The Elmley Foundation (the Rt Hon Else Countess Beauchamp Deceased Charitable Trust)

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £300,000 (approximate)
• Success Rate: Not published
• Decision Time: 2 months (Main Programme); 2 weeks (Community Arts Fund)
• Grant Range: £0 - £2,000 (typical unsolicited); larger awards through detailed discussion
• Geographic Focus: Herefordshire and Worcestershire

Contact Details

• Website: www.elmley.org.uk
• Email: foundation@elmley.org.uk
• Phone: 01363 877433
• Address: The Elmley Foundation, West Aish, Morchard Bishop, Crediton, Devon EX17 6RX
• For Community Arts Fund: Community First at 01684 312730 or info@comfirst.org.uk

Overview

The Elmley Foundation (charity number 1004043) was established through an endowment by the late Else, Countess Beauchamp (1895-1989), who died at Madresfield Court on November 13, 1989. The Foundation continues the Madresfield Court tradition of encouraging all forms of the arts, crafts, and design. Incorporated in November 1985, the Foundation is an independent grantmaking charity with the purpose of advancing education by promoting the appreciation, knowledge, and study of the arts in Herefordshire and Worcestershire. The Foundation distributes approximately £300,000 annually through grants and trustee-initiated schemes. In the financial year ending April 2024, the Foundation had total income of £503,017 and expenditure of £427,809. The Foundation values its independence in cultural planning and actively works to identify and fill gaps in regional arts development, often acting as a matching partner for National Lottery bids through Arts Council England and Heritage Lottery Fund.

The trust operates through a related entity, The Rt Hon Else Countess Beauchamp Deceased Charitable Trust (charity number 1042208), which supports The Elmley Foundation's grantmaking activities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Main Programme (Rolling basis)

• £0 - £2,000 for unsolicited applications
• Larger awards (over £2,000) available through detailed preliminary discussions
• Applications accepted year-round
• Decisions typically within 2 months
• Application via letter or optional application form

Community Arts Fund (Fixed deadlines)

Administered by Community First on behalf of The Elmley Foundation:

• Events and Activities Stream: up to £2,000
• For paying professional artists to create new work, reach new audiences, and enable community participation in arts activities

• Arts Equipment Stream: up to £1,000
• For equipment purchases (subject to exclusions)

Application deadlines for 2025/26:

• 25 April (decision by 9 May)
• 25 July (decision by 8 August)
• 24 October (decision by 7 November)
• 30 January (decision by 13 February 2026)

All applications must be submitted by 5pm on deadline dates via online form.

Priority Areas

The Foundation supports projects advancing arts appreciation and knowledge in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, including:

• Support to festivals, societies, and companies in their promotions and developments
• Commissioning artistic works for specific venues or performances
• Training programs for emerging creative talent
• Educational events such as lectures, seminars, or conferences designed to develop thinking
• Core administrative costs for organizations
• Income generation support through preliminary commitments or letters of interest to strengthen other fundraising efforts

Key requirement: Applications from organizations must involve professional artists in projects and programmes for the benefit of people in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

What They Don't Fund

For All Programs:

• Projects outside Herefordshire and Worcestershire

For Community Arts Fund:

• Applications from schools or other educational organizations
• Applications from Local Authorities or other statutory bodies
• Activities exclusively for school children or college students during school/college time
• Applications from individuals
• Purchases with a total cost over £5,000
• Requests to pay off loans or deficits
• Items already purchased

For Arts Equipment grants specifically:

• Computer hardware or software
• Cameras and camcorders
• Costume and clothing
• Sets, consumables, and materials for one-off productions or activities

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Governance and Leadership

The Elmley Foundation operates under memorandum and articles of association (incorporated 15 November 1985, with amendments by special resolution dated 23 August 1991 and 22 April 1996). The Foundation is registered as both a charity (1004043) and a company (01959978).

