The February Foundation

Charity Number: 1113064

Annual Expenditure: £4.4M
Throughout England And Wales

Contact Info

Website: www.thefebruaryfoundation.org

Phone: 01379 388200

Email: rps@thefebruaryfoundation.org

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £4.4 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: 20%
  • Decision Time: Maximum 12 weeks
  • Grant Range: Typically £5,000 (median award)
  • Geographic Focus: England and Wales

Contact Details

Website: www.thefebruaryfoundation.org

Email: rps@thefebruaryfoundation.org

Phone: 01379 388200

Registered Office: 66 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3LH

Contact for Applications: Richard Pierce-Saunderson (Secretary)

Overview

The February Foundation is an independent grant-making charity established in 2006, registered in England and Wales (Charity Number: 1113064). With total income of £8.5 million and annual expenditure of £4.4 million (2024), the Foundation supports registered charities across a broad range of charitable activities. Since its inception, the main focus has been end-of-life care in hospice and hospice-at-home contexts, though the Foundation also funds relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage, as well as advancement of education, arts, culture, and heritage. The Foundation operates with complete transparency - no trustees receive any remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • Median Award: £5,000
  • Application Method: Rolling basis, permanently open to applications
  • Trustees make decisions: Monthly
  • Funding Types: Core costs, project costs, or capital costs (excluding hospice building projects)
  • Part-funding: The Foundation is happy to part-fund projects

Priority Areas

The Foundation's grant-making policy prioritizes:

  • End-of-life care: Hospice and hospice-at-home services (primary focus since 2006)
  • Relief of need: Supporting those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage
  • Empowerment: Charities benefiting persons who are making an effort to improve their lives
  • Care: Charities benefiting persons no longer physically or mentally able to help themselves
  • Long-term impact: Charities which have a long-term beneficial impact on the future of individuals, groups of individuals, or organisations
  • Education: Advancement of education
  • Arts and culture: Advancement of the arts, culture, and heritage

What They Don't Fund

  • Non-registered charities (only registered UK charities eligible)
  • Hospice building projects (capital projects)
  • See the Foundation's website for a complete exclusions list (updated March 2025)

Governance and Leadership

Trustees/Directors:

  • Mark Raymond Clarke - Director, appointed 2014 (also trustee of Duet Foundation)
  • Michael James Moody - Retired, appointed 2016
  • Richard Pierce-Saunderson - Secretary/Company Director (since 2006)

The Foundation operates with integrity: no trustees receive any remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity. All information provided by applicants is kept confidential.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The February Foundation keeps the application process intentionally simple - there are no application forms.

Application Requirements:

  • Email your application to Richard Pierce-Saunderson as a Word document or PDF file
  • Maximum length: 2-3 A4 pages in a reasonable font size
  • Do NOT send the application in the body of your email
  • Attach your budget as a separate document
  • Do NOT send links to documents
  • Do NOT send hardcopy applications
  • All correspondence should be by email only

Before Applying:

  • Confirm you are a registered charity
  • Check the eligibility exclusions list on the Foundation's website

Decision Timeline

  • Trustee meetings: Monthly
  • Maximum decision time: 12 weeks from application to notification (unless more information is requested)
  • Acknowledgment: Email applications are acknowledged when processed, not on receipt - allow at least 4 weeks before following up

Success Rates

  • Only around 20% of applications are successful
  • This is a competitive grant program with high application volumes

Reapplication Policy

  • Unsuccessful applicants: Should not re-apply until at least 12 months after their most recent application
  • Successful applicants: Should not re-apply until at least 12 months after receipt of their most recent grant
  • Re-applications can be for continuation of previously funded projects

Application Success Factors

Proven Success Examples

St. Rocco's Hospice - An exemplary case of successful partnership with the Foundation:

  • Received grants from The February Foundation three times in 18 months
  • In 2020, received two grants totalling £11,500
  • Funding enabled opening of four additional inpatient unit beds during COVID-19
  • Grants supported patient care, inpatient unit operations, and counselling services
  • The application shared both current work and future project ideas

Key Application Tips

From the Foundation's guidance:

  • Keep applications concise (2-3 pages maximum)
  • Focus on direct impact on beneficiaries
  • Demonstrate long-term beneficial impact
  • Show how beneficiaries are either making efforts to improve their lives OR are no longer able to help themselves
  • Be transparent about your needs and how the grant will be used
  • Include a clear, separate budget

Strategic Advice:

  • The median award is £5,000 - tailor your request accordingly
  • The Foundation is happy to part-fund projects - don't hesitate to apply even if you need more than £5,000 total
  • For hospice applications: Focus on patient care, essential services, and capacity building (not building projects)
  • Given the 20% success rate, ensure your application clearly aligns with the Foundation's priority areas
  • Demonstrate concrete outcomes and long-term impact

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Alignment is critical: With only 20% success rate, ensure strong alignment with end-of-life care, relief of need, or arts/culture/education priorities
  • Simplicity wins: No forms means your narrative must be compelling and concise - 2-3 pages to make your case
  • Budget matters: Attach a clear, separate budget document showing exactly how funds will be used
  • Think £5,000: This is the median award - structure your request around this amount or clearly justify why more is needed
  • Long-term impact: Emphasize lasting beneficial outcomes, not just immediate outputs
  • Relationship building: Successful applicants can reapply after 12 months, including for continuation funding - this is a potential long-term funding partner
  • Patience required: Allow 4 weeks before following up on acknowledgment, and up to 12 weeks for a decision
  • Perfect for hospices: If you're a hospice or provide end-of-life care, this should be a priority funder given their strong track record in this area

Similar Funders

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References