The David Wilson Foundation

Charity Number: 1049047

Annual Expenditure: £0.3M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £319,751 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (invitation-only process)
  • Decision Time: Up to 1 month for initial review
  • Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
  • Geographic Focus: Leicestershire, Rutland, and East Midlands
  • Application Method: Invitation only (no public application process)

Contact Details

Address: c/o Wilson Enterprises Limited, Wilson House, 207 Leicester Road, Ibstock, LE67 6HP

Phone: 01530 265696

Website: www.davidwilsonfoundation.com

Email: Not publicly listed

Overview

The David Wilson Foundation was established in July 1995 by David Wilson CBE, founder of Wilson Bowden plc and David Wilson Homes, one of Britain's top five national house builders. The foundation is personally funded by David Wilson and his family, with the primary mission of helping young people achieve their potential in life. In the financial year ending April 2023, the foundation had a total income of £272,101 and total expenditure of £319,751. The foundation has supported major projects including the David Wilson Library at the University of Leicester (opened by HM The Queen in 2008), the David Wilson Biobank for cardiovascular research at Glenfield Hospital, and the David Wilson Construction Centre at Northampton Academy. David Wilson was awarded a CBE for Services to Young People in January 2011 and holds positions including Deputy Lieutenant of Leicestershire, lay Canon of Leicester Diocese, and President of Leicestershire Cricket Club.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates three distinct grant-making streams:

Grants for UK Charities

  • Focus on grassroot charities with voluntary infrastructure
  • Priority areas: young people, education, sport, construction, NHS
  • Match funding preferred
  • Geographic focus: Leicestershire, Rutland, and East Midlands

Grants for UK Organisations

  • Supporting younger people and their training, especially in the building industry
  • Priority areas: education, sport, construction, NHS
  • Match funding preferred
  • Discretionary basis

Grants for UK Individuals

  • Reserved for exceptional cases
  • Preference for younger people from challenging backgrounds and/or personal circumstances
  • Activities connected to education most likely to receive support
  • Match funding preferred

Priority Areas

Young People Development: The foundation's core mission focuses on helping young people achieve their potential, particularly those from challenging backgrounds.

Construction Industry Training: Strong emphasis on supporting young people entering the building industry, reflecting the founder's background.

Sport: Significant support for youth sports development, particularly football and cricket in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Education: Educational initiatives, particularly those supporting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Health/NHS: Support for healthcare-related projects, notably cardiovascular research infrastructure.

Community Support: Grassroots community organizations serving deprived areas, including foodbanks and community churches.

What They Don't Fund

  • Political activity: Cannot be supported as a registered charity
  • General appeals: Typically not supported
  • One-off events: Typically not supported
  • Projects outside the East Midlands region: Geographic focus is strict
  • Organizations without match funding: Strong preference for applicants who have secured support from other sources
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Governance and Leadership

Founder and President: David Wilson CBE

  • Founded Wilson Bowden plc and served as Chief Executive
  • Grew David Wilson Homes to become one of Britain's top five national house builders, constructing over 5,000 homes annually
  • Sold to Barratt Developments plc in 2007
  • CBE for Services to Young People
  • Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Leicester (2004)
  • Property Week Midlands Personality of the Year Award (2007)
  • Deputy Lieutenant of Leicestershire
  • Lay Canon of Leicester Diocese
  • President of Leicestershire Cricket Club

Board of Trustees: The foundation maintains 7 trustees who receive no remuneration from the charity. Specific trustee names are not publicly disclosed on the website.

Quote: While no direct quotes from David Wilson about the foundation's approach are publicly available, his biography notes that the foundation “has been primarily created to help young people achieve their potential in life, supporting all education and sport and particularly those wishing to enter the construction industry.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The foundation operates an invitation-only model. According to their website: “Applications which best match our core criteria are carefully researched by the Foundation team and are then invited to submit a formal funding application for approval by their Board of Trustees. No applications will be accepted outside of this approach.”