The board consists of 3 trustees. No trustees receive any remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity, and the charity does not have any trading subsidiaries.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Main Programme:

Applications can be submitted at any time via:

• Letter explaining the funding need
• The Foundation's optional application form

All applications should include:

• Clear explanation of the funding need
• Projected income and expenditure estimates
• Specification of who will benefit from the proposal
• Evidence of balanced financing from revenue receipts and other grantmaking or sponsorship sources

Important guidance for larger requests:

• First-time applicants seeking over £2,000 should initially submit an email with a brief project description and requested amount
• Applicants are strongly advised to contact the Foundation before making a formal application, particularly for larger requests

Community Arts Fund:

Applications submitted via online form on the Foundation's website. Applicants must review full guidelines before submission to ensure alignment with program requirements.

Decision Timeline

Main Programme: Decisions typically provided within 2 months of application

Community Arts Fund: Decisions made approximately 2 weeks after each deadline (specific decision dates listed for each deadline)

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available. The Foundation states that it rarely makes grants over £2,000 to unsolicited applications, with larger awards being the result of detailed discussions, suggesting that relationship-building and preliminary contact significantly improve prospects for larger grants.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy or waiting period is documented.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Foundation's published guidance, the following factors are important for successful applications:

Pre-application contact is valued: The Foundation explicitly states that “applicants are strongly advised to contact us before making a formal application,” particularly for larger grants. This suggests they value dialogue and prefer to shape applications collaboratively.

Demonstrate balanced funding: Applications should show “funding from revenue receipts and other grantmaking or sponsorship sources.” The Foundation is looking for sustainability, not to be the sole funder.

Professional artist involvement is essential: For organizational applications, projects must involve professional artists. This is a non-negotiable requirement.

Geographic specificity matters: Projects must clearly benefit people in Herefordshire and Worcestershire—the Foundation's focus is intensely local to these two counties.

Match-funding partnerships: The Foundation acts as a matching partner for National Lottery bids and may provide commitments or expressions of interest to support fundraising efforts elsewhere, suggesting they prefer to be part of a broader funding picture.

Align with capacity-building: The Foundation supports training programs for emerging creative talent and educational events designed to develop thinking, indicating interest in long-term sector development, not just one-off events.

Consider trustee-initiated projects: The Foundation notes that approximately £300,000 is spent annually in “grants and on schemes initiated by the Trustees,” suggesting that larger strategic projects may be identified proactively by the Foundation rather than through open applications.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Build relationship before applying: Pre-application contact is strongly advised, especially for grants over £2,000. Email first with a brief description before submitting a full application.
• Keep initial requests modest: The Foundation rarely grants over £2,000 to unsolicited applications. First-time applicants should consider starting with smaller requests or engaging in detailed preliminary discussions for larger amounts.
• Demonstrate professional artist involvement: This is a hard requirement for organizational applications—ensure your project meaningfully involves professional artists, not just volunteers or participants.
• Show partnership funding: The Foundation values being part of a broader funding picture and will consider providing letters of support to strengthen applications to other funders.
• Be geographically specific: Clearly demonstrate how your project benefits people in Herefordshire and Worcestershire specifically—the Foundation's focus is intensely local.
• Consider the Community Arts Fund for smaller projects: Community groups may find the structured deadlines and clear criteria of the Community Arts Fund (up to £2,000 for events/activities) more accessible than the Main Programme.
• Expect responsive communication: The Foundation commits to decisions within 2 months (Main Programme) or 2 weeks (Community Arts Fund), suggesting they value timely responses and efficient processes.

References

• Charity Commission Register: The Elmley Foundation - Charity 1004043
• Charity Commission Register: The Rt Hon Else Countess Beauchamp Deceased Charitable Trust - Charity 1042208
• The Elmley Foundation official website: Home
• The Elmley Foundation: How to Apply
• The Elmley Foundation: What will we consider
• The Elmley Foundation: Community Arts Fund
• Community First Herefordshire & Worcestershire: Elmley Grants
• Making Music: Elmley Foundation - Main Grants
• Wikipedia: Madresfield Court
• Find that Charity: The Elmley Foundation GB-CHC-1004043