The Eaton Fund

Quick Stats

• Registered Charity: 1197452
• Annual Giving: £499,261 (expenditure, year ending June 2024)
• Annual Income: £303,402 (year ending June 2024)
• Grant Range (Individual Artists): £99 - £700 (typically up to £350)
• Grant Range (Organizations): £3,300 - £40,000
• Decision Time: Up to 8 weeks
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)
• Application Type: Rolling basis for artists; partnership-based for women's grants

Contact Details

Website: www.eatonfund.org.uk

Email: admin@eatonfund.org.uk

Phone: 020 3289 3209

Registered Charity Number: 1197452

Overview

The Eaton Fund was established in 1954 by the Eaton family to provide financial assistance for artists, nurses, and women in need. The charity was re-registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in 2023 (charity number 1197452), taking over from the previous charity (236060). With annual expenditure of approximately £500,000, the Fund makes both small grants to individual artists (up to £350) and larger grants to partner organizations supporting women in hardship (ranging from £3,300 to £40,000). Between February 2023 and December 2024, the Fund made 332 grants totaling over £724,000. The charity maintains strong family involvement with Eaton family members continuing as trustees, and has strategic partnerships with Cavell Nurses' Trust for nursing support and 20 organizations across the UK supporting women in hardship.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Artists Programme (Individuals)

• Grant Amount: Up to £350 (though some grants range from £99-£700)
• Application Method: Online application form on rolling basis
• Purpose: Materials, framing for exhibitions, small items of equipment
• Recent Annual Support: Over £70,000 to artists (approximately 250+ grants annually to individuals)

2. Women in Hardship Programme (via Partner Organizations)

• Grant Amount: £3,300 - £40,000 to partner organizations
• Application Method: Partnership-based, not open to individuals directly
• Focus: Supporting women to set up or maintain safe homes and lives for themselves and their children
• Partners: 20 organizations across the UK providing wraparound care including counseling, parenting advice, tenancy support, job training, benefits checks, budgeting, legal and immigration advice, and insolvency help

3. Nurses Programme (via Cavell Partnership)

• Grant Amount: £70,000 committed in last financial year
• Application Method: Through Cavell Nurses' Trust
• Support: Nurses, midwives, and nursing assistants (working or retired) experiencing hardship
• Note: Direct applications no longer accepted; support provided through Cavell partnership

Priority Areas

For Artists:

• Visual arts practitioners including painters, sculptors, ceramicists, printmakers, photographers, and video installation artists
• Artists making work for exhibitions or exploring their practice
• Materials to make works or prepare work for exhibitions (e.g., framing)
• Small items of equipment to support artistic practice
• Artists most in need of financial support

For Women in Hardship:

• Women from minority communities
• Refugees
• Women involved with criminal justice system
• Women struggling with addiction
• Women experiencing homelessness
• Young care leavers
• Domestic abuse survivors
• Women who may be overlooked by other funders
• Essential items for homes and lives

For Nurses:

• Nurses, midwives, and nursing assistants experiencing hardship
• Essential items for those currently working or retired

What They Don't Fund

• Educational fees
• Recurring expenses (mortgage repayments, rent, fuel, phone bills)
• Medical care
• Paying off creditors
• Ongoing costs such as living costs or studio rental
• Support for performing artists (only visual arts)
• Second grants to previous individual recipients (due to limited funds)

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Governance and Leadership

Chairman: Dr. Stephen Kane

Trustees:

• Dr. David Wilson (Eaton family member)
• Nicola Brooker (Eaton family member)
• Gill Rogers
• Egle Banelyte

Manager: Anne Murray

The charity is governed by 7 trustees in total, with no trustees receiving remuneration or payments from the charity. The continued involvement of Eaton family members (Nicola Brooker and Dr. David Wilson) maintains the family tradition established in 1954 when the charity was first chaired by Charles Eaton Mills, JP.

How to Apply to The Eaton Fund

How to Apply

For Individual Artists:

Applications accepted on a rolling basis through the online application form at eatonfund.org.uk/artists-application-form/

Application Requirements:

1. Letter from a referee who knows your work (typically a tutor, curator, or gallery official)

For Women in Hardship:

Applications must be made through partner organizations, not directly by individuals. Women experiencing hardship should contact one of the 20 partner organizations across the UK, or be referred by a social worker or support organization.