Initial Registration Process:

Organizations can register their interest by completing an online form with:

  • Personal details (name, email, phone)
  • Company/organization name
  • Project description (200 characters maximum)
  • Project timescale
  • Beneficiary information
  • Funding impact details
  • Total funding amount needed
  • Contingency plans if full funding isn't available

What Happens Next:

  1. The Foundation team researches projects that match their core criteria
  2. Selected organizations are invited to submit a formal funding application
  3. Formal applications are reviewed by the Board of Trustees for approval

Decision Timeline

Initial Review: Responses can take up to a month due to limited resources at the foundation.

Board Approval: Once invited to submit a formal application, the timeline for board review is not publicly disclosed.

Notification: The foundation contacts applicants directly. No specific notification methods or timelines are published.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. Given the invitation-only model, organizations that are invited to submit formal applications likely have a higher success rate than would be typical for an open application process. However, no specific figures are available.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is published. Given the invitation-only model, unsuccessful organizations would need to re-register their interest rather than formally reapplying.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's published priorities and recent grants, the following factors appear to be critical:

1. Match Funding is Essential

The foundation explicitly states: “The best opportunities are for those who have gained support from other sources, so our grant support is match funded.” Organizations should secure partial funding from other sources before approaching the foundation.

2. Focus on Young People

All three grant streams emphasize supporting young people. The foundation states that “support for organisations is typically provided in circumstances involving projects related to the development of young people.”

3. Grassroots, Volunteer-Led Organizations

The foundation prefers “to help fund grass root charities with a voluntary infrastructure” where contributions directly advance the mission rather than covering administrative overhead.

4. Geographic Alignment

Strong preference for organizations operating in Leicestershire and Rutland, with broader consideration for East Midlands organizations. Projects outside this region are unlikely to be considered.

5. Connection to Priority Sectors

Projects connected to education, sport, construction, or the NHS are “most likely to receive funding.” Recent grants show particular support for:

  • Community organizations serving deprived areas (Greenhill Community Church, Coalville Foodbank)
  • Youth sports facilities (football club changing rooms, cricket trust, floodlights)
  • Education technology (laptops for remote learning)
  • Construction industry training
  • Healthcare research infrastructure

6. Clear Evidence of Need

Recent grants highlight organizations serving “one of the poorest and most deprived communities within North West Leicestershire” and providing services to families in need, suggesting the foundation values demonstrable community impact.

7. Sustainable Infrastructure Projects

Many funded projects involve capital improvements (facilities, equipment, buildings) rather than ongoing operational costs, though community support organizations like foodbanks are also supported.

8. Connection to Leicestershire Cricket or Local Sport

Given David Wilson's role as President of Leicestershire Cricket Club and the establishment of the Leicestershire Young Cricketers Education Trust, connections to local sport (particularly cricket and football) may be advantageous.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Don't apply directly: This is an invitation-only funder. Register your interest through their online form with a compelling 200-character project description, then wait to be invited to apply formally.
  • Match funding is mandatory: Secure partial funding from other sources before approaching the foundation. They explicitly prefer to co-fund rather than be the sole funder.
  • Keep it local and grassroots: Focus on Leicestershire/Rutland-based projects serving young people through volunteer-led organizations. Large, professional charities are less likely to align with their preferences.
  • Align with the construction legacy: Projects connecting young people to the building industry or construction training have a natural alignment with the founder's background and the foundation's stated priorities.
  • Think infrastructure, not operations: Recent grants suggest preference for capital projects (facilities, equipment) that create lasting impact rather than ongoing operational costs.
  • Be patient: With limited resources and an invitation-only model, the timeline from registration to decision can be lengthy (initial responses take up to a month, with additional time for board review).
  • Emphasize measurable impact: The foundation seeks to “help causes which touch their hearts and will measurably change lives.” Clearly articulate the specific, quantifiable impact your project will have on young people.

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References