The Edgar E Lawley Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £150,000 - £200,000
• Success Rate: 8-10% (100-125 awards from 1,200+ applications)
• Decision Time: 3-4 months (applications close October, decisions by November/December)
• Grant Amount: £2,000 (standard for all successful applicants)
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide with preference for West Midlands

Contact Details

• Website: www.edgarelawleyfoundation.org.uk
• Email: edgarelawley@gmail.com
• Phone: 01372 805760
• Application Method: Online application form (available August - October)

Overview

The Edgar E. Lawley Foundation was established in 1961 by a gift from the late Edgar E Lawley (1889-1977), a highly successful businessman and philanthropist renowned for his chain of china and glassware shops, "Lawley's of Regent Street." Beyond his business success, Lawley served as Chairman of St. Mary's Hospital Medical School and held positions with the King Edward's Hospital Fund for London and Imperial College. Today, the Foundation distributes between £150,000 and £200,000 annually to UK registered charities and not-for-profit organisations. With over 1,200 applications received each year and only 100-125 grants awarded, the Foundation maintains a highly competitive selection process while staying true to its founder's philanthropic vision of supporting smaller charitable organisations working across hospices, children's services, elderly care, community projects, disability support, and medical research.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Small Grants Programme: £2,000 per successful applicant
• Annual funding round (opens August, closes October)
• All successful applicants receive the same amount
• Unrestricted grants preferred
• Applications via online portal only

Priority Areas

The Foundation supports general charitable purposes within six categories:

• Hospices: End-of-life care and hospice services
• Children & Young People: Services and support for young people
• Elderly: Care and support services for older people
• Community: Community wellbeing and development projects
• Disabled: Services for people with disabilities
• Medical Research/Other: Medical research and healthcare projects

Geographic Preference: While open to applications from across the UK, the Foundation traditionally gives particular assistance to charities operating in the West Midlands.

Organisation Size: Strong preference for smaller charities and not-for-profit organisations rather than large national charities.

What They Don't Fund

• Grants to private individuals
• Applications on behalf of individuals

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees:

• John Cooke - Chairman
• Katherine Coates - Trustee
• Laura Cooke - Trustee
• Philip Cooke - Trustee
• Frank Jackson - Administrative Trustee

The Foundation operates with a board of five trustees and maintains no employees. One or more trustees receive payments or benefits for providing services to the charity, as disclosed in their governance filings.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are accepted exclusively through the Foundation's online application form available on their website. The application process is described as “fairly simple and straightforward, with few project details required.”

Application Window: Opens 1 August, closes 31 October annually

Required Information:

• Standard online application form
• No additional supporting documents required
• Focus on concise, clear information about your organisation and charitable work

Decision Timeline

• Application Opens: 1 August
• Application Closes: 31 October
• Decisions Made: November/December (typically by 30 November)
• Grants Paid: No later than March of the following year

Notification Method: The Foundation only contacts successful applicants. If applicants have not been contacted by 30 November, they should assume their application has been unsuccessful.

Success Rates

The Foundation receives over 1,200 applications annually but can typically only fund approximately 100-125 organisations, resulting in a success rate of approximately 8-10%. This makes the Foundation highly competitive, with the great majority of applications unsuccessful.

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applicants are welcome to re-apply in the following grant period. There are no restrictions or waiting periods for reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Given the highly competitive nature of this funding (only 8-10% of applications succeed), the following factors are critical for success:

1. Organisation Size and Type: The Foundation explicitly states its “preference is to award unrestricted grants to smaller charities and not for profit organisations.” Small, grassroots charities are more likely to succeed than large national organisations.

2. West Midlands Connection: While the Foundation accepts applications from across the UK, it “traditionally has given particular assistance to charities in the West Midlands area.” If your organisation operates in this region, you may have a competitive advantage.

3. Unrestricted Funding Requests: The Foundation prefers to award unrestricted grants that provide maximum flexibility to recipient organisations. Frame your application around core charitable purposes rather than specific projects where possible.

4. Clear Fit with Funding Categories: Ensure your work clearly aligns with one of the six stated categories (Hospices, Children & Young People, Elderly, Community, Disabled, Medical Research/Other). Applications that don't fit neatly may be disadvantaged.

5. Simplicity and Clarity: The Foundation notes its application is “fairly simple and straightforward.” Don't overcomplicate your submission—be clear, concise, and direct about your charitable work and how £2,000 would support it.

6. Realistic Expectations: With £2,000 being the standard grant amount for all recipients, demonstrate how this specific sum will make a tangible difference to your work. Avoid appearing to need significantly larger sums.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Highly competitive: With only 8-10% success rate, ensure your application clearly demonstrates why your small charity deserves support over 1,100+ others
• Size matters: Smaller charities are explicitly preferred; if you're a large national organisation, this may not be the right funder
• West Midlands advantage: If your charity operates in the West Midlands, emphasise this in your application as it aligns with the Foundation's traditional priority
• Unrestricted is best: Position your request as unrestricted funding for core charitable purposes rather than a specific project
• Keep it simple: Don't over-elaborate; the Foundation values straightforward applications with clear charitable impact
• Fixed amount: All successful applicants receive £2,000—tailor your application to demonstrate impact at this specific level
• No news is bad news: If you haven't heard by 30 November, your application was unsuccessful, but you can reapply the following year

References

• Edgar E Lawley Foundation - Official Website
• About Us - Edgar E Lawley Foundation
• Trustees - Edgar E Lawley Foundation
• Grant Application Form - Edgar E Lawley Foundation
• Charity Commission Register - THE EDGAR E LAWLEY FOUNDATION (201589)
• The Edgar E Lawley Foundation - Funding Scotland
• Bath and North East Somerset Council - The Edgar E Lawley Foundation
• Edgar E. Lawley Foundation 2025-26 Grants Programme - SCVO

Accessed: December 2025