly health, safer ageing, dementia support, and related issues have strong strategic alignment with the Foundation's core business and charitable priorities.
  • No published success criteria: With no public data on decision timelines, success rates, or application tips, building a relationship with a potential referrer who understands the Foundation's priorities is essential.
  • Business Partner Scheme offers entry point: For charities with connections to businesses serving Churchill Living, encouraging those businesses to join the Business Partner Scheme creates a referral pathway.

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