For Nurses:

Applications made through Cavell Nurses' Trust at cavell.org.uk/get-support/

Decision Timeline

Artists: Up to 8 weeks to process applications (trustees aim to be quicker when possible)

Organizational Partners: Decision timelines not publicly specified

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not published. However, grants data shows:

• 252 individual grants made over approximately 22 months (Feb 2023 - Dec 2024)
• Approximately 11-12 individual artist grants per month
• The Fund emphasizes supporting “artists who are most in need of financial support”

Reapplication Policy

Artists: Cannot receive a second grant from the Fund. The charity explicitly states: “If you have already received a grant from us we cannot award a second grant as our funds are limited.”

Organizational Partners: Ongoing partnership arrangements suggest multi-year support relationships

Application Success Factors

For Artists:

1. Demonstrate Financial Need: The Fund prioritizes “artists who are most in need of financial support” - clearly articulate your financial circumstances

• £350 for frames for a solo exhibition
• £400 for materials to make a neon sculpture during a nursing residency
• £120 for components to make a short film exploring borders and barriers

1. Focus on One-Time Purchases: The Fund supports specific items or materials for a specific purpose, not ongoing costs. Be clear this is a one-off need

1. Show Evidence of Practice: Provide either website link or 4 photos of different works. This demonstrates you are an established or emerging practitioner, not a beginner

1. Secure a Strong Referee: The referee letter from a tutor, curator, or gallery official validates your work and need. Choose someone who knows your practice well

1. Keep Amounts Realistic: While grants can reach £700, the maximum stated is £350. Budget requests should reflect the small grant nature of the fund

1. Visual Arts Only: Ensure your practice falls within painting, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, photography, or video installations. Performing arts are not supported

1. Exhibition or Practice Development Focus: Frame your request around making work for exhibitions or exploring your practice, not general supplies

For Organizations Seeking Partnership:

The Fund works with organizations providing wraparound care beyond just financial grants. Successful partners offer comprehensive support (counseling, parenting advice, tenancy support, job training, benefits checks, budgeting, legal advice) to women in hardship. Priority given to organizations supporting underserved communities and women who may be overlooked by other funders.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Small but strategic grants: This is a small charity with limited funds - individual artist grants typically max at £350, so tailor your request accordingly and emphasize this is a one-off need

• First time only: Artists can only receive one grant ever from the Fund, so make it count and be clear you haven't previously received support

• Evidence is essential: Strong visual documentation of your practice plus a credible referee letter are non-negotiable requirements

• Be patient: Allow up to 8 weeks for decision, though they try to be quicker - don't apply if you need urgent funding

• Specific over general: Detailed costed lists of specific items perform better than vague requests for “materials”

• Rolling applications = no deadline pressure: Applications accepted year-round, so you can apply when the timing is right for your project

• Partnership model for women's support: If supporting women in hardship, understand this requires an organizational partnership with wraparound services, not individual grant applications

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Fenton Arts Trust
• The Idlewild Trust
• The D'oyly Carte Charitable Trust
• The Marsh Charitable Trust
• The Leche Trust
• The Golsoncott Foundation
• Professionals Aid Council
• Paul Hamlyn Foundation
• The Swire Charitable Trust
• The Allen Lane Foundation

References

1. The Eaton Fund Official Website - About Page: https://eatonfund.org.uk/about-the-eaton-fund/
2. Charity Commission Register Entry for The Eaton Fund (1197452): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5192657
3. 360Giving GrantNav - The Eaton Fund Grant Data: https://grantnav.threesixtygiving.org/org/GB-CHC-1197452
4. Craft Scotland - The Eaton Fund Information: https://www.craftscotland.org/community/opportunity/the-eaton-fund-for-women-and-artists
5. ArtsHub UK - The Eaton Fund Grant Listing: https://www.artshub.co.uk/grant/the-eaton-fund-1348685/
6. Cavell Nurses' Trust - The Eaton Fund Partnership: https://cavell.org.uk/news_and_events/the-eaton-fund/
7. The Eaton Fund - Supporting Women in Hardship: https://eatonfund.org.uk/supporting-women-in-hardship/